Ingredients
2 ½ cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
½ cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
4 packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
¼ teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons instant espresso or coffee granules
3/4 cup milk
3 eggs
1 ½ cups sugar
½ cup (1 stick) butter, softened
Step by step
Beat butter in large bowl with electric mixer on medium-high speed until creamy. Add sugar gradually with mixer running and beat 3 minutes or until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to medium and add eggs, one at a time, beating for 30 seconds after each addition.
Stop and scrape bowl. Dissolve instant espresso in milk. Set aside.
Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Turn mixer to low and add a third of the flour mixture alternately with half of the milk mixture, mixing 15 seconds after each addition.
Spoon batter into 8 greased and floured custard cups. Place cups on baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for 30 to 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into cupcake comes out clean. Remove from custard cups and cool on wire rack. Top with Cream Cheese Frosting.
Place cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in mixer bowl. Attach bowl and flat beater to mixer. Turn to Speed 6 and beat 2 minutes. Stop and scrape bowl.
Sift powdered sugar into bowl. Turn to Speed 2 and beat 30 seconds, just until combine. Stop and scrape bowl. Turn to Speed 6 and beat 2 minutes. Refrigerate until ready to use.