Caramel Creme Latte cupcakes

When my good friend Chrissy asked me to make cupcakes for her in-laws that were coming to visit her family here in Germany, I couldn't say no.  Joe and Liz are from Oregon and love coffee, so I thought what better than a coffee based cupcake! 

But who are we kidding though... just coffee? Seriously, I had to spice things up a bit!! A little Irish Creme, a little caramel, a little brown sugar and cinnamon and BAM... you've got these super delicious Caramel Creme Latte cupcakes!

These cupcakes are moist, dense and full of flavor. I wanted to make sure they had a stronger coffee flavor, so I added both brewed coffee and espresso powder. I think that combo, plus the few extras I threw in, really did the trick.

Caramel Crème Latte cupcakes
Makes about 1 ½ dozen regular size cupcakes and 12 mini cupcakes

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 ½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon espresso powder
¼ teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup strongly brewed coffee, cooled to warm
¼ cup milk
¼ cup Irish crème liquor (I used Bailey's)

12 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
1 ⅓ cups sugar
½ cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
6 large egg yolks

1. Brew the coffee and set aside to cool.
2. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees and line Cupcake pans with liners.
3. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, espresso powder and cinnamon. Set aside.
4. In a measuring cup that pours, mix together the coffee, milk and Irish crème.
5. With an electric mixer or hand mixer, cream the butter and sugars together.  One at a time, add the eggs and mix after each.
6. Add a third of the flour mixture and beat on slow just until incorporated.
7. Add half the coffee/milk and mix until combined.  Scrape the sides of the bowl. Repeat with remaining flour and coffee/milk. NOTE: Make sure to only mix until the flour and liquid are combined, do not over mix!
8. Fill cupcake liners ¾ full.
9. Bake for 18 minutes.  Rotate pan after 12 minutes.
10. Let cool for at least 10 minutes in the pan before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Espresso Buttercream

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 lbs powdered sugar, sifted
2 tablespoon espresso powder, divided
2 tablespoon hot water
¼- ½ cup milk or cream

1. Gently heat ½ cup of milk in a small pan.  Dissolve 1 tablespoon espresso powder in milk.  Set aside to cool.
2. Dissolve 1 tablespoon espresso powder in 2 tablespoon hot water.  Set aside to cool.
3. With an electric or hand mixer, cream the butter.
4. One cup at a time, add the sugar.  Mix until smooth, scraping the sides after each addition.
5. Add the water/espresso powder, mix.
6. Continue adding the powdered sugar, alternate with a tablespoon of the milk.  Only add enough milk until you get yours desired consistency.  You may not need all of the milk.
7. Beat on high for 3-4 minutes.

To Assemble:

1. Pipe frosting on each cupcake.
2. Prepare your favorite caramel sauce and drizzle on top of each cupcake.
3. Top with a espresso bean of your choice!

I decided that I also wanted to make some mini cupcakes out of this recipe.  So, here they are... I call them Espresso Shots!