coffee & walnut cupcakes

my baking mood is baaackkkk!!

started with Victoria Sandwich and iced fairy cakes for lil missy's school cake sale, then I got hooked into baking again.

ingredients :

2 teaspoon espresso coffee powder ( I used normal instant coffee powder)
2 teaspoon boiling water
125g/4 oz lightly salted butter, softened (I've always used Stork for baking)
125g/4 oz golden caster sugar
2 eggs
150g/6 oz self raising flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
50g/2oz chopped walnuts

coffee buttercream

1 tsp coffee powder
2 tsp boiling water
100g/3 1/2 oz unsalted butter, softened
150/5 oz golden icing sugar
12 walnut halves to decorate

1. line 12 section bun tray with paper cupcases.
2. blend coffee powder with boiling water
3. put butter, caster sugar, eggs, flour and baking powder in a bowl. add coffee and beat with hand held electric whisk for about a minute until light and creamy.
4. stir in chopped walnuts
5. divide cake mixture between paper cases
6. bake in preheated oven, 180 deg C/350 deg F/gas mark 4 for 20 minutes. transfer to wire rack to cool
7. blend coffee powder with boiling water for butter cream. beat with butter and icing sugar until pale and creamy
8. spread buttercream over cakes or put in piping bag & swirl. decorate with walnut halves