Mr Trotters 30th Birthday Cupcake Competition

• 185 g flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp instant coffee powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• 115 g butter, softened
• 100 g granulated sugar
• 100 g brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 120 ml whole milk

• 1 tsp instant coffee powder
• 3 tsp sugar
• 60 ml hot water
• 1 tbsp coffee liqueur

• 170 g mascarpone cheese
• 75 g icing sugar, sifted
• 1 tsp instant coffee powder
• 1½ Tbsp coffee liqueur
• 180 ml heavy cream
• Gold powder & Coffee Beans, for decoration

Method

1. Start with making the soaking syrup: Mix the coffee powder and sugar in hot water and mix until dissolved, then add the liqueur. Set aside to cool.

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Line muffin tin with cupcake liners and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, coffee powder and salt. Set aside.
3. In a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, beat together butter and sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla extract. Reduce mixer speed to low and add half of the dry ingredients, beating just until combined. Add milk and beat until combined. Add the other half of the dry ingredients and beat slowly only until combined. Do not over mix.
4. Divide the batter evenly between the cups, filling about ¾ full. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. Allow muffins to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove cupcakes from pan and place them on a wire rack.
5. While cupcakes are still warm, poke the tops with a fork or toothpick a few times. Brush with coffee syrup, allowing it to soak in. Use all the syrup evenly over cupcakes.

1. In a large bowl whisk together mascarpone, sugar, espresso powder and liqueur. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Fold whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture in 2 additions. Use immediately to frost cupcakes.
2. Chill cupcakes until ready to serve. Just before serving, dust frosting with gold powder and top with a coffee bean.