INGREDIENTS
- 1/3 cup water
- 4 tsp. instant coffee granules
- 1 package plain yellow cake mix with pudding
- 3/4 cup milk
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup miniature chocolate chips
DIRECTIONS
- Then you:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cupcake pan with paper liners. (This recipe makes 2 dozen.) Place the water and instant coffee in a small glass liquid measuring cup and microwave on high for 40 seconds. Remove and stir until coffee is dissolved. Set aside to cool for 5 minutes.
- Place cake mix, milk, oil, eggs and coffee in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer* on low for 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula and beat on medium for 2 more minutes.
- Fold in 1 cup of mini chocolate chips, spoon 1/3 cup batter into each lined cupcakes cup, filling each 3/4 of the way full.
- Bake the cupcakes until they spring back when lightly touched with your finger, about 18-20 minutes. Allow cupcakes to cool in pans for 5 minutes, then remove from pans and cool thoroughly on wire racks.
- For the mocha buttercream you will need:
- (from Rosie’s Bakery All Butter Fresh Cream Sugar Packed No Holds Barred Baking Book by Judy Rosenberg)
- * 1/4 cup instant coffee powder
- * 2 tsp water
- * 8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature
- * 1/4 cup confectioners sugar
- * 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy (whipping) cream, chilled
- Then you:
- Dissolve the coffee in the water.
- Place all ingredients in a food processor and process until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Stop the machine several times to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
- Transfer the buttercream to a medium sized mixing bowl and, using the paddle attachment of an electric mixer, continue to beat on medium-high speed, until the buttercream is white and fluffy, 15 to 20 minutes. Stop the mixer to scrape the bowl several times with a rubber spatula (If you do not have a paddle attachment, you can use the whisk).
- Use the buttercream for frosting within an hour or it will need rewhipping.
- I piled the frosting on and topped each cake with a shard of candy. You could also sprinkle them with the rest of your mini chips or with roasted cracked coffee or espresso beans. For a Mexican twist, add 1 tsp. ground cinnamon to the batter. Ole!
