Chocolate Vanilla Latte Cupcakes

This Chocolate Vanilla Latte Cupcake, is moist, rich, and extremely flavorful. With a hint of cinnamon and a fluffy latte buttercream frosting, this cupcake will surely cure your sweet tooth.

I decided to make these cupcake today because I wanted to eat something really chocolaty and sweet, so that I can get the sugar and caffeine high for the day.  It is my first time making these cupcakes and I can truly say that these cupcakes turned out very well.  I didn't know how the cinnamon would be, but what the heck; what can go wrong with a hint of cinnamon.

For the garnish on the cupcakes, I used dark chocolate covered pomegranates that I got from Costco but chocolate sprinkles will do.  I also used the Maxwell House brand of instant coffee.

Chocolate Vanilla Latte Cupcakes Recipe

(makes 12 cupcakes)

Ingredients:

Cupcake Batter:

• 1/2 (1 stick) cup butter 
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup milk
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamoner
• 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Frosting:

• 1/2 (1 stick) cup butter
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 - 2 cups powder sugar
• 4 tablespoon vanilla caramel instant coffee
• 3 tablespoon milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake pan with cupcake liners
2. Sift together the flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. 
4. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated. (Reminder: do not over stir batter) 
5. Bake for 14 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
6. Remove from oven and let cupcakes cool on a cooling rack
7. For the frosting, cream the butter until it is fluffy.  Add in the cocoa powder and the instant coffee, beat for another minute.
8. Add in the powdered sugar and milk, cream on high speed until the frosting is fluffy. 
9. When the cupcakes are cooled, frost the cupcakes and garnish with sprinkles or chocolate covered berry.

Notes:

• If the frosting is too thin, add in another 1/2 cup of powdered sugar until it reaches the consistency of your liking.
• If the frosting is too thick, add in another tablespoon of milk until it reaches the consistency of your liking.