Big Bird's Birthday Choc Brownie Cupcakes

I came upon this brownie recipe when I was looking through the magazine clippings I collected in a file. I baked them one night and brought to office without taste-test it. The brownies were really chocolaty! It's nicer if you were to warm it for about 2-3mins before serving it right to your mouth! And my colleagues love them of course!
Since I decided to bake cakes for my lovely colleagues starting this yr (2008), Big Bird was the 1st to receive 23 brownies for his birthday.

The thick brownie mixture before pouring into the muffin cake pan.

I poured more than 2/3 full to achieve a bigger brownie.

I love the round dome shape.

I used this Royal icing, using egg whites, from Joy of BAKING. I also added red colouring to the icing. It turned out to be a really cool pink icing!

Cool the brownies before applying the icing.

I practically slapped the icing on top, the way Nigella did.

Sprinkle some rainbow-coloured bits before the icing is set.

Viola! 23 brownies for a 24yr old BB (Big Bird). The batter wasn't enough for 24 as I wanted.

Chocolate Brownie Cakes with Blueberry Chocolate Sauce

Source: New Zealand Woman's Weekly

250g butter
1/2 cup cocoa
100g dark chocolate
1 1/4 cups sugar (I use granulated sugar)
4 eggs
2 tsps vanilla essence
1 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder

Place butter, cocoa and chocolate in a large saucepan. Melt over a medium heat.
Stir in sugar. Allow to cool.
Beat in eggs and vanilla. Shift over flour and baking powder and combine well.
Pour into 12 muffin-cup-lined muffin pans.
Bake at 180 degrees C for 12 mins. (It took me more than 12 mins, almost double the time stated)
Serve cakes warm with blueberry and chocolate sauce.

Blueberry and Chocolate Sauce

100g dark chocolate
250g blueberries
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbsps cocoa
1 tbsp custard powder
1/2 cup milk

Break up chocolate.
Place blueberries in a saucepan with chocolate, sugar, cocoa, custard powder and milk.
Stir over a low heat until chocolate melts and sauce thickens.

Special note:I find the Royal Icing's taste kinda weird, and the powdery taste as well. Do try and let me know if you feel the same too.