Mocha Cupcakes

Name: Mocha Cupcakes
Yield: makes 24
Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups cake flour (not self-rising), sifted; 2 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder; 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature; 1 1/2 cups packed light-brown sugar; 2 large eggs, room temperature; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature; 3/4 cup freshly brewed espresso; 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder (not instant coffee); Seven-Minute Frosting (coffee variation, page 303); Coffee beans, for garnish

January 24, 2012

Dramatic peaks of coffee-flavored seven-minute frosting and a single coffee bean crown mocha cupcakes; the coffee variation of Swiss meringue buttercream (page 305) and chocolate-covered espresso beans would be delicious substitutions.

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