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Celebrating 1st Birthday with Espresso Cupcakes

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Another year flew by giving way to a fresh and sparkling 2012, packed with new dreams and new memories. I wish you all a very Happy New Year and may you live every moment with joy, love and lots of laughter.

2011 was a very special year for me. It not only gave me new friends and new dreams but it also gave me two new passions - food and photography! The year gave me so many things to treasure that words can hardly express my feelings.

We reached home yesterday after 2 months long vacation and even though I wished to sleep and get some rest, I could not help but write this post. It's a special day to celebrate! So, join me my friend to wish 'Sunshine & Smile' a very Happy 1st Birthday 🙂 Yes, my blog was born last year on this date. It's hard to believe that one year has passed by and today; Sunshine & Smile is 1 year old.

I started this blog with zero knowledge on blogging. It's embarrassing but the fact is that I didn't even know what a blog was, why people blog and how is it different from a website. Eventually, I discovered the whole new world of blogging and fell in love with it! Blogging is probably one the best things that happened to me.

Without your support, care and love, this blog would not have been where it's today. I feel proud of my baby and I feel proud to be a part of the blogging community. Thank you for your comments, your feedback and your help. Thank you for being with me all the time. Thank you for all the motivation and inspiration. And THANK YOU so much my friend for making my blog shine and smile everyday!

Every celebration calls for something sweet and these cupcakes were perfect for the occasion. After 2 months of long break, it was really exciting for me to get back in the kitchen and bake these cupcakes. It's a very easy recipe adapted from Nigella Lawson's book. They are filled with espresso, coco powder, dark chocolate and decorated with whipped cream.

espresso cupcakes 6 1

Celebrating 1st Birthday with Espresso Cupcakes

Kankana Saxena
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Ingredients
 

  • ½ cup softened butter
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¾ cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
  • 1 tablespoon espresso coffee powder
  • ½ cup dark chocolate chips (melted)
  • 2 tablespoon milk

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400F.
  • Mix the butter and sugar properly.
  • Add the eggs and whisk until it's mixed properly.
  • Sift in the flour, cocoa powder, espresso, baking powder, baking soda and whisk until it forms a smooth batter.
  • Lastly, add the melted dark chocolate and milk and give one final whisk.
  • Pour the mixture into the muffin baking pan and let it bake for about 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Poke the cakes with a chopstick or toothpick and if it comes out clean, the cupcakes are ready.
  • Let it cool in the rack for 5 minutes before you start decorating.
  • I am not a big fan of frosting on my cakes but today, I wanted to decorate the cupcakes just a little. So, I used some whipped cream as frosting.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Servings

More Cakes and Muffins

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. sally

    Congratulations Kankana! I look forward to lots more yummy recipes on Sunshine & Smile in 2012.

  2. C&T

    Happy Blog Birthday!!!! 🙂 Cupcakes looks delicious! 🙂

  3. Padhu

    Cupcakes look divine .Excellent presentation and pictures

  4. mustardseed

    Congratulations and wish you all the very best! These cupcakes look delicious and flavored with coffee...YUM!!

  5. Sawsan @ chef in disguise

    Welcome home and happy birthday sunshine and smile 🙂
    Kankana you are one of the most talented bloggers I know, your photography is my inspiration. coming here is always a joy to the eyes and taste buds.
    Keep up the wonderful job you are doing and wishing you great more success 🙂

  6. athena

    Happy 1 year blogiversary, and here's to many more! The espresso cupcakes are perfect for such a happy occasion.

  7. Stefanie

    Congrats and happy birthday to your blog!! These cupcakes look like a wonderful way to celebrate such a great landmark 🙂

  8. Anita Menon

    So good to have you back , Kankana. I hope you had a wonderful vacation.
    Best wishes for your first blog anniversary. It is rather special. Shows how much you have persevered.
    The cupcakes look sooo cute.

  9. Juliana

    Congratulations on your 1st anniversary Kankana...the coffee cupcakes look great, like how light they are.
    Hope you have a wonderful week ahead and again congratulations!

  10. balvinder

    Happy Blog anniversary,Kankana. I enjoy seeing your posts whenever I come. The cup cakes look lovely and no doubt your photography is stunning.

  11. Angie@Angie's Recipes

    Congratulations!
    Those coffee cupcakes look so elegant and fabulous.

  12. Reem | Simply Reem

    Kankana....
    A very Happy New year my dear.... I have been thinking abt you. Hope you had a great trip.

    A Very Happy Birthday to beautiful Sunshine and Smile...

    I had been crazy busy with guest and then got sick, will call u soon.

  13. Rinku

    This looks absolutely stunning! Congratulations!

  14. Melanie @ Melanie Cooks

    I love baked goodies with added espresso! These cupcakes look gorgeous!

  15. easyfoodsmith

    Hi Kankana! Good seeing you back. Happy blogiversary and wishing you many more such successful years ahead. The cupcakes look like a perfect way to celebrate the occasion. I am also no big fan of frosting but seeing your cupcakes, for once I don't mind having it 😉

  16. Kankana Saxena

    Thank you very much my friends. Thanks for your visit and for all your kind words. 🙂