Cannoli Cupcakes

My husband was the inspiration for these rich cupcakes. As I was stuffing cannoli shells with homemade filling, I had a brainstorm.

Yellow cupcakes packed with chocolate bits, roasted pistachios and dried cherries, stuffed with creamy cannoli filling, topped with a lovely chocolate ganache and garnished with biscotti crumbles. ($2.00/cupcake, minimum order one dozen).

Pistachio & Chocolate Cupcakes

Since I had a ton of leftover pistachios, I had to find a way to use them up. Inspiration struck and we found a winner. Strangely, these are DH's favorite so far.

1 box white cake mix

4 eggs

1 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup oil

1 package instant pistachio pudding mix

1/2 cup shelled pistachios

chocolate frosting (I was lazy and used storebought triple fudge chip)

Preheat oven to 350 and spray cupcake pan with nonstick spray.

With an electric mixer, mix cake mix, eggs, water, sugar, oil and pudding mix on low for one minute. Scrape sides of bowl and mix at medium speed for two minutes. Fill cupcake spaces halfway and bake for 20-24 minutes or until cake is done.

Cool for ten minutes in pan and then completely on wire rack or serving platter.

When cool, decorate with chocolate frosting and pistachios.