Caramel Macchiato Cupcakes

Ingredients
FOR THE CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES:
1 box (15 1/4 Oz. Size) Devil’s Food Cake Mix
1 package (3/4 Oz. Size) Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix
1/2 c. Brewed Coffee, Cooled
1/2 c. Milk
1/4 c. Vegetable Oil
2 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract
4 Large Eggs

FOR THE ESPRESSO BUTTERCREAM:
1/2 c. Unsalted Butter, Softened
1/2 c. Salted Butter, Softened
2 tsp. Pure Coffee Extract
2 lb. Powdered Sugar
2 tbsp. Milk, Or More As Needed
2 To 3 Squeezes Chocolate Brown Soft Gel Paste Food Color
2 To 3 Squeezes Warm Brown Soft Gel Paste Food Color
Caramel Sauce, For Drizzling On Top

Directions

For the chocolate cupcakes:
Heat oven to 350ºF. Take a cupcake/muffin tin and place cupcake liners in it. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, add all of the cupcake ingredients. Mix with a hand mixer until combined, and then for a few more seconds. Be careful not to over-mix the batter.
Using a large cookie scoop that is 3 tablespoons in size, scoop batter into each cupcake liner.
Bake cupcakes for about 15 to 17 minutes (take a toothpick and stick it into the center of a couple cupcakes and if it comes out clean, your cupcakes are done). Carefully remove the cupcakes and place them on a cooling rack.

For the espresso buttercream:
In the bowl of a stand mixer, add softened butter and mix. Add coffee extract and mix until well blended. Next, add powdered sugar (in 2 to 3 batches, you don’t want to make a mess) and mix thoroughly.
Once you have mixed all of the powdered sugarr, start adding milk 1 tablespoon at a time and keep mixing. Mix buttercream frosting for a full 5 to 6 minutes.
Add gel paste food color to the frosting and mix again until thoroughly mixed.
I like to make the buttercream frosting a day or two ahead. I store it in the fridge. If it’s been refrigerated, let it sit on the counter for about 30 minutes before trying to decorate your cupcakes. Sometimes, if needed, I will add a little bit of water and mix with a spatula to make it thinner for frosting cupcakes.
Take a piping bag and tip and decorate your cupcakes! Drizzle caramel on top as well!

ORIGINAL