Ultra soft gluten-free cafe au lait cupcakes–espresso cupcakes with a to die for cream filling. A classic cafe au lait re-invented as a fun, festive and delicious cupcake.
Have any of you guys ever been to New Orleans for Mardi Gras? Personally, it sounds about as appealing as being in times square on New Years. Meaning…not…
I’ve actually only been to New Orleans once, but I fell so in love with it. Steve and I took an anniversary trip there about a year ago and we had such an amazing time. It is probably one of my favorite vacations of all time, and I can’t wait to go back.
In fact, I’m already planning to go back. Next year I turn *gulp* 30, and I’m already planning to meet with this girl to meet up in New Orleans to celebrate both of our birthdays. There is so much to do. Especially if you love food, which…ummmm obviously.
As far as Mardi Gras, though? I think I prefer to celebrate from afar. I’ve become that old person that actually rolls their eyes at drunk college kids. I know. I’ve very quickly become one of those crotchety old folk types that goes to bed at 9pm and gets annoyed with people who are sloppy drunk. Who am I kidding? I am pretty sure I’ve always been that person inside.
So after a little break, Drink & Dish is back! If you hadn’t noticed, the theme is MARDI GRAS! A cafe au lait is probably the most famous non alcoholic drink in New Orleans, and a must have to go alongside a freshly friend beignet. And you must have the beignets. Covered with so much powdered sugar that your entire outfit ends up in a covered in sugary dust. You can’t leave without that combination, I promise you. Also, you have to have a hurricane! It is pretty much the official drink of New Orleans, and Nicole’s totally lives up to the fame!
I wasn’t sure how the flavor would translate to a cupcake, but these babies exceeded all of my expectations! I’m not usually a cupcake person, but I kept finding myself eating the few I left behind at my house, and regretting (well, only partially…) all the extras I brought to work.
The cupcakes are so soft. The texture is so perfect that I even surprised myself, but it’s that filling that really takes them to the next level! Filled cupcakes are great because they seem so difficult, but really it’s easy to do, and I show you exactly how I fill them in the video, so make sure to check it out!
Ultra soft gluten-free espresso cupcakes with a to die for cream filling. A classic cafe au lait re-invented as a fun, festive and delicious cupcake.
Ingredients
- 2 2/3 cups gluten-free baking blend (or white whole wheat flour)
- 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons espresso powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- dash salt
- 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup reduced fat buttermilk
- 1 cup strong brewed coffee
- powdered sugar for dusting, optional
- 8 ounces heavy whipping cream
- 8 ounces reduced fat cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Line 2 muffin tins with paper liners. Either stand or mini muffin tins will work. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine baking blend, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In a separate large bowl or stand mixer, beat together applesauce, coconut oil, sugars and vanilla until well combined. Add eggs one at a time and mix until combined.
- To the applesauce mixture add approximately (eyeball it) 1/3 of your dry mixture, followed by buttermilk. Add an other 1/3 of dry ingredients, then coffee, and finish with remaining third of dry ingredients mixing until just combined. Do not over mix.
- Fill muffin tins 3/4 full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few crumbs, 20-25 minutes for full size cupcakes; 10-13 minutes for minis. Cool completely.
- To make the filling, whip cream in a stand mixer or using a handheld mixer until soft peaks form and it turns into whipped cream. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar one cup at a time beating until well combined. Beat in vanilla. Fold in whipped cream.
- Transfer filling to a pastry bag fitted with a narrow ended tip. Plunge tip into the center of each cupcake and squeeze filling into the center until the top of the cupcake starts to expand slightly. Remove, and repeat with remaining cupcakes. Dust with powdered sugar if desired. Store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to one week.
Those images are sweet, good job, babe!
Steven Bailey recently posted…Being the person my dog thinks I am.
lol!! I’m totally an “old” person too! I’ll be 29 this year (I wanna join in on the fun!), and I’m already in bed by 10:30 and rolling my eyes at sloppy drunks. However, I would stay up til midnight for these babies!
Haha so glad I’m not the only one! Thanks friend. 😉
Love the pics today! The dusting looks so pretty. I’m with you on the old lady part. There’s no way I’m staying up past 10 and I prefer to stay away from the annoying drunks too.
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted…High Five Friday
Thanks so much Angela!! I was super excited about them, and I was hoping everyone would love the powdered sugar pictures as much as I do. And 10pm is when I turn into a pumpkin!
those sprinkle in the air pictures are awesome!
Linz @ Itz Linz recently posted…Foodie Pen Pals February
Thanks Linz!! I was so excited about them! 🙂
loooove the shot of the sugar. and i’m old. almost 31… rolling the eyes now
It’s okay though because we’re super fun at like 7am, right?? I wish that’s when the parties happened. I am totally a morning person. And thank you! xoxo
Dish some out of here 😉
Kierston recently posted…#RECIPEFRIDAY: Low Carb Tomato Basil Portobello Mushroom Pizza
I love being an old lady on the inside. Off to bed by 9pm and yelling “get off my lawn” to punk teenagers! ha ha
The dusting pictures are soooo pretty!
Maureen recently posted…Must See TV {Organically Mo Favorites}
Hahaha omg you’re bringing back memories from the best and worst movie experience of my life. It wasn’t supposed to be funny, right? Because I laughed the entire 2 hours. Oh Clint….
beautiful! How did you do the powdered sugar sprinkling photo . . .come give me a lesson!
Jennifer F recently posted…Pie Power | Muscle-Making, Protein-Packed Pie Recipes
You have to have an assistant. Preferably one who also understands the camera. Usually for action shots, I get everything set up (lighting, angles, etc.) and hand my husband the camera so that I can be in control of how the food looks. He takes as many photos as possible during the action and most of the time I am left with 1 or 2 useable photos. This round was super lucky!
Those images with the powdered sugar are making me drool! Gorgeous! I still need to visit New Orleans. It’s definitely on my bucket list – I want to be covered in sugary dust. Another great Drink & Dish, ladies!
Jenn (eating bender) recently posted…Two Pairs Of Socks
Come with us next year!!! Thanks for all the support Jenn! xoxo
I’m with you, lady! Drunk crowds are for the young, we oldies need to stay inside where it’s comfortable. 🙂 These cupcakes look perfect, and I’m dying over that powdered sugar sprinkle shot!
Elizabeth @ SugarHero.com recently posted…Pistachio Shortbread Cookies
Haha for real! Thanks friend–I was totally giddy over that shot! 🙂
Thanks for the kinky linky 🙂 my phone autocorrected and I just had to leave it rofl. I cannot wait to go to NOLA with you for our big birfdays!!!! love you! xoxoxo
Hahaha I love you.
They look divine! Love those beautiful clicks.
Angie (@angiesrecipess) recently posted…Flourless, Sugarfree Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies
These might just be perfect. And how you manage to pull off HEALTHY delicious looking cupcakes is beyond me. And theyre gluten free?! I don’t even have words. The photos are gorgeous too, I want to just eat one out of the screen if that even makes sense lol pinning this!!1 🙂
Selena @ thenutritiouskitchen.com recently posted…Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie
Awww thanks so much Selena! They were definitely one of my favorites. 🙂
These cupcakes look and sound delicious!!
Apparently, my birthday is on Mardi Gras this year. I’ve never been to New Orleans, but I would love to go. I don’t think that Mardi Gras is my kind of thing though, maybe just from afar too!
Jamie @ couchtoironwoman recently posted…Running “Death” Face
It’s almost your birthday??? I LOVE birthdays! And YOU! Also, I def didn’t picture you partying it up on Bourbon St. haha.
These cupcakes look amazing! Mardi Gras is definitely quite the experience. If you watch a parade in a more residential area, you’ll really find all ages partying together, from young children on up to people in their 70s and 80s and it’s a blast!
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen recently posted…Blueberry Biscuits
That sounds way more up my alley!
Awesome photos – love the falling powdered sugar ones! And delicious looking cupcakes!
Shashi @ RunninSrilankan recently posted…Turkey-Ball Soup with Dorot Seasoning
I love your Dine and Dish videos!! 🙂 I was in NOLA right at a year ago too! Oooooh, the beignets. Yum! I want one now! And you can’t beat a hurricane sipped on at the patio at Pat O’Brien’s!
Mollie @Sprinkles of Life recently posted…#meatlessmarch
Just thinking about the beignets makes me want to go back, like now! I love it so much!
These cupcakes look so good and your pictures are amazing. I love the look of that powdered sugar being sprinkled on!