Coffee and walnut cupcakes!

While browsing through one of my cookbooks the other day, my darling Chance was being nosey and spotted this recipe for coffee and walnut cupcakes and asked me to make them for him, so I did!

As I said in one of my earlier blogs, baking is about sharing with family and friends. When Chance and I moved to Melbourne we didn't know many people at all. We have been lucky enough to meet an awesome couple, Sean and Emma, who live close to us and even greater is the fact that Emma shares my love for baking and my sweet tooth! Yesterday, Finn and I went around to their house to have a baby and baking date and made these cupcakes. Chance had one as soon as he arrived home from work and said they were "amazing". Great if you love coffee too! Enjoy x

Coffee walnut cupcakes

Ingredients

85g walnuts, finely chopped
115g butter, at room temperature
115g caster sugar
115g self-raising flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
2 tsp instant coffee dissolved in 1 tsp hot water

For coffee icing

1 Tbsp instant coffee dissolves in 1 Tbsp hot water
175g butter, at room temperature
350g icing sugar, sifted
12 walnut halves

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 180 C. Line muffin tray with cupcake cases.
2. Place butter, caster sugar, flour, baking powder, eggs and instant coffee solution in large mixing bowl and beat well until light and fluffy. Fold in chopped walnuts.
3. Spoon mixture into cases and bake for 15-20mins or until centre springs back when lightly touched. Transfer to wire rack to cool.
4. Meanwhile, make the icing. Place instant coffee solution in bowl and beat in butter. Gradually add sifted icing sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Pipe or spoon icing on top of cooled cupcakes and decorate with a walnut.
5. Eat! Om nom nom