Mocha-Chocolate Chip Brownie Cupcakes ~ quick, easy and egg-free

The other day I was in the mood for some cupcakes, and since my favorite cupcake shop was already closed for the day, I decided to make a quick batch at home.  They aren't fancy like SugarBean's, but we enjoyed them all the same.  I tried to 'healthy' them up a bit, so I replaced 1/2 the flour with whole wheat pastry flour; replaced 1/2 the oil with applesauce; and cut back on the salt.   J thought they tasted like a brownie, so I'm calling them ~ Mocha-Chocolate Chip Brownie Cupcakes.  I modified this chocolate cake recipe that I posted about last year, giving it more of a mocha spin in the batter as well as the icing. I decided to add some chocolate chips to the batter, for an extra little hit of chocolate.  (look at me, getting all fancy!)

Quick and easy, as well as egg-free ~ Booyah!  If you use a vegan 'butter' in place of the regular butter, than it will be dairy-free as well.  I think they are best enjoyed cold and (to me) they taste better after the first day, that way the flavors and texture really set-up nicely.  Enjoy!

Mocha-Chocolate Chip Brownie Cupcakes ~ egg free 
makes 12 cupcakes

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour* *(or skip the whole wheat pastry flour & use all regular flour, if you like)
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup cold water
• 3 Tbsp canola or vegetable oil
• 3 Tbsp unsweetened applesauce
• 1 1/2 Tbsp instant coffee, dissolved in 1 Tbsp warm water 
• 1 Tbsp white or cider vinegar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips or carob chips  

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line muffin tin with paper cupcake/muffin liners.  In a large bowl sift the first 7 dry ingredients (flours - salt) together.  Add all the liquid ingredients and stir until blended.  Fold in the chocolate/carob chips. Divide the batter between the 12 cupcakes liners and bake for approx. 15-20 minutes, or until they're done. (timing really depends on how full they are, mine were quite full & closer to 20 minutes)  Remove cupcakes to cooling rack.  Let cool completely, then frost.

Mocha Frosting

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
• pinch of salt
• 1 Tbsp instant coffee, dissolved in 2 Tbsp water

Directions

In a medium bowl sift the dry ingredients together.  Add butter and mix until well blended. (it will be very dry)  Add the coffee and mix well. (now it looks right!)  Spread over the the cooled cupcakes.  These taste best when completely cooled or chilled.  Store in fridge.  I think they get even better the next day(s).

Homespun Christmas Holiday Cupcakes ~ Beth's Cake Creations ~ Guest Post

The day after Thanksgiving is the day I start getting my Christmas Spirit on.  Out come the boxes of Christmas decorations & up goes the Christmas tree.  When you have a Christmas-happy kid, the sooner the better, as far as he is concerned.  So, I thought this would be a perfect time to share some holiday cupcakes, created in the kitchen of my friend, Beth.  She is an Artisan Cake Decorator and designs some of the coolest cakes and cupcakes.  (check out the other posts I've done on her amazing creations)  This batch (pun intended) of pictures are from some of the baked goodies she's made in the past, for friends and family.  I really like the homespun feel of some of the designs, they look like something I could pull-off in my kitchen and her snowmen are just downright adorable!

The poinsettia cupcakes have a real 60's vibe to me.  I love my poinsettias!  As a kid, I remember there always being poinsettias at Grandma Bunni's house during the Christmas holiday season ~ both real and plastic.  There were no realistic 'silk' flowers back then, just lots of fake-looking plastic ones.  I actually still have a few of her old decorations.  I've kept those that I have a soft-spot for, and they still come out every year. (if you look at my posts from last December 2011, you'll see some of them in the photos ~ You'll know'um when you sees'um :)  Some of the decorations are well over 50+ years old and they're still kicking. (gotta love plastic) 

Hope these pictures get you into the holiday baking mode. They do me, and I'm not even a baker!

Season's Greetings & Happy Holidays!

Cupcakes ~ Beth's Cake Creations ~ Guest Post

When I was a young girl, I was horse CRAZY!  I would have LOVED to have had these cupcakes at my birthday party!! 

Today's ~ Guest Post ~ features my good friend, Beth.  She is a very talented Artisan Cake Decorator and creates the most beautifully detailed, creative cakes & cupcakes that I have ever seen.  I was so taken with the photos that she showed me, I begged her (really, I did :) to let me post them on my blog.  Lucky for me (& for you), she has graciously allowed me to showcase some of her delectable, incredible, edible custom creations that she sculpts & designs by hand.    

I just want to reach right through the computer screen & grab one of these cupcakes & devour it ~ right now.   I can almost smell their sweet aroma &  taste that sinfully delicious, buttercream frosting...  :)

She has creatively styled many different cakes & cupcakes, so I am going to do several posts over the next few weeks, grouping the cakes & cupcakes by occasions. 

These are such a playful cupcake, I think they would have been fun at a Kentucky Derby Party.  I can just see it  now ~ Gals in hats, mint juleps in hand & a cupcake at our lips...  :)

So, keep on the lookout for more Guest Posts showcasing additional photos of Beth's incredible, edible cakes & cupcakes designed for ~ baby showers, baby/kids birthdays, adult birthday/special occasions and my absolute favorite cake of hers ~~~ a stunningly creative, exceptionally unique ~ STEAMPUNK CAKE!!  It blew my mind when I saw the photos of it.  All I can say is ~ WOW!!  ((I discovered the whole Steampunk subculture while watching an episode of Castle called 'Punked'.  Nathan Fillion was just so cute in that getup, I was instantly smitten & hooked from there on out.  To see a cake celebrating the Steampunk style was awesome.  Whoever that cake was for, was one very, lucky person!))

I hope you will be as enchanted with ~ Beth's Cake Creations ~ Guest Posts as I know I'll be setting them up.  Beth said she will let me in on some of her secrets to doctoring up regular box cake mixes, so I can try improving my cake making skills.  I'll be including those tips in the upcoming Guest Posts, too.  I'm so looking forward to seeing what tricks she has up her sleeves.  I'm all for learning things that will help me become a more confident cake maker.  As I've said before, I'm a challenged baker, I can do a few things well, but I'm always ready to learn more & get better at that part of creating in the kitchen.  I think I've found my mentor, wouldn't you agree?  Thanks for sharing your wonderful pictures, Beth!!  Until next time!  :)