Chocolate Mocha Cupcakes with Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Frosting

My friend Jackie had a birthday this past Friday, so she was getting a dozen cupcakes whether she liked it or not.

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I used a boxed chocolate cake mix for the cupcakes.  I know…baking from a mix is not my style.  But cake mixes are always reliable, and I haven’t yet found a terrific chocolate cupcake recipe.  So, cake mix it is!

I added a tablespoon of instant coffee to the batter, but it wasn’t a dominant flavor in the cupcake.  I might try to add some brewed coffee next time in place of some of the water in the recipe.  

Chocolate Mocha Cupcakes

  • chocolate cake mix
  • eggs, water and oil called for in cake mix
  • 1-2 tablespoons instant coffee granules
  1. Prepare cake mix according to package directions
  2. Mix in instant coffee granules
  3. Bake accoring to package directions
  4. Let cool completely before frosting

cupcake5I made cream cheese frosting to finish these cupcakes.  I really wanted to make these a little different, so I went digging in the cabinet for something that would make the frosting special.  I decided to finely chop up 2 1/2 ounces of semisweet chocolate and added it to the frosting.

Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Frosting

  • 1 stick butter, room temp
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, room temp
  • 1 pound (about 4 cups) powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2-3 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped (or mini chocolate chips)
  1. Beat butter and cream cheese until smooth.
  2. Add in powdered sugar about a cup at a time, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
  3. Add vanilla and mix well.
  4. Stir in chocolate with a spatula.

The little pieces of chocolate in the frosting were such a great addition to an otherwise simple cupcake.

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Happy Birthday, Jackie!

After Ben and I ate one cupcake each for a taste test I had 10 cupcakes left.  What would be the fate of these delicious, sugary delights?  We got invited to a neighbors for dinner Sunday night, so I brought them over.  Everyone seemed to like them, but I guess I can’t take too much credit for the cupcake being a mix.  The frosting really was delicious.  It would be good on a white or yellow cake as well I’m sure.