Mocha Cupcakes with Coffee Buttercream

Hey Guys! 

Here's my first recipe I am sharing on my blog. I hope you all enjoy!



For the Mocha cupcakes:
1⅓ cups all-purpose flour
⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup whole milk
½ cup strong brewed coffee
1½ teaspoons espresso powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup light brown sugar
1 egg, at room temperature

For the Coffee Buttercream:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2½ cups powdered sugar
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
¼ Cup of strong brewed coffee
1 tbsp half & half or heavy cream
pinch of salt


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a standard-size muffin tin with paper liners.
Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
Beat the butter and both sugars together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the egg and beat until combined.
In a measuring cup, combine the milk, brewed coffee mixture and vanilla.
Slowly add the coffee mixture. Mix on medium speed until fully incorporated.
Add flour mixture in 3 batches. Mixing slowly until incorporated.
Divide the batter evenly between the 12 liners.
Baking for 17-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting cupcakes.

For the Coffee Buttercream:
Mix the strongly brewed coffee into the vanilla; set aside.
Using the whisk attachment of a stand mixer, whip the butter on medium-high speed for 5 minutes, stopping once to scrape the sides of the bowl.
Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the powdered sugar a little at a time, waiting until it is mostly incorporated before adding more.
Once all of the powdered sugar has been added, scrape the sides of the bowl and increase the speed to medium-high and whip until fluffy, about a minute or two.
Add the coffee mixture, salt, half & half or heavy cream, and the vanilla mixture and continue to mix at medium-high until it is completely incorporated, scraping the sides as necessary.