Remember when I made cupcakes and was too lazy to frost them? Well, 6 days later it snowed again and I had nothing but time.
At first I was going to try a chocolate buttercream but to get chocolate to be the right temperature seemed like more work than reward. Also, I was on a coffee kick and decided to split the difference and settle on mocha. Who doesn’t love mocha lattes and mocha cappuccinos? It’s an excuse to have chocolate in the morning. This frosting is just as rich and pairs perfectly with any chocolate cake recipe.
Mocha Buttercream
Ingredients:
- 1 stick of butter(or Earth Balance) at room temperature
- 3 cups of powdered sugar, divided
- 2 tablespoons warm water + 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules(you could substitute with 2 tablespoons of strongly brewed coffee)
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
Cream together the stick of butter with 1 cup of powdered sugar.
Once the mixture is homogenous, mix in the coffee, cocoa powder, and 1 more cup of powdered sugar and beat again.
After that has come together, sift in the last bit of powdered sugar and beat until the buttercream is smooth and there are no lumps.
Let’s address some elephants in the room:
1) I’m completely aware of what color the frosting is and what it looks like. You don’t have to tell me because I’m not blind. In fact, I was the one licking it off my fingers, so clearly the flavor trumps the appearance.
2) I know I can’t pipe frosting to save my life. My favorite Charmed one was Piper; I loved Billie Piper as Rose in Doctor Who; I, on the other hand, am no piper. You can hire me to bake your birthday cake but God help us all if you want me to decorate it.
I will, however, garnish with some espresso chocolate bark because that’s how I roll.
Who cares, it’s going to end up in your tummy anyway. 🙂 Mocha cupcakes are the best
Delicious.
I can’t pipe frosting to save my life either. And let’s be honest… it’s just not something I could see myself pouring a whole lot of time into. I’m much more about how it tastes… which, when it comes to mocha buttercream, is amazing.
I’m all for more snow days! I’m loving the chocolate recipes! Nothing beats coffee/chocolate combo. Yum!
mmm they look delicious and they photograph so well!
mmmm omg, that looks so bomb 🙂
I have made plenty of meals that look like shit but taste great — and I think your frosting looks delicious!
You really know how to make a girl trying to lose weight onery!
I actually think imperfect baked goods look more appealing! Frosting that looks too perfect makes it seem like a machine made it.
I always maintain that foods that look a little off usually taste better.
You don’t give yourself enough credit. It’s rustic, right? 🙂 I’m sure it tastes awesome and topping off with the chocolate bark is a great final touch!
You had me at “butter”. yum!
I will say the same thing to you regarding your poo-looking frosting that I said regarding my brown rice miso paste rubbed fish the other day… get your fingers in there like an inmate in the crazy ward! Gross, I know… but your frosting sounds CRAZYAWESOME.
wow! i am a frosting hater but i think i would love this.
Who cares what it looks like? It’s chocolate frosting… also known as one of my favorite foods 🙂
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Leaving Fatville, Evan Thomas. Evan Thomas said: Who needs coffee in the morning when you have cupcakes with mocha buttercream? #ienablebadhabits http://su.pr/2VYn0d […]
Ummm that looks ridonculously delicious. By the way, the first elephant did not occur to me until I read that part of the post! Definitely gave me a good laugh though!
It is not all about the looks! It is what’s inside that counts, right?! I think they look delicious!
Mocha buttercream.
That’s just genius!
Holy Yum! I love that you garnish with the bark! Totally makes these even more awesome!
this sounds fantastic! i love mocha flavored desserts:)
I feel like coming across this was serendipitous. I was just talking about making coffee bark last night– thinking I was a total genius. Of course I thought that I was the only one that has come up with this idea of coffee chocolate bark. So good thing I came across your blog to get my head screwed on right. 🙂
This is so tempting, as I adore coffee and chocolate together, but I must resist. I know myself, and I know I’ll eat this all with a spoon if I make it.
YUM! I love mocha too. Who cares what it looks like as long as it tastes good! And the bark addition..brilliant.
omg, this looks amazing. I freaking love buttercream. A lot of my friends actually find it too heavy on cupcakes, but I make it anyway. lol I am convinced that they are just insane because who doesn’t like buttercream?!
I’m a coffee addict and I do not like chocolate so I need to postmark this recipe for all the times I make cupcakes and do not want to make a chocolate frosting! It sounds delicious
This post just made my day! Love your blog 🙂
This looks delicious… wish I had some to top my oatmeal this morning;-)
oh lory!! Is it bad when I keep going back to your pictures? I could easily eat a whole bowl of this frosting!!
Cake decorator or not, your cupcakes look decadent… Cocolate, coffee, oh my!
The heaping mound of frosting was enough, but to garnish them with espresso chocolate bark sends me over the moon.
Piper was okay but too much of a goody-goody. I loved Phoebe! And I’m pretty sure they would both love this frosting, although it does have evil undertones
[…] is so much better tasting and just as easy. If you don’t have a favorite recipe, I’d recommend mocha buttercream or vanilla […]