Pomegranate And Chocolate Combine To Create Tempting Cupcakes Wednesday, March 1, 2006 (NAPSA)—Whether dressed up for after dinner or casual for after school, cupcakes are everywhere these days. This season, combine two luxurious flavors—pomegranate and chocolate—which complement each other for a memorable treat. POM CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES Makes 24 cupcakes 3 2 % 2 1 1 % 2 1 Cupcakes: Juice from 2-3 large POM Wonderful Pomegranates,* or 1 cup POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice cupsall-purpose flour cups granulated sugar cup unsweetened cocoa powder teaspoons baking soda teaspoonsalt cup water, heated to boiling cup vegetable oil tablespoons vinegar(not wine vinegar) tablespoon vanilla Pomegranate Chocolate Frosting: Juice from 1 large POM Wonderful Pomegranate,* or % cup POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice 6 tablespoons butter 1 6-oz. package chocolate chips 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups powdered sugar 1-2 tablespoons whole milk Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting: 1 8-0z. package cream cheese Chocolate and pomegranates are brought together in these memorable cupcakes. 2 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon vanilla 2% cups powdered sugar 1 tablespoon whole milk Garnish: 1 cup arils from 1-2 large POM Wonderful Pomegranates Cupcakes: Prepare garnish—Score 1-2 fresh pomegranates and place in a bowl of water. Break open the pomegranates under water to free the arils (seed sacs). The arils will sink to the bottom of the bowl and the membrane will float to the top. Sieve and put the arils in a separate bowl. Reserve 1 cup of the arils from fruit and set aside. (Refrigerate or freeze remaining arils for anotheruse.) Prepare fresh pomegranate juice* and preheat oven to 350 F with rack in the center. Place a paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-sized muffin cups. Whisk together the dry ingredients to combine well. In a large measuring cup, combine pomegranate juice and boiling water. Add oil, vinegar and vanilla to the pomegranate juice mixture. Add to the flour mixture all at once and whisk to combine (batter will be lumpy). Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups—about half full. Bake 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean and free of crumbs. Let cool. Frost with pomegranate chocolate or vanilla cream cheese frosting and decorate with arils. Pomegranate Chocolate Frosting: Prepare fresh pomegranate juice.* In a saucepan, bring pomegranate juice and butter to a boil. Remove from heat; blend in chocolate chips. Stir in vanilla and powdered sugar. Beat until frosting is of spreading consistency.If frosting is too stiff, add 1-2 tablespoonsof milk to thin. Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting: With an electric mixer, beat together cream cheese and butter. Add vanilla, powdered sugar and milk, and beat until frosting is of spreading consistency. * For 1 cup of juice, cut 2-3 large POM Wonderful Pomegranates in half and juice them with a citrus reameror juicer. Pour the mixture through a cheesecloth-lined strainer or sieve. Set the juice aside. --- PHOTOS --- File: 20190816-185752-20190816-185751-69738.pdf.jpg --- FILES --- File: 20190816-185751-69738.pdf