Decadent Chocolate Tiramisu Cupcakes (Printable)
Rich chocolate cupcakes soaked in espresso and topped with fluffy mascarpone cream for an elegant Italian dessert experience.
# What You’ll Need:
→ For the Chocolate Cupcakes
01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
03 - 1 tsp baking powder
04 - 1/2 tsp baking soda
05 - 1/4 tsp salt
06 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - 1 cup granulated sugar
08 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
09 - 2 tsp vanilla extract
10 - 1/2 cup whole milk
11 - 1/4 cup strong brewed coffee, cooled
→ For the Coffee Syrup
12 - 1/2 cup strong brewed espresso or coffee
13 - 2 tbsp granulated sugar
14 - 1 tbsp coffee liqueur (optional)
→ For the Mascarpone Frosting
15 - 1 cup heavy whipping cream, cold
16 - 8 oz mascarpone cheese, cold
17 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted
18 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
→ For Assembly
19 - Unsweetened cocoa powder for dusting
20 - Dark chocolate shavings (optional)
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
02 - Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
03 - Beat softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla extract.
04 - Mix in half of the dry ingredients, then add milk and coffee. Stir in remaining dry ingredients until just combined.
05 - Divide batter evenly among cupcake liners. Bake for 18-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
06 - Let cupcakes cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
07 - Dissolve sugar in hot espresso. Stir in coffee liqueur if using. Set aside to cool.
08 - Whip cold cream to soft peaks. In a separate bowl, beat mascarpone with powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Fold in whipped cream until fully combined. Chill until ready to use.
09 - Poke several holes in the top of each cooled cupcake using a skewer. Brush or spoon coffee syrup generously over each cupcake.
10 - Pipe or spread mascarpone frosting onto each cupcake. Dust with cocoa powder and garnish with chocolate shavings if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The coffee syrup soaks into the chocolate cake creating that signature tiramisu texture we all obsess over
- Mascarpone frosting is essentially the best thing that has ever happened to whipped cream
02 -
- Room temperature ingredients are not optional here, cold butter will not cream properly and cold eggs will not emulsify
- The syrup needs to soak in but not drown the cupcakes, start with less and add more as needed
03 -
- Fill the cupcakes with a spoonful of mascarpone frosting before topping for hidden pockets of creamy goodness
- Use the back of a spoon to create those classic tiramisu waves in your frosting instead of piping