I know that cupcakes have been all the rage lately, but I have to admit I haven’t been swept up by the craze. I just can’t get super excited about paying $6 for a single cupcake at some shop dedicated solely to the art of the cupcake. With $6 worth of ingredients, I could make a heck of a lot more cupcakes at home! I started thinking about what kind of cupcake I would want, and decided I needed an adult cupcake. Like coffee flavored. And what’s more adult than a boozy coffee beverage? Thus the amaretto coffee cupcakes were born.

Guessipe

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 TBSP instant espresso powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 cup strong coffee, room temp (save the coffee grounds for sprinkles)
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 egg

frosting

• 1 TBSP Amaretto
• 8 oz vanilla frosting

Mix the flour, sugar, espresso powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the coffee, milk, oil, vanilla, and egg. Add the dry mixture to the liquid mixture and mix to combine.

Divide the batter evenly between 12 cupcake liners.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes.

Mix the Amaretto into the frosting. I used store-bought frosting because a friend happened to give me some, but if you want to make your own frosting, go for it!

Top each cupcake with amaretto frosting, then sprinkle with coffee grounds. These look nice, but also add a flavor and texture that I enjoy.