Chocolate Cupcakes w/ Coffee Cream Cheese Frosting!

Yesterday I made dinner and dessert for my whole family.  I made some easy Chicken Quesadillas, with Spanish rice and my homemade guacamole, and then for dessert I made a coffee cupcake with a coffee cream cheese frosting.  So the dinner was a success, but the coffee cupcake, well let's just say it wasn't the best.  The frosting was amazing though!  That's why I'll tell you how to make a CHOCOLATE cupcake with the same coffee cream cheese frosting!  I got this chocolate cupcake recipe searching online.


Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar (NOT PACKED)
1 3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup boiling water


Directions:


Preheat the oven to  350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Fill muffin pans with 24 cupcake liners.  Mix dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl.  Add the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla.  Beat with the mixer for about 2 minutes, occasionally scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula.   Add the boiling water and beat until just blended. (DON'T BE ALARMED THE BATTER WILL APPEAR VERY WATERY!)  Evenly pour the batter into the liners.  Bake for 20-25 minutes.


 Coffee Frosting Ingredients:


one 8-ounce package cream cheese, (room temperature)
2 tablespoons evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 cups confectioners sugar
4 teaspoons instant coffee grounds or ground espresso beans.


Directions:


In a medium bowl beat together the cream cheese and evaporated milk until smooth.  Add the remaining ingredients and beat until desired spreading consistency is achieved.
I also added decided I'd add a little caramel sauce on the top for a pretty decoration and some more flavor! :)


Caramel Sauce:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 stick butter
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Directions:
In a saucepan over medium heat, bring the brown sugar, butter, and cream to a boil.  Reduce the heat to a simmer and continue stirring for 5 minutes.  Remove from the heat.  Stir in the vanilla.  Pour the warm caramel topping over the cupcakes.  Enjoy! :)


Thanks
Alyssa :)

Vanilla Iced Coffee

I got this amazing vanilla iced coffee drink from a cookbook called Jackson Hole Cooks. This recipe is super quick and really good! Here's the recipe!

Ingredients:
I cup fresh brewed coffee
1 cup 2% skim milk (I didn't actually use skim milk)
3/4 tsp vanilla extract (I used 1 whole teaspoon)
1 tbsp. granulated sugar
ice cubes
ground cinnamon


Directions:
Mix the coffee, milk, vanilla and sugar together in a pitcher.  Stir well to combine.


Place the ice cubes into two ice tea or other tall, 12-oz. glasses.  Pour the coffee mixture into the glasses.  If desired, lightly sprinkle with ground cinnamon.  Enjoy! :)


P.S. At the bottom of my blog, I have 3 boxes that you can check off.  One of the boxes say Amazing, the other one says OK and then the last one says Not good.  So if you try these recipes please mark off the boxes so I know which ones you enjoy or are not a big fan of.  Thank you!


Thanks
Alyssa :)