Bailey's Mocha Cupcakes

I wanted some sort of a coffee cupcake, then decided to add a dash of chocolate to the mix for good measure! I was going to top the cakes with coffee butter icing and I thought sure why not add a splash of Bailey's ... They were divine! I'm going to recreate this idea as a drink some evening after work when I need a serious wind down .. yum!

Recipe @ 190C, Gas 5
175g self raising flour, 50g cocoa, 225g light brown sugar, 175g butter melted, 4 eggs separated, 60ml strong coffee**, 3tbsp water

**I diluted 2 tsp of instant coffee in hot water, bringing it up to the 60ml and let it cool.

In a spotless dry bowl, whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Meanwhile in another large bowl, sift in the flour and cocoa, then add the sugar and mix well. Using a wooden spoon beat in the egg yolks, melted butter, water and cooled coffee until nice and smooth. Gently fold the cake mixture into the egg whites, until no white can be seen. Spoon into cupcake cases filling to only 3/4 of the way. Bake for 15mins

Coffee Butter Icing with a Baileys Twist :)
200g icing sugar, 100g soft butter, 1-2tbsp baileys, 3tbsp cooled coffee
beat the butter until very soft, beat in the icing sugar gradually add in the liquid and beat until creamy and smooth. Decorate away! I topped them with some cadbury Flake aswell... whats a few more calories :)

First of the new year baking :)

I got a fit of madness today ! It's been a while since I baked so I started off with a few of my favourites, Nutella Iced Mocha Squares, Vanilla Melting Moments and a few Mince Pies thrown in for Joe :) So much for New Years Resolutions and healthy eating ... it's actually impossible :)

Firstly Nutella Iced Mocha Squares
Recipe

6oz soft butter, 6oz caster sugar, 3eggs, 2tbsp cocoa, 7oz self raising flour, 1tsp vanilla, 2tbsp coffee (dissolved in 3tbsp hot water) Bake at 190C

• Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
• Beat in the eggs one by one, beating well in between and until light and creamy
• Sift in the flour and cocoa and fold in to the mixture. Also fold in the vanilla and coffee

Tip mixture into a greased&lined baking dish and bake for 25-30 mins. Cool in the dish and transfer to a wire rack. Spread with Nutella and sprinkle a few chocolate strands on top... Indulge!