The key to making magic in the kitchen is to work with ingredients and produce that are in season. It's safe to say these "Perfect Espresso Chocolate Cupcakes with Nutella Buttercream" turned out several times better than what I had envisioned beforehand.
Notes:
- In order to substitute buttermilk you can simply add tsp of white vinegar to 1 cup of normal everyday use milk and let it sit for 5 minutes so that it slightly froths from the top.
- To make the coffee as required by the recipe, simply add 1 tbsp of Nestle instant coffee granules to 1 cup of hot boiling water and stir.
Ingredients:
Makes 12 cupcakes.
(Espresso
Chocolate Cupcakes)
75
grams butter
½
tsp vanilla powder
3dl
flour
1dl
cocoa powder
1
tsp baking soda
1
tsp baking powder
2
½ dl white sugar
1
large egg
1
dl hot strong coffee
1
½ dl buttermilk
(Nutella
Buttercream)
1
1/2 cups butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
pinch of salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup Nutella
3 cups powdered sugar
pinch of salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup Nutella
Method:
1.
Preheat oven to 175 degrees Celsius. Line a
cupcake tin with 12 cupcake liners.
2.
Melt the butter, add the vanilla essence
and let it cool.
3.
Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and
baking powder and sugar into a large bowl.
4.
Light whip the egg together with the
buttermilk.
5.
Mix the coffee with the butter.
6.
Add all liquid ingredients to dry
ingredients until a smooth, liquid-like batter forms.
7.
Divide mixture between the cupcake liners
and make sure to fill only up to 2/3 in each liner.
8.
Bake for 18-20 minute or until toothpick
comes out clean when inserted into the centre of any cupcake. Let the cupcakes
cool for a good 2-3 hours before frosting.
9.
In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand
mixer, beat the butter until it is light and fluffy.
10.
Gradually add the powdered sugar and salt,
beating until smooth.
11.
Add vanilla and beat until combined. Add
Nutella and beat until light and fluffy.
12.
Frost cooled cupcakes using a Wilton 1M
piping tip with a top-sided swirl, add a sliced strawberry and dust with icing
sugar to complete the look.
(recipe adapted from here)
