#43 Chocolate Espresso Cupcakes

Have You Got Your Copy Yet???

This Better Homes and Gardens Cupcake Addition is amazing!!! I actually came across this in Haggen's in the checkout line when I was on a mission to find espresso powder. Good thing I did since I was in a frenzy trying to find a tasty recipe for espresso cupcakes. Totally worth the 10 bucks!! If you're a coffee lover then this cupcake will do the trick and also give you a dosage of caffeine too.

Chocolate Espresso Cupcakes (pg 97)

Not a huge fan of coffee but the espresso really gave the chocolate a deep rich flavor.

The Goods
3/4 cup butter room temp
3 eggs room temp
1 3/4 cups flour sifted
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk room temp
1/2cup strong brewed coffee, cooled
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips/pieces

The How To

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Brew your coffee and and add the milk then set aside to cool. In a medium bowl stir together, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

In  the bowl of a stand mixer combine butter and sugar and beat on medium-high speed for 3mins.

sorry the picture is a little blurry :(

Turn the speed down to medium-low and add the eggs one at a time beating well after each addition.

Add vanilla.

Turn down the speed to low and add the flour mixture in alternating with the cooled coffee. Stir in chocolate pieces.

Toss the chocolate pieces in flour before and this will help prevent them from sinking to the bottom.

Fill the cupcake liners about 3/4 full. Bake for 18mins rotating half way through the bake time.Test cupcake with a toothpick or touch the top of the cake and if it springs back they are done. Let cool on wire rack for 5mins then remove from tin and let cool completely before adding ganache.

Chocolate Ganache

I actually had some left over from the last set of cupcakes I did but you can get the How To here.

Espresso Chocolate Buttercream

The original recipe doesn't have you add the chocolate but I thought the espresso was a little over powering so I add a blob of chocolate ganache.

The Goods

1/3 cup butter room temp

4 cups powdered sugar

3 tablespoons strong coffee cooled

1 teaspoon vanilla

*optional chocolate ganache add to taste

The How To

In the bowl of the stand mixer beat butter on medium speed until smooth about 3mins.

Turn down the speed and gradually add on cup of powdered sugar.

Beat in 3 tablespoons of the cooled coffee and vanilla.

This is when you should taste test and decide if you want to add the chocolate ganache or not.

Now it's time to assemble these suckers!

Take the cooled cupcake and slather on a layer of ganche.

Now top them off with a dollop of frosting and a sprinkle of some powdered cocoa and cinnamon (I mixed together about a tablespoon of each).

Eat your heart out Starbucks!!!

Up Next...

Mustard Cupcakes

#42 St. Patty's Day Cupcakes

What a great holiday!!! Nothing like having an excuse to drink something with food coloring in it!! lol In honor of this beer happy holiday I went with a Guinness chocolate cupcake topped with chocolate ganache and green Bailey's Irish Cream frosting. Not a bad combination!!! The stout gave the chocolate a nice rich flavor and the bailey's frosting was creamy and didn't overpower the stout. If you make these a day before hand I noticed that the beer flavor becomes a little more prominent. So go grab Guinness and your green food coloring and have a great day!

Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes (courtesy of Annie's Eats)
 Did you know.... Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. Jame's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide.


The Goods
1 cup Guinness
2 sticks of unsalted butter room temp
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups flour sifted
2cups sugar
1  1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4teaspoon salt
2 lg eggs room temp
2/3 cup sour cream room temp


The How To
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt.

In a medium size sauce pan combine stout and butter over medium heat. Whisk in cocoa powder until smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.

A little beer and butter please!!

Wait til all the butter is melted before adding the chocolate

Whisk in chocolate

Let cool at least 5-10mins before adding to the eggs and sour cream. If it starts to separate just whisk it until smooth.

In the bowl of a stand mixer combine eggs and sour cream.

Slowly add in the chocolate mixture on low speed.



Not sure what that funky spot is but in real life it looked like smooth chocolate.

 Mix in the dry ingredients on low speed until just combined.

Divide the batter evenly between the cupcake liners, filling them about two thirds full. Bake for 12mins (18mins for regular size) rotating the pan half way through the bake time. Allow to cool in the pan for 6mins then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

This recipe makes 6 dozen minis and 2 dozen regular size

While the cupcakes are cooling go ahead and make the Chocolate Ganache.


The Goods
8oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
2/3 cup heavy whipping cream


The How To
Place the chocolate in a heatproof blow.

Heat the cream in a small saucepan until simmering, then pour it over the chocolate.

Let set for a minute then whisk until smooth. Set it aside to cool or put into the fridge and use later.

Green Bailey's Frosting
Start with just 3 tablespoons of Bailey's and add more for desired taste.
 The Goods
1 stick of butter room temp
3 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons Bailey's Irish Cream
1 tablespoon milk


The How To
Place butter in the bowl of the stand mixer and beat on medium speed for 3mins until light and fluffy.

Slowly add  2 cups of powdered sugar. Then add 2 tablespoons of the Bailey's and 1 tablespoon milk.

Add the last cup of sugar and 1 tablespoon of Bailey's. Mix in the green food coloring.

Before frosting add a layer of the chocolate ganache to the tops of the cupcakes.

Now add the lovely green frosting.

Up Next...
Espresso Chocolate Cupcakes