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Chocolate Cupcakes with Coffee Buttercream Frosting

These delicious chocolate cupcakes showcase the perfect harmony of chocolate and coffee! Topped with velvety coffee buttercream frosting, these cupcakes become so luscious! Our step-by-step recipe instructions are easy to follow so you can make these yummy cupcakes whenever you fancy a decadent dessert!


My entire family is chocolate-obsessed! Chocolate in whatever form or type is ok – sweet, semi-sweet, dark, or white – we love it! The best proof is the amount of chocolate cakes and cheesecakes I have in this blog! And, I haven’t included muffins and other sweet treats yet! Too many to mention!

So this weekend, my wonderful daughter again helped me make these easy and delicious chocolate cupcakes for our coffee time at church on Sundays. I do love that on Saturdays not only can we make something yummy for our friends in church, but we get to bond over baking, too. Trust me, my daughter is an even better baker than me and I am so proud of that!

Now, let’s go on and teach you how to make these Chocolate Cupcakes with Coffee Buttercream Frosting recipe!

Why chocolate and coffee? Because there’s something undeniably irresistible about the combination of rich chocolate and aromatic coffee. In this recipe, we’re taking classic chocolate cupcakes to the next level by pairing them with a luxurious coffee buttercream frosting. Just a little coffee added in both the cupcake batter and frosting enhances and intensifies the chocolate flavor making these cupcakes a fabulous treat!

Why you would love this easy recipe for Chocolate Cupcakes with Coffee Buttercream Frosting

You’ll adore this recipe for Chocolate Cupcakes with Coffee Buttercream Frosting for its perfect balance of rich chocolate and aromatic coffee flavors. Each bite offers a heavenly combination that’s sure to delight your taste buds.

And it’s crazy easy to make! We use a cake mix to begin with then add some coffee to it to make it more chocolaty. Plus, the light and airy texture of the buttercream frosting adds a luxurious touch to these indulgent treats. Get ready to enjoy this irresistible combination!

Ingredients Chocolate Cupcakes with Coffee Buttercream Frosting

Cupcake Ingredients

  • 1 box chocolate cake mix 
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil 
  • 3 eggs, room temperature
  • ¾ cup cold brew coffee
  • ½ cup water (add ¼ first then taste!)
  • Frosting Ingredients:
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (room temperature)
  • 2 ½ cups powdered sugar 
  • 1 TBSP espresso powder, or to taste
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract 
  • 2 TBSP heavy cream 
  • ⅛ tsp salt 

Step-by-Step Instructions for Chocolate Cupcakes with Coffee Buttercream Frosting

For the Cupcakes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Add cupcake liners to cupcake pans and set aside. 

In a large mixing bowl, combine the chocolate cake mix, vegetable oil, eggs, coffee, and water then mix on medium speed for 2 minutes with a hand/stand mixer or until well blended.

Scoop about 3 tablespoons of the mixture into each cupcake liner. Alternatively, you can use a large cookie scooper for this. Bake for approximately 14-16 minutes or until a toothpick interested in the center of the cupcakes comes out clean. Transfer the cupcakes to a cooling rack and cool completely before frosting, approximately 30-45 minutes. 

For the Frosting: 

Add the butter to a large mixing bowl with the whisk attachment. Mix on medium speed for 4 minutes. 
On low speed, slowly add powdered sugar until it’s all incorporated. 

Add the espresso powder, vanilla, cream, and salt and mix on high for 2 minutes. Pause to scrape the sides of the bowl and mix for 1 additional minute on high speed. 

Transfer the frosting to a piping bag. Pipe the cupcakes! Sprinkle with a little cocoa powder on top, if desired. Enjoy! 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Can I use regular brewed coffee instead of cold brew? Absolutely! While cold brew adds a unique depth of flavor, regular brewed coffee works just as well in this recipe.

How do I achieve the perfect consistency for the frosting? The key lies in gradually adding the powdered sugar and adjusting the amount of heavy cream based on your desired thickness. If the frosting is too thick, add a splash more cream; if it’s too thin, sprinkle in a bit more powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency.

Can I make the frosting ahead of time? Certainly! Store the frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. When ready to use, let it come to room temperature and give it a quick whip to restore its creamy texture.

How much instant coffee can I use to replace 1 tablespoon of espresso powder? To replace 1 tablespoon of espresso powder, you can typically use approximately 1 tablespoon of instant coffee granules. However, it’s important to note that the strength and flavor intensity may vary between espresso powder and instant coffee. You may need to adjust the amount based on your personal preference and the specific brand of instant coffee you’re using. It’s recommended to start with 2-3 teaspoons in this case and adjust to taste, adding more if you desire a stronger coffee flavor.

Whether for a special occasion or simply to satisfy your sweet tooth, these homemade coffee-infused cupcakes are sure to impress. So, gather your ingredients, unleash your inner pastry chef, and treat yourself to a taste of gourmet chocolate cupcakes without unnecessary fuss!

Chocolate Cupcakes with Coffee Buttercream Frosting

Manila Spoon
These delicious chocolate cupcakes showcase the perfect harmony of chocolate and coffee! Topped with velvety Coffee Buttercream Frosting, these cupcakes become so luscious! Our step-by-step recipe instructions are easy to follow so you can make these yummy cupcakes whenever you fancy a decadent treat!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 16 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 24 cupckakes
Calories 234 kcal

Ingredients
 

For the Cupcakes

  • 1 box chocolate cake mix
  • cup vegetable oil
  • 3 eggs, room temperature
  • ¾ cup cold brew coffee (or regular brewed coffee, cooled down)
  • ½ cup water

For the Frosting

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (room temperature)
  • 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon espresso powder, or adjust to taste (see note for substitution)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 TBSP heavy cream
  • tsp salt

Instructions
 

For the Cupcakes

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Add cupcake liners to cupcake pans and set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the chocolate cake mix, vegetable oil, eggs, coffee and water then mix on medium – high speed for 2 minutes with a hand/stand mixer.
  • Scoop about 3 tablespoons of the mixture into each cupcake liner. Alternatively, you can use a large cookie scooper for this. Bake for approximately 14-16 minutes or until a toothpick interested in the center of the cupcakes comes out clean.
  • Transfer the cupcakes to a cooling rack and cool completely before frosting, approximately 30-45 minutes.

For the Frosting

  • Add the butter to a large mixing bowl with whisk attachment. Mix on medium speed for 4 minutes.
  • On low speed, slowly add powdered sugar until it’s all incorporated.
  • Add the espresso powder, vanilla, cream and salt and mix on high for 2 minutes.
  • Pause to scrape the sides of the bowl and mix for 1 additional minute on high speed.
  • Transfer frosting to the piping bag.
  • Pipe the cupcakes! Sprinkle with a little cocoa powder on top, if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

TIPS & TRICKS
Using a whisk vs. paddle attachment will allow the buttercream to become more light and airy.
To replace 1 tablespoon of espresso powder, you can typically use approximately 1 tablespoon of instant coffee granules. However, it’s important to note that the strength and flavor intensity may vary between espresso powder and instant coffee. You may need to adjust the amount based on your personal preference and the specific brand of instant coffee you’re using. It’s recommended to start with 2-3 teaspoons in this case and adjust to taste, adding more if you desire a stronger coffee flavor.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 234kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 2gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 171mgPotassium: 86mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 285IUVitamin C: 0.01mgCalcium: 34mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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2 Comments

  1. the chocolate coffee cup cakes look delicious but in the photo it looks like a chocolate coffee buttercream frosting. how do you make that

    1. You’re in the right place! These cupcakes indeed have a coffee buttercream frosting! The recipe card with full step-by-step instructions is at the end of post. Either scroll down or use the shortcut on top. Thank you!!!

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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