espresso cupcakes with mocha frosting (halloween edition)

these babies will definitely wake you up!

cupcake:

1 C butter, softened
1 C brown sugar
1 C applesauce
1 t baking powder
1 1/2 C flour
2 T cocoa powder
4 T instant espresso powder
1 T chocolate extract
3 T soy creamer

preheat oven to 400. 

cream together the butter and the sugar.  add applesauce, baking powder and extract. mix well. 

in a separate bowl combine the flour, cocoa, and instant espresso. mix well.  add flour mixture, and soy creamer. mix til thoroughly combined.

pour batter into paper lined muffin tins. bake for 16 minutes. let cool completely before frosting.

frosting:

1/4 C shortening
1/4 margarine, softened
1/2 C cocoa
2 1/2 C powdered sugar
2 T soy creamer
1 t coffee extract

cream together shortening and margarine. add cocoa and mix well. 


add powdered sugar in 1/2 C increments, adding 1 T creamer after each cup until well combined. mix in extract until combined. 


you're ready to frost. (add sprinkles if you so choose) then eat. 

*makes 18 cupcakes