Irish Coffee Cupcakes

3.6

(129)

5 Reviews

By

Martha Stewart Test Kitchen

Updated on April 23, 2020

Yield:

15

In celebration of St. Patrick's Day, we've reimagined the traditional drink as a cupcake for grown-ups. The moist, delicate Irish Coffee Cupcakes are flavored with espresso and brown sugar and topped with billowy whipped-cream frosting spiked with whiskey. A dusting of espresso powder makes a festive finish. If you don't have two muffin tins, bake these cupcakes in batches.

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup boiling water
2 tablespoons instant-espresso powder
¼ cup whole milk
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup packed light-brown sugar
2 large eggs

For the Frosting

1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon whiskey
Instant-espresso powder, for dusting

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make the cupcakes: Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Pour water over espresso powder; let cool. Combine espresso with milk. Beat butter and granulated and brown sugars with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with espresso-milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour (batter may look broken).
Fill 15 cups (of two 12-cup muffin tins) three-quarters full. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 20 to 22 minutes. Let cool; turn out cupcakes from tins.
Make the frosting: Whisk together cream and confectioners' sugar until medium peaks form. Add whiskey; whisk until slightly stiff peaks form.
Top each cupcake with 2 tablespoons frosting; dust with espresso powder.

Originally appeared: Martha Stewart Living, March 2010