Mocha Cupcakes with Kahlua Cream Cheese Frosting

Recently, quite a few of my friends are turning 21. Afterall, I'm a junior in college, it's supposed to be this year. 1989 to 2010 - we're all finally turning 21. First my boyfriend turned 21. Now more and more friend are turning the legal age to drink.

Peter and I, last spring

Since a dinner party was planned for him, 50 of us got together, ate dinner, and celebrated his birthday with him. It is my job, as always, to provide the desserts. I, of course, asked him what he wanted me to bake for him, and he wanted these mocha cupcakes. I was able to emulate most parts of the recipe, but I wanted to take some short cuts. Instead, I chose to substitute half of the grandulated sugar with brown sugar. I also just added 2 teaspoons of Kahlua to each can of Pillsbury cream cheese frosting that I bought at the store. Although it was not as strong of a Kahlua taste as I wanted, I still wanted the frosting to be able to be piped.

Check out the awesome carrier my friend got me for Christmas! Thanks Linda!

Hurt...

Yes, I am hurt. I burnt my finger. On a hot pan. While baking. =(
It started blistering so I put a bandaid on it so no one has to look at its ugliness.

BUT to get to that point, I did baking. LOTS of it. It's the first time baking in like..half a week. =)
I made Chocolate Kahlua Cake with Brandon. (sorry no ingredients picture people...) But the cake is pretty simple. I found it on all recipes.

Ingredients (for the cake):
1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup water
3 eggs
1/4 cup coffee flavored liqueur
1/4 cup vodka

There is this wonderful glaze on top as well...
Ingredients:
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup hot water
2 tablespoons coffee flavored liqueur
2 tablespoons vodka
and instructions are:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan.
In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, pudding mix, oil, 3/4 cup water, eggs, 1/4 cup coffee liqueur and 1/4 cup Vodka. Mix well, then pour into greased and floured Bundt pan.
Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Pour glaze over hot cake while still in pan. Let cake sit for 30 minutes.
To make the glaze: in a small saucepan combine sugar, butter and 1/4 cup hot water. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute. remove from heat and stir in 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur and 2 tablespoons vodka.

So the only difference is that, we didnt have a Bundt pan, so it took like... 30-45 mins. and well I thought we were supposed to poke holes to make the glaze go through, I guess not, but it was great. =) AND instead of regular ol' coffee liqueur we used Kahlua.

Later, I was going to start to make Kathleen her present but then again, I was going to go to Hedwigs, but I kinda scratched the whole idea because I just DONT have enough time tomorrow. I was going to make her Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes. First off, I cant get the alcohol myself since I am underage, and second, I realized, that I dont have that kind of time to make that extensive of a project...in like 5 hours tomorrow.

Instead, I decided to bake Josh some cupcakes, afterall, I do need to get him something for his show. So I found an interesting recipe...not sure if I really like it, but I'll gauge the opinion of others...tomorrow after his show.

Busy busy day tomorrow. More baking!
Better get some sleep before tomorrow!

<3