Greetings from Buffalo, Friends! I am here, of course, for a hockey tournament, and, incredibly, the sun has been shining, a gift as every game is being held at an outdoor rink. Yesterday, as I watched in my fleece-lined leggings, wool socks, and down vest, I was sweating! I had to strip a layer! How nice?!

This week, I made a chocolate variation of this favorite whipped cream cheese frosting. If you are unfamiliar with this recipe, let me quickly review its virtues: it calls for cold cream cheese — yes, no need to soften it. It calls for heavy cream rather than butter, which gives it a light, whipped texture. It comes together in no time.

Recently, after eating a chocolate cupcake topped with chocolate buttercream and disliking the mouthfeel as well as the process, which called for melting chocolate and softening butter, I wondered if I could make a chocolate variation of the whipped cream cheese frosting.

It turns out, yes, I could, and it was surprisingly easy, requiring little more than adding a small amount of cocoa powder to the mixture. Because cocoa powder acts similarly to flour in that it absorbs moisture, it also required an additional few tablespoons of heavy cream to achieve the same whipped texture.

But that was it! Nothing to soften! Nothing to melt! Delicious flavor and lovely light texture!

I tested out the chocolate frosting smeared over cupcakes (this birthday cake recipe), and the result was heavenly, a perfectly sweet and chocolatey match for the vanilla-scented cake. I hope you all love this one as much as I do.

Chocolate Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

PS: A few weeks ago, I had lunch with a friend I hadn't seen in ages down in Rhinebeck. As we said goodbye, she handed me a Sumo orange, "for your drive home," she told me. I broke into it nearly immediately, and it tasted like pure heaven. I've been stocking up when I see them at the market, and I feel like they are getting me through this never-ending winter. Inspired by the Sumos, I've shared a few of my favorite citrusy recipes below 🍋🍊🍋‍🟩

Review of the Week

A cast iron skillet with freshly baked Irish soda bread.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Super Simple Irish Soda Bread

"I always come back to this recipe. It’s the only Irish soda bread that truly captures my childhood. Paired with apple butter is a delightful nostalgic dream. Oh, to be back there again ❤️ Thank you for sharing."

—Dan

PS: If you love Irish soda bread, you'll love this Simple Irish Brown Bread (another no-yeast quick bread):