Chocolate Espresso Cupcakes

Foodie Lit

Cupcakes are such a great dessert—just the right size, easy to eat and great to take on a picnic, even if it's in your own back yard!. Make the mini-muffins for little ones at your table—they adore the size.

I have fallen in love with espresso powder. It gives a great taste of coffee and adds depth to chocolate cakes and icings. I use it in struessel too.

With the 4th of July just around the corner, ice with a vanilla icing and decorate with red and blue sprinkles. For chocoholics, ice with chocolate icing (add a bit of espresso powder. You'll love it!)

Recipe is below.

Chocolate Espresso Cupcakes

Yield 2 dozen

3 cups flour

6 tablespoons cocoa powder

2 teaspoons espresso powder

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 eggs, beaten

1½ cup milk of choice

2/3 cup vegetable oil

Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Make well in center.
Combine eggs, milk and oil. Add all at once to dry ingredients, stirring until just moistened.
Fill greased muffin pan or paper cup liners. Fill 2/3 full and bake at 375 for 15-18 minutes.
Ice and decorate with red and blue sprinkles or as desired.

Creamy Butter Icing

2 tablespoons butter
1 cup confectioner’s sugar
2 tablespoons milk
½ teaspoon vanilla

Cream butter and sugar together.
Add milk and vanilla and mix until smooth.
Ice the cup cakes.

Expandthetable suggestions

Chocolate Chips: Fold in 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips into batter.

Nutty Muffins: Add 1 cup chopped walnuts, pecans or almonds.

Oreo cookie cupcakes. Sprinkle 5 crumbled cookies on top of cupcakes and bake.

Streusel Toppings: Combine ingredients together: 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted; 1/2 cup sugar; and 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder. Sprinkle of top of cupcakes. Bake as directed.

Vegan: Substitute one of the following for the 2 eggs. Add ½ teaspoon additional plus the ingredient listed: 1/2 cup applesauce; ½ cup mashed bananas; ½ cup silken tofu. Use dairy free chocolate chips in 1

Gluten Free: Use gluten free flour.

Dairy Free: Use any dairy free milk, such as almond or soy.

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