Vanilla Cupcakes with Mocha Frosting
2 dozen cupcakes
1 c. butter (2 sticks), at room temperature
2 c. sugar
4 eggs, at room temperature
1 T. vanilla extract
1 c. milk
2 1/2 c. flour
1 T. baking powder
1 t. salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 24 cupcake tins with paper liners
1. With the paddle attachment on a stand mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy
2. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl. Mix in vanilla
3. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients, whisking to combine
4. Add dry ingredients to butter/sugar mixture alternating with milk and beating well after each addition, until batter is smooth
5. Divide the batter evenly among the 24 prepared cupcake tins and bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes until the centers spring back when touched and a cake tester inserted into the centers comes out with a few crumbs on it.
Allow to cool in the pan for a few minutes before carefully removing the cupcakes to racks. Cool completely before frosting
Mocha Frosting
This recipe frosts a dozen cupcakes generously, double it for a batch of vanilla cupcakes or do as we do and whip up a few varieties of frosting for each batch.
4 oz. unsweetened chocolate squared
16 oz. powdered sugar
½ c. butter (1 stick), at room temperature
2 t. vanilla
1/3 c. milk
1 t. instant espresso powder, or more to taste
1. Melt chocolate in a microwave safe bowl for 90 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds. Stir until melted, cool completely
2. Dissolve the espresso powder in half of the milk
3. With the paddle attachment on a stand mixer, mix sugar, chocolate, butter and vanilla. Slowly add the milk & espresso mixture with the mixture on low, add remaining milk until frosting is a smooth, spreading consistency, adding more espresso powder if desired. Beat well until fluffy. If frosting is too thick, add more milk one tablespoon at a time.
4. Dollop frosting evenly among the 24 cupcakes, spread to cover.
This post originally appeared as a guest post at Domestic Adventure. 