Marble Cupcakes

I found this recipe from a magazine, and I tried it for Valentine's Day. It turned out quite well...my daughters loved it. But I think it's not as good as other marble cupcakes I've tasted. I don't know what's lacking. I'll share it with you and if you have suggestions on how I can improve this recipe, let me know.

Prep Time: ~30 mins(including frosting)       Cook Time: 15 mins         Servings: 15

Cupcake Ingredients:

• 1½ cup all purpose flour
• 2¼ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¾  cup sugar
• 3 large eggs
• ¾  cup vegetable oil
• ½ cup milk
• ¼ cup butter
• 1½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1.5-oz semisweet or dark chocolate, melted (I used semi-sweet)

Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.

2. Lightly grease and line muffin pan with paper cupcake liners.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
4. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, milk, butter and vanilla extract. Pour in dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
5. Transfer 1¼ cup of the batter to a small bowl and stir in melted chocolate.

6. Evenly distribute batters into prepared pans, adding a spoonful of vanilla batter then a spoonful of chocolate batter, followed by a little more vanilla. Gently run a knife through the batter to give them a swirl.

7. Bake for about 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Cool cupcakes on a wire rack before frosting.

Frosting Ingredients:

• ½ cup butter, room temperature
• 3 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• approx 2 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
• 2 Tbsp cocoa powder

Procedure:

1. In a large bowl, beat together butter, milk and vanilla. 

2. Gradually blend in about 2 cups confectioners sugar until smooth, then divide frosting evenly into two bowls. 

3. Blend 2 Tbsp cocoa powder into one portion of the frosting and beat until smooth. Add additional confectioners sugar to each bowl as needed, until frosting reaches a thick, spreadable consistency.

4. Pipe or spread frosting onto cooled cupcakes.