Let’s Celebrate More Birthdays

Last night was the amazing event, Relay for Life. The event and my team motivated me to keep fighting for a world with more birthdays.  And a very special birthday happened last night, my little’s.  She gave her all to put on the event and I thought she deserved a sweet treat that had it all to celebrate.  So happy birthday to you beautiful, I hope you enjoy your day.  But lets continue being motivated by the moving actions of last night to strive for a world with more birthdays. Then we can eat more cupcakes.

What were eating: Mocha cupcakes filled with coconut dolce de leche and espresso liquor buttercream

For the cupcakes:

Ingredients:

• 1 1/3 C flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter (one stick)
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 pinch cinnamon
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 1 keurig k cup of coffee (whatever flavor)

How to:

1. Begin by mixing the flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda together. Set this aside.
2. In a different bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. About 2-3 minutes.
3. On medium speed beat in one egg at a time. Mixing well between each addition.
4. Add the vanilla and cinnamon.
5. Before you continue, add 1 tablespoons of coffee grounds to hot water and let steep, this will be used in a later step.
6. Slowly begin to add in half of the dry ingredients, and beat until just combined.
7. Beat in the milk until just combined and then add in the other half of the dry ingredients.
8. Add the hot water and coffee grounds and mix until just combined.  Add another tablespoon of coffee grounds and mix gently in.
9. The batter will be light and fluffy. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.
10. Let cool completely before filling or frosting.

Coconut Dolce De Leche

Ingredients:

• 1/2 can Sweetened condensed milk
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 tablespoons shredded coconut

How to:

1. In a sauce pan, melt the butter, then add in the sweetened condensed milk.
2. Continue to cook on medium low heat until the mixture gets thick.  Stirring continuously!
3. Add the shredded coconut and once you can draw a spatula through the center of the pan and you can see the bottom for a few seconds, its done.

Espresso Liquor Buttercream Frosting:

Ingredients:

• 2 sticks of butter, at room temp
• 3 1/2 C powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons espresso liquor
• 1/4 cup heavy cream

How to:

1. Whip the butter until light and fluffy. Slowly add in the sugar cup by cup.
2. Then add in the vanilla.
3. Continue to whip, adding the heavy cream tablespoon by tablespoon.
4. Then add in the liquor tablespoon by tablespoon.
5. Thats it!

Its a lot, but for the girl who does everything, she needed everything 😀