Friday, September 4, 2009

MOCHA CUPCAKES WITH CARAMEL FROSTING AND TOASTED PECANS

These cupcakes were made in early April, when I was having computer problems. Luckily, the photos were in my camera, and not on my hard drive, so they didn't get wiped out when we reformatted. But some of my notes were misplaced, and I can't find the frosting recipe, which was so over-the-top good. If my memory serves me, I believe I beat some Smucker's Special Recipe Butterscotch-Caramel Topping into some cream cheese frosting. It made a loose frosting but with the toasted pecans on top, it was divine. The cupcakes weren't bad either.

Mocha Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting and Toasted Pecans
Source: Judy's Kitchen adaptation from unknown original source
Rating: 9 out of 10
INGREDIENTS: 1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
3 large eggs
1-1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 cups low-protein flour, such as White Lily, or cake flour, lightly spooned and swept
1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup Hershey's Special Dark unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup Hershey's unsweetened natural cocoa powder
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
1/3 cup hot water
2 tsp. instant coffee granules
Heat oven to 350F. Line 24 muffin wells with paper cups. In large mixing bowl, beat butter with sugars at medium speed till creamy and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, till yellow disappears. Beat in vanilla. In medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoas and salt. Add to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour. In small cup, combine instant coffee and hot water; stir into cake batter. Divided batter evenly into cupcake liners. Bake 16-20 minutes, or till a toothpick inserted in center returns with just a few crumbs. Cool in pan 10 minutes, then transfer cupcakes to a wire rack to finish coooling. Frost as desired. Yield: 24 cupcakes
NOTE: I made a 3-cup bundt cake, baked for 23 minutes; 12 standard cupcakes, baked for 18 minutes; and 12 mini cupcakes, baked for 15 minutes.

11 comments:

Talita said...

Hi, Judy! This cupcakes sounds delish! I love pecans!

Talita said...

Hi, Judy! This cupcakes sounds delish! I love pecans!

Coleens Recipes said...

MY GOODNESS, these sure look good!!

Reeni said...

I love these flavor combos Judy! They look insanely good!

Trish said...

just poured a cup of java...would have loved to have had one of those with this cup of coffee. Wonderful combo...

Velva said...

Oh my! Those cupcakes look mighty delicious!

teresa said...

these look just wonderful!

Kerstin said...

What a great flavor combo, they look amazing with that caramel frosting!

Linda said...

YUM!!

Roz | La Bella Vita Cucina said...

Judy, Nothing beats the combo of chocolate and caramel in my book. Gosh these little beauties are making me drool. Can you mail me some? :-) ~Roz

Nil said...

I will definitely try this recipe, thanks!