Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cups cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee
1 ½ teaspoons instant espresso granules (I used instant coffee)
ganache, for filling the cupcakes ***
For the Kalhua Cream Cheese Frosting
4 2/3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
3 oz butter, at room temperature
4 oz cream cheese, cold
7 tablespoons Kahlua (you can alter the amount of Kahlua to suit your taste)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and place an oven rack in the middle of the oven. Line cupcake tins with paper liners.In the bowl of a standard electric mixer, sift together the flour, sugar,
cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Briefly mix on low speed, just to combine all the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. In another small bowl, combine the 1 1/2 teaspoons of instant espresso/coffe with the hot coffee, stirring to combine. With the mixer running on low speed, slowly begin to add the buttermilk mixture to the dry ingredients. With the mixture still on low, add the coffee mixture, and mix until just combined. The batter will appear very runny, don't worry though!
Evenly divide the batter among the prepared cupcake tins. If filling the cupcakes with ganache, drop about a teaspoonful of ganache into the center of each cupcake. Bake in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of a cupcake. Allow the cupcakes to cool in the tins for about 15 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
While the cupcakes are cooling, prepare the frosting. In the bowl of a standard electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the powdered sugar and butter. Add the cold cream cheese, and begin to beat until everything begins to come together and becomes smooth. Add the Kahlua to the cream cheese frosting (I did this tablespoon by tablespoon, until I was satisfied with the flavor of the frosting), and beat to combine. Frost the cupcakes once they have cooled completely and garnish with chocolate curls if desired.
