Caffinated Coco Cupcake ( C^3)

If you've been reading this blog for a while you probably know that I organize a team every year to participate in the AIDS Walk NY. Our team, the Cake Walkers, raises funds and indulges in my cupcake concoctions as we trek through Center Park every year. This year, as always, I wanted to create a concoction that fit the occasion: early morning, 5.2 mile walk. So when a coworker gave me a package of 100% Kona coffee she brought back from vacation in Hawaii, the wheels in my head began to turn. What is better than caffeine to get you going in the morning?! Caffeine in a cupcake!

Now, caffeine is a drug! You've heard this many times I'm sure. Well when you see this video you'd definitely understand why. The spark notes version: Caffeine behaves like Adenosine. Adenosine is a glucosamine that binds to receptors in your brain to promote sleep and suppressing adrenaline. When you ingest caffeine and it makes it's way through the blood stream to your brain it binds to the adenosine receptors in your brain and wards off the tiredness and sleepiness.  

 

                                        I was brain storming (no pun intended lol) )to decide what I wanted to pair this flavor with when my sister pinned a Nutella frosting to our Pinterest board. At that moment I thought...Hazelnut Coffee!! A hazlenut cream frosting would be perfect! In addition, I decided to add some cocoa to the Kona Coffee batter to get a mocha flavor! I brewed about 0.25 cup of the coffee grounds in 1.5 cups of water and let it reduce to 1 cup then cool, I also added 0.25 cup of fresh grounds to the batter to add a little crunch and give an additional boost. The grounds spread evenly through the batter that there very easy to eat, almost like nuts in a cake.

 These are the cakes all wrapped up and ready for the walk along with our t-shirts. I also made some of my famous Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Curd Filling for variety sake. 

Want to try this recipe? Send me an email @ info@cupcakechromatography.com and I'll send you a copy and answer any other questions you may have about making this cupcake or our walking team.