Kahlua Coffee Cupcakes

Prep: 25 min | Bake: 40 min | Yield: 24 to 30 cupcakes

Ingredients

Cupcakes

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup strong brewed coffee (cooled)
• 3 large eggs
• 1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese

Coffee Cream Filling

• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup coffee-flavored liqueur
• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen chocolate flavored whipped topping, thawed

Coffee Buttercream Frosting

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup strong brewed coffee
• 2 tablespoons cocoa
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Chocolate covered coffee beans for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin pans with paper liners and set aside.

Cupcakes

1. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
2. Add oil, coffee and eggs. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.
3. Mix in the sour cream and vanilla extract.
4. Spoon the batter evenly into prepared muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full.
5. Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, for 16 to 18 minutes.
6. Let cool in pans on wire racks for 5 minutes.
7. Remove cupcakes from the pans and cool completely on wire racks.
8. While cupcakes are baking, make the Coffee Cream Filling.

Coffee Cream Filling

1. In a small bowl, whip the cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.
2. Slowly add the liqueur and fold in the whipped topping. Cover and chill.
3. Spoon Coffee Cream Filling into a squeeze bottle with a long narrow tip. Insert the tip into the top of cupcake and squeeze about 1 tablespoon of filling into center of each cupcake.

Coffee Buttercream Frosting

1. In a medium bowl, beat the butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.
2. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar, beating until smooth.
3. Add cream cheese, vanilla extract and cocoa, then beat in the coffee until frosting is shiny.
4. Spread the Coffee Butter Cream Frosting evenly over the cupcakes and garnish with chocolate covered coffee beans, if desired.