Coffee cupcakes

• golden caster sugar↗140g g
• butter↗140g g

  softened

• large eggs↗3
• self-raising flour↗140g g
• instant espresso↗2 tbsp tbsp

  mixed with 1 tbsp water

• few chocolate-coated coffee beans

  to decorate (optional)

• butter↗200g g

  softened

• icing sugar↗200g g
• instant espresso↗2 tsp tsp

  mixed with 1 tbsp water

• plain chocolate↗50g g

  melted

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Heat oven to 170C/150C fan/gas 3. Line 18 holes in 2 bun tins with fairy cake cases. Beat the sugar with the butter until light and creamy. Beat in the eggs, one by one, adding 1 tbsp flour at the same time. Beat in the rest of the flour along with the espresso. Spoon into the cake cases and bake for 17 mins, swapping the trays after 12 mins. Cool on a wire rack.

2. 2

   To make the icing, beat the butter until pale, then gradually beat in the icing sugar, followed by the espresso and the melted chocolate. When the cakes are completely cool, swirl the icing generously on top and decorate with coffee beans, if you like.