I wasn’t lazy enough to use canned frosting, so I made a basic cream cheese frosting and added a few tablespoons of maple syrup.  It was a bit of a stretch for me as a recipe follower, but it turned out to be a nice frosting for the spice cupcakes. 

Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1 stick butter
• 1 8-ounce package cream cheese
• 2-3 cups powdered sugar
• 1-2 tablespoons maple syrup

1. Cream together butter and cream cheese.
2. Mix in powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time until it is a bit thicker than your desired consistency.
3. Add maple syrup and beat until smooth.

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

I 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.

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.