Mudslide Cupcake Recipes

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottoms and sides of two 9-inch round cake pans; dust with flour, and tap out the excess.
• Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, making sure the batter is well mixed before adding the next egg. Beat in the vanilla until blended.
• Alternate folding the flour mixture and the milk into the butter mixture with a spatula, adding the flour in three additions and the milk in two, starting and ending with the flour, until just smooth. (The batter may look slightly curdled as you mix it, but this is not a problem.) Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
• Bake until the cakes are golden and the centers spring back to the touch, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool in the pans about 10 minutes, turn out onto cooling racks and let cool completely. Turn the cakes over, and poke the tops all over with the tines of a fork. Generously brush the tops with the liqueur, letting it soak in before brushing on more.
• For the frosting: While the cakes cool, bring a few inches of water to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Set a large heatproof bowl over it (do not let the bowl touch the water), add the egg whites and sugar and whisk until the mixture is warm and the sugar has dissolved, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pan, and beat the mixture with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form, 4 to 7 minutes. Beat in the butter a few pieces at a time, and continue beating until the frosting is smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. (Don't worry if the mixture becomes soupy or looks separated; keep beating and it will come together.) Stir the Kahlua and instant coffee together until dissolved, and beat into the frosting with the mixer running on low speed. Increase the speed to medium-high, and beat until fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes.
• To assemble: Place 1 cake layer right-side up on a cake plate or stand, and spread with 1 cup of the frosting. Top with the second cake layer. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake tins with cupcake papers. In a large bowl, prepare batter according to package directions substituting 1 ¼ cup vodka, Kahlúa and Baileys for the water. Add espresso powder. Mix well. Pour into cupcake tins, filling about ⅔ of the way, and place in oven. Bake for 19-22 minutes until cupcakes spring back when touched. Meanwhile, prepare frosting. Using an electric hand mixer, cream butter and 1 cup confectioners' sugar in a high-sided bowl until fluffy. Add Kahlúa, Baileys and vanilla extract. Mix in remaining sugar, adding more if necessary to reach desired consistency. Let cupcakes cool completely before frosting. Decorate with chocolate sprinkles. Can be refrigerated up to 3 days

Steps:

• 1. For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and prepare your cupcake pan with your desired liners.
• 2. In the bowl of your standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites until foamy.
• 3. Add the granulated sugar to the eggs with the mixer running and continue to whisk, at medium-high speed, until the mixture is thick, stiff, and glossy. Transfer the egg white mixture to another bowl, and clean out your standing mixer bowl thoroughly.
• 4. In your clean mixer bowl, combine the butter and brown sugar and mix on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute.
• 5. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
• 6. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, and baking soda.
• 7. With the mixer speed on low, slowly add the flour mixture, coffee, and Kahlua alternately, ending with the flour mixture.
• 8. Stop the mixer, and gently fold in the egg whites into the batter using a rubber spatula, until well-combined.
• 9. Fill each prepared cupcake liner about two-thirds full.
• 10. Bake the cupcakes for about 20-25 minutes, depending on your oven, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely.
• 11. For the Kahlua buttercream: In the bowl of your standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter and powdered sugar on low speed until smooth.
• 12. Add the cocoa powder, Kahlua, and coffee, adding more powdered sugar if necessary. Set aside.
• 13. For the Bailey's buttercream: In the bowl of your standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or another bowl if you are getting tired of cleaning your mixer bowl out....), combine the butter and powdered sugar until smooth.
• 14. Add the vanilla extract and Bailey's Irish Cream, mixing well until combined.
• 15. Pipe the buttercream (description of how-to above) onto the cupcakes and garnish with chocolate curls.