Double Espresso Chocolate Cupcakes! But first…
Last month, my hubby decided he wanted to buy an espresso machine and started doing A LOT of research. Once he narrowed it down to a few faves, he had me watch some YouTube videos on how each worked. There really is a YouTube video for EVERYTHING, isn’t there!?! They all looked fine to me, but he was determined to get one that I would actually use on a regular basis. You see, as much as I love to cook and bake, I am the laziest when it comes to making coffee. I LOVE and NEED coffee, but I rarely make it. And if I HAVE to, I’ll just call him at work to see how much coffee to use. haha. On top of that, if no freshly brewed (or even 2-day old) coffee is available, I’ll just drink instant. See? LA-ZY!
So below is the one he chose, from Whole Latte Love. It does it all and is as automated as an espresso machine can get. It can even do one-button cappuccinos simply by inserting a milk carafe! I love it and actually use it on a daily basis. Good job, Sweetie! Thank you and congrats – you’ve turned me into a cappuccino and even espresso junkie yet! In fact, one day, I accidentally drank 3 cappuccinos in the course of 6 hours while intently blogging and couldn’t understand why I was so jittery and unable to concentrate. haha. Needless to say, I certainly haven’t made THAT mistake again!
We got this fancy machine around Thanksgiving, when we were hosting my family. He was pretty excited about it and started planning all sorts of goodies to make. Homemade vanilla ice cream, homemade mint ice cream using his homegrown mint and even these double espresso chocolate cupcakes below made the top of his list! For the record, he is NOT a fan of coffee flavored products (ie cupcakes, desserts, ice cream, etc) but he knows my family is and was pretty eager to put his new toy to work. One afternoon, he decided to tackle all three of these at once, but making the two ice creams simultaneously took its toll on his stress levels. haha. That’s when I stepped in to make the cupcakes.
Here are those Double Espresso Chocolate Cupcakes with all of their beautiful glory. Man, were they yummy! My family loved them and so did Sweetie! Below is the recipe, also from Whole Latte Love. Looks like they no longer have the recipe on their website, so I’ll include it in this post. Give them a try. But, make sure you don’t make them while you’re making 2 different kinds of ice cream! I followed the recipe to a T and they turned out great.
Double Espresso Chocolate Cupcakes
Ingredients
Espresso Cupcakes:
- 4 oz espresso
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temp
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 2/3 cup cake flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
Mocha Frosting:
- 10 tbsp butter, softened
- 1 shot espresso (1.5 oz)
- 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 3-4 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
Espresso Cupcakes:
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Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line about 18 regular-sized muffin tins with wrappers or roughly double that for mini-cupcakes.
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In a small bowl, mix together espresso, cocoa powder and vanilla. Set aside to cool.
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In a second bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
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In a third large bowl (sorry), cream together butter and sugar until smooth.
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Add in eggs, one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each one.
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Next, add 1/3 of the flour mixture and 1/2 of the sour cream into the third bowl (butter/sugar/eggs) and blend together.
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Repeat adding 1/2 of the flour mixture that's left and the rest of the sour cream and blend once more.
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Mix in remaining flour along with the espresso mixture and beat thoroughly.
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Pour batter into muffin pans, filling them about 2/3 full.
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Bake for 16-18 minutes for regular-sized cupcakes (about 14-16 for mini-cupcakes) or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.
Mocha Frosting:
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Using an electric mixer, whip butter until nice and fluffy.
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Add cocoa powder and mix in completely.
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Next, whip in espresso until well-blended.
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Gradually add powdered sugar until you reach the desired consistency of frosting.
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Refrigerate frosting for about 10 minutes before spreading it on cupcakes (that should be completely cooled).
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Enjoy!
And I just gotta throw this pic in here of the yummy cappuccinos that I’ve become addicted to. I’m not sure if it’s the delicious taste or the loveliness of these snowflake mugs from Crate and Barrel, but I just can’t get enough of ’em! I don’t know what I’ll do when spring comes, when snowflake mugs won’t seem as “cozy” but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there… Ok, we got there and I still use them! Throughout the whole year, actually! haha.
Thanks so much for stopping by! Feel free to make my day by leaving me a comment, following my blog via email, on Facebook or on Instagram – the more the merrier!
Christine, aka happyvballgirl 🙂
To check out items used in this post or some of my favorites, simply click here: “Products I Love“. Purchases made using these links earns me a little extra cash to support my bento habit, which Hubby really appreciates. Haha! So, THANK YOU, should you choose to purchase any of ’em!
This post is shared at:
Homemade Mondays
Clever Chicks Blog Hop
Diana Rambles’ Friday Pin Me Party
Adorned from Above
Disclosure: This blog contains affiliate links. 🙂
Lisa Lynn
these sound awesome! Thanks for sharing this on The Creative HomeAcre Hop! Hope to see you this Sunday at:
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/03/the-creative-homeacre-hop-7.html
Our Neck of the Woods
Oh my gosh, these look so yummy! And they are so pretty, too! I could definitely go for one right about now 🙂
Visiting from The Creative HomeAcre Hop 🙂
Tammy
ourneckofthewoods.net
Kathy Shea Mormino
Hello, new follower here and I’d like to invite you to join me at my weekly
Clever Chicks Blog Hop:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/01/clever-chicks-blog-hop-16-hogwash-soaps.html
I hope you can make it!
Cheers,
Kathy Shea Mormino
The Chicken Chick
happyvballgirl
Thanks so much for the invite, Kathy! Sorry i missed it this week, but I hope to join up next time! Did join your GFC, though! 🙂
Kathy Shea Mormino
Thanks for following. I'm looking forward to more coffee-related recipes! 🙂
Diana - FreeStyleMama
These look divine! Thanks for linking up!!!
happyvballgirl
My pleaure, my dear. Thank YOU for continually hosting! Love the link ups! 🙂
Melanie
Yum!!
Looks great!
Thanks so much for sharing at Wednesday's Adorned From Above Blog Hop.
Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above
Melanie @ Keep It Simple & Fun
happyvballgirl
Hi Melanie! Thanks for co-hosting! 🙂
HungryLittleGirl
Looking at how delicious these cupcakes look, I never want to actually drink my espresso again, but only eat it 🙂
Thank you for sharing this at Wednesday Extravaganza – hope to see you there again this week with more deliciousness 🙂
happyvballgirl
Haha! Thanks, Jutta! Thanks for hosting and i'll be back! 🙂
Stephanie Michaels
Number one I am so jealous of your cappuccino machine! Fortunately for me coffee/chocolate combo is one of my favorites! They look wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing on Super Sweet Saturday.
Steph
swtboutique.com
happyvballgirl
Haha, Stephanie! Thanks for stopping by and thanks so much for the invite and hosting! 🙂
Anonymous
Here's one to try: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/drunk-monkey-muffins/
happyvballgirl
Thanks, Leah! 🙂
Organized Island
Hi! I am here from the Pin Me party and I LOVE cupcakes! I have not tried expresso cupcakes so I am pinning these to make in 2013. Happy New Year! Following you on Twitter.
happyvballgirl
Awesome! Thanks for pinning and following on Twitter! Just followed ya back. 🙂 Happy New Year! 🙂
Alexis AKA MOM
OH my they look wonderful! I would love to have a Espresso machine! I may have to go steal my parents .. lol. stopping by from Pin Me 🙂
happyvballgirl
Thank you, Alexis and Haha! I promise I won't tell! lol. I never would have been sucked into the world of espressos and cappuccinos if it weren't for the hubby and now I'm an addict! 🙂
Jeff Taylor
Surprisingly good cupcakes, for being coffee-flavored. And you are welcome for refining hour coffee taste buds. 😉
happyvballgirl
Haha! You are too good to me! 🙂 ilu.
anna muhovich
Where did you find your machine?? I've been looking for one for my husband that is simple to use yet a quality machine! Thank you so much! Anna of Luvsexytrstno1's Ravings luvsexytrstno1@hotmail.com
happyvballgirl
My husband got it online from Whole Latte Love (don't you just love the name?!?!) http://www.wholelattelove.com/ They have QUITE a few to choose from. And so many videos/tutorials to check out. Good luck on your search, Anna!