charlotte-charles:

Valentine’s Day Mini Mocha Cupcakes
(makes 48 mini cupcakes, ~16 regular cupcakes, 9x9 cake)

         ♥     2 eggs
         ♥     1/3 cup instant coffee
         ♥     2/3 cup white sugar
         ♥     1 tsp vanilla
         ♥     1/4 cup butter (4 tbsp)
         ♥     ~1 cup milk chocolate chips (about half a bag)
         ♥     1 3/4 cup flour
         ♥     2 tsp baking powder
         ♥     pinch of salt
         ♥     1/3 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 F. Beat eggs in a large bowl. Stir in instant coffee until individual grounds can’t be seen. Add sugar and vanilla; mix well. Melt butter with chocolate chips in microwave for about 45 seconds. Stir melted chocolate until smooth and mix into large bowl until creamy. Combine flour, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl, then slowly mix into large bowl, adding milk as needed to maintain batter consistency (you may need more or less than 1/3 cup). Grease mini cupcake pan or use mini cupcake liners and fill each cup 3/4 with batter. Bake for about 15 minutes until tops are porous. If you’re making regular cupcakes or a cake, baking time will be longer.

Frost with chocolate or vanilla icing of your choice. Top with diced strawberries. In the photo I used homemade cream cheese frosting for the white icing and chocolate buttercream frosting for the others (try using hot chocolate mix instead of cocoa powder!). Happy Valentine’s Day!