{cappuccino chocolate chip cupcakes}

I have been experimenting with some cappuccino chocolate chip cupcakes in hopes I can get it right and deliver them to our downstairs neighbors (who we need to desperately apologize to for little running feet above their heads all day long!) and for the apartment office staff.... Because I am sure those ladies would love something a little decadent for their long days here! Right?! 

Well, not sure if these are decadent yet, but they are pretty good, so I am sharing tonight. :) 

Cappuccino Chocolate Chip Cupcakes 

{cake} 

2/3 cup Butter, very soft

1-3/4 cups Sugar

    ^^ Cream together very well! 

2 Eggs, at room tempature (about 30 minutes resting on counter) 

     >> beat into sugar/butter mixture, one at a time 

2 tsp. Vanilla, add to the above ^^ 

In separate bowl combine:

2-1/2 cups Flour 

2-1/2 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Salt

1-1/4 cups Milk

1-3 Tbsp. Instant Coffee granules 

     ^^ Mix together until coffee granules dissolve 

     ^^Alternating between the Milk/Coffee and the Flour mixture >> Add to the Butter/Sugar/Eggs mixture; beating well. 

      >>Add to batter chopped Semi-Sweet/Unsweetened Chocolate and/or Chocolate Chips. 

Optional: 1 tsp. Cinnamon, chopped Pecans, whole chocolate chips

Fill cupcake pans with liners and fill each liner about 3/4's full of cake batter. 

Bake at 350* for approx. 12-15 minutes, or until tooth pick inserted into the middle comes clean. 

Cool, frost.  Then.............  << EAT!!! >> 

{Chocolate Ganache}

4 Tbsp. Butter >> melt in microwave (30 sec or less!) 

3 Tbsp. Milk

2 Tbsp. Baking Cocoa 

     ^^ add milk and cocoa, microwave 20-30 seconds more

1-1/2 cups Confectioners Sugar

Vanilla extract 

Coffee Flavor Extract

     ^^ mix all together. 

Frost cupcakes with the Chocolate Ganache. 

When the ganache has set frost the tops with Buttercream Frosting. (Which I have not been able to try yet! :)

Enjoy! 

{Buttercream Frosting}

3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter

     ^^In a standing mixer fitted with a whisk, mix together sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 to 2 tablespoons whipping cream
     >> Add vanilla and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute more, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency.

Recipe courtesy of http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/quick-vanilla-buttercream-frosting-recipe.html

{Espresso Cream Cheese Frosting}

6 oz. Cream Cheese, softened

1 Tbsp. Butter, softened

3/4-1 cup Confectioners Sugar 

1/2 tsp. Instant Coffee granules 

1/4 tsp. Almond or Vanilla Extract

1/4 cup miniature semisweet Chocolate Chips 

     ^^ Mix altogether and frost! Optional, leave out the choc chips and garnish cupcakes with the mini chips ;) http://www.thebettermom.com/2014/08/29/cinnamon-cappuccino-muffins-might-help-change-world/#comment-117374. (These muffins are really yummy and are the original inspiration for my cupcakes :) ) 

I cannot wait to try both of these latter frostings!!! If you try them, let me know please :) ~enjoy~ 

P.S. If curious.... These cupcakes are topped with the chocolate ganache, and then have a topsy turvy cream cheese frosting (called such because it didn't turn out like my favorite cream cheese frosting, but it still tasted yummy, lol!)