Mocha Cupcakes with Walnuts

Now that I'm all settled in the new house (just don't look in the guest room -- it's scary in there -- and while you're at it, don't go in the office either), I thought it was time to go out, mingle a little, and join a few food blogging events. Laurie at Quirky Cupcake was speaking my language when she asked for cupcakes made with coffee in honor of her husband's birthday.

The fruits of my labor:

Lemme tell you the problem with most cakes and cupcakes: it's that whole 'cool on rack' part towards of the end of the recipe. Who wants to wait that long to pound back a slice of divine-looking cake or down a cute cupcake in three bites?

This recipe has thought of everything. You get to eat these warm!

They're so moist and dripping with chocolate that I actually ate mine standing over the kitchen sink so I wouldn't make a total mess of myself. True, I could have grabbed a napkin and taken a seat at the table like a civilized human being but it was just so good I didn't want to stop after the first warm and gooey bite.

The original recipe is here and was meant to be a sheet cake with pecans, but all I had in the house was walnuts so I toasted up some of those and sprinkled away. I also added some instant espresso powder to the frosting to give it an extra coffee kick. I halved the original recipe and ended up with ten cupcakes. Here goes:

Mocha Cupcakes with Toasted Walnuts

1 stick unsalted butter, divided

1/2 cup strong brewed coffee or 1 teaspoon instant coffee, dissolved in 1/2 cup hot water

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, divided

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 cup all purpose flour

1 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup buttermilk

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract, divided

3 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoon instant espresso powder

Half of a 1-pound box powdered sugar

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, toasted

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a cupcake pan with 10 paper cups. Stir 1/4 cup butter, coffee, 1/4 cup cocoa and vegetable oil in heavy small saucepan over medium heat until smooth. Remove saucepan from heat. Stir flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in large bowl until blended. Whisk in cocoa mixture. Whisk buttermilk, eggs and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in medium bowl until blended. Add to flour mixture and blend well. Spread batter in prepared cupcake pan.

Bake until tester inserted into center of cupcakes comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer to rack.

Meanwhile, stir milk and remaining 1/4 cup butter, 1/4 cup cocoa, and the instant espresso powder in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat until smooth. Bring mixture to boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add powdered sugar and remaining 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and whisk until smooth.

Spread frosting over warm cupcakes and sprinkle with nuts.

Comments

[laurie]

OMG they look good. Seriously, insanely good. And I agree, who waits for them to cool to try them out? I dont think thats ever happened here. Ever.

Thanks so much Molly! Kick-ass recipe!

[Patricia Scarpin]

They are luscious, Molly! Yum!

[Linda]

This looks GOOOOOOD!

I can't wait to give it a go!

[Stephanie]

WOWIE! I wish I could have a bite!

[jaos]

Those look great. When I'm "evaluating" cupcakes I always scarf one down fresh out of the oven over the sink. :)

[Tempered Woman]

Congrats~ Way to score the trophy! I'm definitely going to have to try this recipe out. If Laurie says these are the best chocolate cupcakes evah then that really means something girlfriend. Don't let all the glory go to your head tho...there is still February. HAH! Major props Cupcake Hero!

[Tempered Woman]

Congrats~ Way to score the trophy! I'm definitely going to have to try this recipe out. If Laurie says these are the best chocolate cupcakes evah then that really means something girlfriend. Don't let all the glory go to your head tho...there is still February. HAH! Major props Cupcake Hero!

[CB]

Congratulations Ms. January Cupcake Hero! Agree with Tempered... If Laurie says they rock, they must ROCK. Great job!
-Clara
http://iheartcuppycakes.wordpress.com

[Dawn]

Congrats on your Hero win. I'm totally making these today if I have the ingredients. Its a snow day today so I think coffe & chocolate will be perfect!

[Dawn]

Sorry, me again. But where did you find instant espresso powder? I've been looking for it and I can't find it anywhere. I've had to just use instant coffee instead.

[molly]

Thanks everyone. I had no idea I was the hero till I read your comments this morning so woohoo!
Dawn, I've had the little bottle of instant espresso powder in my cupboard so long I can't remember where I got it but I'm sure it was at an average grocery store. It's a really small glass bottle, not a huge can like most coffee comes in. Hope that helps you spot it on a store shelf somewhere!

[Dawn]

Ok, I'm being a comment hog, but these are SOOO good! They are certainly rich & chocolately, but I have no problem with that! This is the first homemade chocolate cake recipe that I can say I didn't say "if only it had...". I will probably be playing with this base to see what other magic flavors I can come up with. I love the way it rose.

[Mary]

Congratulations on your hero win! These look fabulous! I will have to make them!

[Liliana]

Congratulations! Your cupcakes look divine!

Chocolate and coffee - heaven! I have to bake these cupcakes.

We're expecting a snowstorm here tomorrow and what better time to bake and eat cupcakes! Actualy anytime is good to each cupcakes!

[PrissyCook]

Congratulations on your cupcake hero victory! WOOT!

[Judith]

This looks amazing!

I do have one little question. You say to use heavy saucepans, and I've seen this a lot with saucepans. What qualifies as "heavy?" Does this mean something like copper-bottom revereware? I don't have a ton of extra money, but maybe I'll get one if I know what I'm looking for since it keeps coming up :-)

[molly]

Hey Judith, whenever they say to use a heavy pan or skillet, I just grab whatever is handy, no matter how light or heavy it is. I'm sure it makes a difference somehow but I'm not too detail-oriented about such things.

[howtoeatacupcake]

Wow.... I want those!! Warm cupcakes are THE BEST!

[thestudiouscook]

Hey! really nice cupcakes:) I didn't have buttermilk so I used yogurt instead. I think they still turned out pretty good. And they looked amazing! Thanks! I'll be posting my pics on my blog soon.