Thursday, September 11, 2014

malted espresso cupcakes with cream cheese swiss meringue buttercream

It was Teacher's Day and I wanted to make something for Aden's swimming instructor, Robyn. We are really pleased with the progress that Aden has made since he started swimming lessons and I wanted to make her something to say, "Thank you". Since Robyn's Aussie, I thought I'd make something Aussie-ish. And for some reason, Maltesers got stuck in my head.
I also wanted something that was slightly more adult so I thought I would combine malt with coffee and make this Malted Espresso cupcake!
If you are a regular reader of my blog, you would be aware of my love for malt. I have used it to make this, this, this and this, among god knows how many other things.

I frosted these cupcakes with a Cream Cheese Swiss Meingue Buttercream, but you can always use a regular American cream cheese frosting if you like.

If you'd like to make these delicious cupcakes, here are the instructions.

In a bowl, combine espresso powder with malt powder and hot water. Whisk until the mixture is not longer lumpy. You can also mix malt powder with a cup of freshly brewed espresso if you prefer.
In another small bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Set this aside.

Add the melted and cooled butter into a mixing bowl. Add sugar and beat for about 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the eggs, one at a time, and continue beating until the mixture is smooth.
Add the flour mixture and the malt/espresso mixture in the sequence flour-liquid-flour-liquid-flour.
Scrap the bowl and continue mixing until all the flour has been incorporated.
Transfer the batter into cupcake liners placed in a muffin pan.
Bake at 180°C for 18-22 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into a cupcake emerges cleanly.

Cool the cupcakes in the pan for 10-15 minutes then transfer onto a wire rack to cool completely,
When the cupcakes are cool, frost them with your choice of buttercream.
And decorate each cupcake with shaved chocolate and a Malteser.
Easy peasy. :)

The very fantastic folks at Tovolo would like to give away a set each of the Tovolo Star Pop molds and the Groovy Pop Molds with 2 readers of The Domestic Goddess Wannabe! To participate in the giveaway, click on the pictures below!

RECIPE
Malted Espresso Cupcakes (Makes 12)
Adapted from 125 Best Cupcake Recipes by Julie Hasson

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups (187.5g) plain flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (30g) malted milk powder - I used Horlicks
1/4 cup (60ml) freshly brewed espresso or dark roast coffee - I mixed 2 teaspoons espresso powder with 60ml boiling water
1 cup (200g) caster sugar - I reduced this by 50%
1/2 cup (113.5g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
2 eggs
Chocolate shavings
12 Maltesers

Method:
1. In a bowl, combine espresso powder with malt powder and hot water. Whisk until the mixture is not longer lumpy. You can also mix malt powder with a cup of freshly brewed espresso if you prefer.
2. In another small bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Set this aside.
3. Add the melted and cooled butter into a mixing bowl. Add sugar and beat for about 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Add the eggs, one at a time, and continue beating until the mixture is smooth.
5. Add the flour mixture and the malt/espresso mixture in the sequence flour-liquid-flour-liquid-flour.
6. Scrap the bowl and continue mixing until all the flour has been incorporated.
7. Transfer the batter into cupcake liners placed in a muffin pan.
8. Bake at 180°C for 18-22 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into a cupcake emerges cleanly.
9. Cool the cupcakes in the pan for 10-15 minutes then transfer onto a wire rack to cool completely,
10. When the cupcakes are cool, frost them with your choice of buttercream.
11. Decorate each cupcake with shaved chocolate and a Malteser.

Recipe for American Cream Cheese Frosting can be found here.
Recipe for Cream Cheese Swiss Meringue Buttercream can be found here.

3 comments:

  1. The cupcakes look fabulous!!! Wish I could make such nice buttercream and let the maltesers sit prettily on top :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Diana, I bet Robyn was very pleased with the gorgeous cupcakes!

    ReplyDelete