Mocha Buttercream

January 19th 036

Remember when I made cupcakes and was too lazy to frost them? Well, 6 days later it snowed again and I had nothing but time.

At first I was going to try a chocolate buttercream but to get chocolate to be the right temperature seemed like more work than reward. Also, I was on a coffee kick and decided to split the difference and settle on mocha. Who doesn’t love mocha lattes and mocha cappuccinos? It’s an excuse to have chocolate in the morning. This frosting is just as rich and pairs perfectly with any chocolate cake recipe.

Mocha Buttercream

Ingredients:

  • 1 stick of butter(or Earth Balance) at room temperature
  • 3 cups of powdered sugar, divided
  • 2 tablespoons warm water + 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules(you could substitute with 2 tablespoons of strongly brewed coffee)
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder

January 19th 013

Cream together the stick of butter with 1 cup of powdered sugar.

Once the mixture is homogenous, mix in the coffee, cocoa powder, and 1 more cup of powdered sugar and beat again.

After that has come together, sift in the last bit of powdered sugar and beat until the buttercream is smooth and there are no lumps.

January 19th 033

Let’s address some elephants in the room:

1) I’m completely aware of what color the frosting is and what it looks like. You don’t have to tell me because I’m not blind. In fact, I was the one licking it off my fingers, so clearly the flavor trumps the appearance.

2) I know I can’t pipe frosting to save my life. My favorite Charmed one was Piper; I loved Billie Piper as Rose in Doctor Who; I, on the other hand, am no piper. You can hire me to bake your birthday cake but God help us all if you want me to decorate it.

January 19th 035

I will, however, garnish with some espresso chocolate bark because that’s how I roll.

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31 Responses to Mocha Buttercream
  1. Nourhan @ Miss Anthropist's Kitchen
    January 25, 2011 | 10:17 am

    Who cares, it’s going to end up in your tummy anyway. 🙂 Mocha cupcakes are the best

  2. Bethany @Bridezilla Bakes
    January 25, 2011 | 10:20 am

    Delicious.

    I can’t pipe frosting to save my life either. And let’s be honest… it’s just not something I could see myself pouring a whole lot of time into. I’m much more about how it tastes… which, when it comes to mocha buttercream, is amazing.

  3. Caroline @ chocolate and carrots
    January 25, 2011 | 10:29 am

    I’m all for more snow days! I’m loving the chocolate recipes! Nothing beats coffee/chocolate combo. Yum!

  4. christina
    January 25, 2011 | 10:34 am

    mmm they look delicious and they photograph so well!

  5. Salah@myhealthiestlifestyle
    January 25, 2011 | 11:15 am

    mmmm omg, that looks so bomb 🙂

  6. Holly @ couchpotatoathlete
    January 25, 2011 | 11:17 am

    I have made plenty of meals that look like shit but taste great — and I think your frosting looks delicious!

  7. Nicole, RD
    January 25, 2011 | 12:03 pm

    You really know how to make a girl trying to lose weight onery!

  8. Corey @ the runner's cookie
    January 25, 2011 | 12:49 pm

    I actually think imperfect baked goods look more appealing! Frosting that looks too perfect makes it seem like a machine made it.

  9. Madeline - Greens and Jeans
    January 25, 2011 | 12:53 pm

    I always maintain that foods that look a little off usually taste better.

  10. Victoria
    January 25, 2011 | 1:01 pm

    You don’t give yourself enough credit. It’s rustic, right? 🙂 I’m sure it tastes awesome and topping off with the chocolate bark is a great final touch!

  11. ceecee
    January 25, 2011 | 1:04 pm

    You had me at “butter”. yum!

  12. Christin@purplebirdblog
    January 25, 2011 | 1:16 pm

    I will say the same thing to you regarding your poo-looking frosting that I said regarding my brown rice miso paste rubbed fish the other day… get your fingers in there like an inmate in the crazy ward! Gross, I know… but your frosting sounds CRAZYAWESOME.

  13. janetha @ meals and moves
    January 25, 2011 | 1:27 pm

    wow! i am a frosting hater but i think i would love this.

  14. Kate (What Kate is Cooking)
    January 25, 2011 | 2:02 pm

    Who cares what it looks like? It’s chocolate frosting… also known as one of my favorite foods 🙂

  15. […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Leaving Fatville, Evan Thomas. Evan Thomas said: Who needs coffee in the morning when you have cupcakes with mocha buttercream? #ienablebadhabits http://su.pr/2VYn0d […]

  16. Alina @ Duty Free Foodie
    January 25, 2011 | 3:44 pm

    Ummm that looks ridonculously delicious. By the way, the first elephant did not occur to me until I read that part of the post! Definitely gave me a good laugh though!

  17. Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen)
    January 25, 2011 | 5:52 pm

    It is not all about the looks! It is what’s inside that counts, right?! I think they look delicious!

  18. Lisa@ Dishes of Mrs. Fish
    January 25, 2011 | 7:20 pm

    Mocha buttercream.
    That’s just genius!

  19. Kjirsten- Balanced Healthy Life
    January 25, 2011 | 7:22 pm

    Holy Yum! I love that you garnish with the bark! Totally makes these even more awesome!

  20. blackbookkitchendiaries
    January 25, 2011 | 7:28 pm

    this sounds fantastic! i love mocha flavored desserts:)

  21. Amy
    January 25, 2011 | 10:21 pm

    I feel like coming across this was serendipitous. I was just talking about making coffee bark last night– thinking I was a total genius. Of course I thought that I was the only one that has come up with this idea of coffee chocolate bark. So good thing I came across your blog to get my head screwed on right. 🙂

  22. Hannah
    January 25, 2011 | 10:28 pm

    This is so tempting, as I adore coffee and chocolate together, but I must resist. I know myself, and I know I’ll eat this all with a spoon if I make it.

  23. BigFatBaker
    January 25, 2011 | 11:20 pm

    YUM! I love mocha too. Who cares what it looks like as long as it tastes good! And the bark addition..brilliant.

  24. Liz @ Tip Top Shape
    January 25, 2011 | 11:37 pm

    omg, this looks amazing. I freaking love buttercream. A lot of my friends actually find it too heavy on cupcakes, but I make it anyway. lol I am convinced that they are just insane because who doesn’t like buttercream?!

  25. Sara
    January 25, 2011 | 11:57 pm

    I’m a coffee addict and I do not like chocolate so I need to postmark this recipe for all the times I make cupcakes and do not want to make a chocolate frosting! It sounds delicious

  26. Jackie (SeeJacRun)
    January 26, 2011 | 12:48 am

    This post just made my day! Love your blog 🙂

  27. Lauren at KeepItSweet
    January 26, 2011 | 8:49 am

    This looks delicious… wish I had some to top my oatmeal this morning;-)

  28. Steph@stephsbitebybite
    January 26, 2011 | 2:51 pm

    oh lory!! Is it bad when I keep going back to your pictures? I could easily eat a whole bowl of this frosting!!

  29. Cakewalker
    January 26, 2011 | 7:26 pm

    Cake decorator or not, your cupcakes look decadent… Cocolate, coffee, oh my!
    The heaping mound of frosting was enough, but to garnish them with espresso chocolate bark sends me over the moon.

  30. MaryBe@AccidentallyVegan
    January 27, 2011 | 9:16 am

    Piper was okay but too much of a goody-goody. I loved Phoebe! And I’m pretty sure they would both love this frosting, although it does have evil undertones

  31. […] is so much better tasting and just as easy. If you don’t have a favorite recipe, I’d recommend mocha buttercream or vanilla […]