ESPRESSO CHOCOLATE-CHIP CUPCAKES…Comfort with a cuppa coffee!

‘Espresso Comfort’…Coffee & Dark Chocolate

Here is where my two most comforting & favourite flavours meet…in these ‘Espresso Chocolate-chip Cupcakes’. Meeta’s Monthly Mingle this month calls for ‘Comfort Foods’ & comes just at the peak of winter, where the winds seem to be getting colder by the day.

Temperatures are at lows of almost 2 degrees C here in Gurgaon, & we are chilled to the bone. There was frost on the cars this morning & the kids were fascinated. I made these warming cupcakes today…just to get the better of the cold & with the MM in mind. They were really heart-warming & comforting straight out of the oven…warm with a hot cuppa coffee. I used a medium roast instant coffee & Ghirardeli dark chocolate chips…flavours right up my street!

With coffee beans sprinkled on top…adding kick to comfort!!

This is a fuss free recipe which results in just good taste & a light crumb. Its an adaptation of the cupcake recipe I use for my vanilla muffins. Simple, straight-forward & ever dependable!

Ingredients:
Flour – 2 cups
Baking powder – 2 tsp
Salt – 1/2 tsp
Butter – 1/2 cup
Sugar – 1 1/4 cup
Eggs – 2
Milk – 1 cup
Vanilla Essence / extract – 1 tsp
Instant coffee – 1 tbsp
Dark chocolate chips – 1/2 cup

On their way to the oven…

Method:

• Sift the flour + baking powder + salt together 3 times. Keep aside in a bowl.
• Line a muffin tray.
• Preheat the oven to 190 degrees C.
• Beat the butter & sugar for a minute.
• Beat in the eggs & vanilla till well incorporated.
• On low speed, beat in the flour & milk alternatively in 3 goes.
• On low speed, beat in the instant coffee for 1/2 a minute.
• Fold in the chocolate chips. Turn into muffin cases, 2/3 full, top with a few more chips & sprinkles if you like, & bake for 10 minutes.
• Add coffee beans on top & continue baking further for 10-15 minutes / until done.
• Remove from muffin tray & cool on racks.
• Delicious warm!

Colour of comfort…

Warming…whichever way you look at ’em!