Single's Day and Pocky Day Food Scene - Chocolate and Espresso Cupcakes with Almond Choco Sticks

November 11th is also known as Single's Day in China or Pocky Day in Japan. Don't we all just need more excuses to celebrate as many festivals as possible? The idea behind Single's Day is mostly due to the connection between singles and the number "1." On top of that, 1 also resembles the shape of a famous Japanese chocolate stick snack Pocky. Maybe we should have a palmier day on 8/8 then?

There's a game associated with Pocky Day on 11/11 in Japan called Pocky Tower, where you stack up chocolate sticks that looks somewhat like Jenga. As much as I would like to participate in such delicious-looking game, I do not want to open so many packs of chocolate sticks knowing that I would finish munching on the sticks until they're out of my sight instead of putting them back to the cabinet. 

To avoid such high risk of fluctuating blood sugar, let's skip the "tower" concept and toned it down to one single stick on a chocolate and espresso cupcake. 

Chocolate and espresso cupcakes with almond choco sticks -

Ingredients (for 6)?

• 1 1/8 cups of all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup of brown sugar
• 1/3 cup of freshly brewed espresso
• 1/2 cup of unsalted butter
• Some ganache
• Some chocolate sticks (I used almond flavored chocolate sticks)

How?

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line the muffin tin with paper cup liners.

Sift the following dry ingredients in a large bowl: flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix the following wet ingredients in a large bowl: egg and sugar first, then add in the cream, coffee, and semi-melted butter. 

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in two batches and mix well. Divide the mixture into the 6 paper cup liners and bake for about 15 minutes. Cracks on the cupcakes are normal.

Drizzle the ganache (simple ganache recipe can be found from my chocolate and banana bundt cake recipe) over the cupcakes -

Quick texture test. Ok fine, the truth is that the chocolaty scent overflows my kitchen, and I simply cannot resist the temptation any longer -

Velvety ganache on top and moist texture in the center.

Insert a chocolate stick to the cupcake before the ganache sets -

Don't know about you, but if I ought to "celebrate" Single's Day, I'll definitely surround myself with this cupcake and tons of chocolate sticks. 

Other chocolate related sweet treats recipes:

• Chocolate truffle torte infused with a little bit of coffee and cognac
• Chocolate and banana bundt cakes
• Pear infused chocolate truffles