½tablespoonslemon juice· (either the juice of half a lemon orthe juice you buy in the store)
1 ¾cupall-purpose flourunbleached
½teaspoonsalt
2teaspoonbaking powder
½cupsoften salted butter
¾cupraw sugar(you could usegranulated sugar if you prefer)
1egg
1teaspoonvanilla extract
½cupcooled espresso(or any strong coffee)
Coffee buttercream:
1cupbuttersalted and soften
3 ½cuppowder sugar
¼teaspoonsalt
¼teaspooncinnamon
¼cupheavy cream
½tablespoonmeringue powder(optional)
2tablespooncocoa powder
1tablespoonsespresso powder(optional)
Instructions
Cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners.
Set aside, In a bowl or a measuring cup, combine milk and lemon juice. Mix and set aside.
In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking powder. Mix until combined and set aside.
In a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar. Mix until it is nice and creamy.
Mix in the egg, and vanilla extract.
Add the milk/lemon mixture and 1/2 of the dry mixture to the wet mixture. Mix until you have no more dry flour.
Finally, add in the cooled coffee and the rest of the dry mixture.
Mix until all dry ingredients are incorporated. Be careful not to overmix.
Fill each of the cupcake liners to ¾ full.
Bake the cupcakes, in the preheated oven for 19-21 minutes. The cupcake should be cooked once a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the cupcake.
Allow the cupcakes to cool off completely before frosting.
Coffee buttercream:
In a stand-up mixer with a whisk attachment, beat the butter until creamy.
Then add in 1 cup of powder sugar, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla extract.
Add in an additional 1 cup powder sugar, heavy cream, and meringue powder.
Once all blended, add in the rest of the powder sugar, cocoa powder, and espresso powder.
Place half of the buttercream in a piping bag.
Assemble:
Pipe each of the cupcakes with buttercream.
Placea coffee bean on each of the cupcakes if you so desire.
Serve and Enjoy!
Notes
We use 1/2 cup of espresso. If you prefer a more subtle coffee taste, add 1/4 cup of strong brewed coffee and complete with water until you obtain 1/2 cup total