About 5 minutes after my pastor's wife tasted the Vanilla Coffee Cake I made the other day, she placed an order for a dozen cupcakes. So, that's what I did yesterday... I made cupcakes!
I used {almost} the same recipes for the cake and frosting, except I made a couple of additions to the frosting to get three different flavors (see below!).
When I made it the other day the frosting was a little too soft for me. I prefer a stiffer frosting that is easier to decorate with, so I altered the recipe to have less liquid.
The cake recipe was identical, half with chocolate chips, half without.
Since my kids had also made Mini Chocolate Chip Muffins for breakfast, I even added a little coffee frosting to a few of those... perfect for breakfast!!
These were frosted with the following tips... Wilton 1A (Creamy Brown Sugar Buttercream), Wilton 1M (Coffee Buttercream) and Wilton 199 (Chocolate Coffee Buttercream).
Just for kicks, I thought I’d also share a picture of my photography assistant, Noah. You can see his little fingers here…
And here he is with the cupcakes. He's such a sweetie..and a great helper!
Anywho... here's my newer version for Creamy Brown Sugar Buttercream Frosting (or three frostings..actually). It was inspired from the frosting on the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes. For the Vanilla Coffee Cake recipe, click here!
Do you have any questions about this recipe? Leave them in the comments and I’ll answer if I can!!
PS. Â Are you signed up for my free email newsletter? Â If not - go do it now! Â You'll get sweets in your inbox every time I post!
PrintRecipe
Creamy Brown Sugar Buttercream Frosting (or three frostings..actually)
Ingredients
- 1 stick of butter, at room temperature
- 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- ½ cup shortening (3.5 oz)
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 pounds confectioners sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 tablespoon of instant coffee, dissolved in 1 tablespoon of water (optional)
- ½ – ¾ cup cocoa powder (optional)
Instructions
- Don't forget... for the cake/cupcakes recipe, click here: Vanilla Coffee Cake Recipe
- Now, for the frosting(s)... cream the butter, cream cheese and shortening together until smooth. Add in the brown sugar and mix well. Then add the confectioners sugar 1 cup at a time until well combined (it will be a little dry). Pour in the vanilla and add milk until desired texture is obtained.
- The frosting is delicious just like that, but if you want to jazz it up... add the liquid coffee and or/cocoa! The amount of liquid may have to be adjusted to account for the other flavors (ie., add more milk to off-set the dry cocoa, or use less milk if adding liquid coffee).
HoosierHomemade
Yum! I can see why you got an order right away! They look amazing!
Thanks for sharing on Cupcake Tuesday!
~Liz
Tina @ MOMS CRAZY COOKING
Please please come on over and add this DELICIOUS recipe to our CHOCOLATE... CHOCOLATE... and more CHOCOLATE linky party THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS!
http://momscrazycooking.blogspot.com/2011/03/this-weeks-cravings-21-chocolate-and.html
Tina @ MOMS CRAZY COOKING
Thanks so much for coming back and linking to THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS "CHOCOLATE", we are already enjoying over 100 recipes, so make sure to stop back by and see them all. It's gonna be one SWEET week!
And don't forget to come back next week (Monday) for "HIDDEN INGREDIENT"... "What can you hide in your recipes?"
http://momscrazycooking.blogspot.com/search/label/THIS%20WEEKS%20CRAVINGS
Anonymous
How do you get that look on the coffee flavored icing? I am making cupcakes for my wedding this summer and I love how they look!
Rose Atwater
Anon - That's a Wilton 1M tip. I'll link to it above!
Nancee
Thanks for including what tips you use when decorating your cake/cupcakes. It is always so helpful, nothing frustrates me more than seeing something I really like and having no idea how (try) to achieve the same look. Lol. Love your blog. 🙂
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust
Oh yum! Beautiful!
Melissa @ Loving this crazy life!
My my my! These look to die for! My husband would love me forever if I made them for him.
Thanks for linking up to my party! Have a great weekend!
Winnie
These are simply SUPER BEAUTIFUL !!
Michelle
Oh I'll take a dozen or so in your spare time 🙂 These look divine! Thanks so much for sharing at Creative Thursday 🙂
Melissa @ Loving this crazy life!
Hi Rose! I just wanted to let you know you were featured over at our It's a Piece O' Cake Linky Party today! I hope you pass by to check it out, grab a button, and link something new!
http://lovingthiscrazylife-melissa.blogspot.com/2012/05/its-piece-o-cake-linky-party-9.html
Have a wonderful day!
{Hugs}
Rose
Awesome!! Thank you so much 🙂
Kate
Those look beautiful and delish! Thanks for sharing at Pin It and Win It Wednesday @ http://www.cheapcraftymama.com! I hope you will join us again this week-- party opens Tuesday evening!
Maura
Thank you for posting the tips you used. My daughter showed me a picture of cupcakes she would like me to make that look like a Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino-- and I wasn't sure how to perfect the "whipped cream" Your pictures above look just like the whipped cream!!!
Rose
You're very welcome!! Happy New Year! 🙂
Gail
This looks delicious and I'm planning on making the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cake and Creamy Brown Sugar Buttercream Frosting for my son's birthday later this month. In both the cake and the icing, do you use dark or light brown sugar? Thanks!
Rose
I usually use light brown sugar! 🙂
Jen
Hi there,
I'm looking to make the Chocolate chip cookie dough cake and for the icing you say 1 batch of the Brown Sugar Buttercream, when I came to this link I noticed that you need 2 pounds of confectioners sugar. Is that correct, or does the icing recipe make more than 1 batch? thanks!
Rose
I make a full batch for the cake. It really depends on how much you pile on, if you pipe borders, etc., but I like ALOT of frosting!
NanaSharo
Just made these cupcakes and the brown sugar frosting. Love the texture of these cupcakes. And the frosting..... Well rich without being too sweet and pipes beautifully. Both will be staples in my recipe box. Thank you, thank you!
Rose Atwater
You're very welcome! I'm so glad you love it as much as we do!