Coffee Kahlua Cupcakes

Bet these will be the most moist, delicious cupcakes you will ever have!! Rich perfection (even if you don't drink coffee). Great for presents, too!!
(makes 24-30 cupcakes)

2&1/4 cups all purpose flour
2 cups Sugar in the Raw*
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa, plus 2 T. for frosting
1&1/2 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. sea* salt
1 cup veg. oil
1 cup strong brewed coffee (cooled), plus 1/4 cup (cooled) for frosting
3 large eggs
8 oz. sour cream
2 t. pure vanilla extract, divided
2 3 oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup Kahlua
8 oz. chocolate cool whip
1/2 cup Kerrygold* butter, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
Dark* chocolate covered espresso beans for garnish

Preheat the oven to 350. Line muffin pans with paper liners and set aside. To make the coffee cream filling: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add oil, 1 cup of coffee, and eggs. Beat at med. speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Mix in the sour cream and vanilla. Spoon the batter evenly into prepared muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full. Bake until a toothpick* inserted in the center comes out clean, for 16-18 mins. Let them cool in pans on wire racks for 5 mins. Remove for the pans and cool completely on the racks. While cupcakes are baking, make the cream filling: Add 1 pkg. of cream cheese into a large bowl. Whip at med. spread with an electric mixer until smooth. Slowly add the Kahlua, and fold in the whipped topping. Cover and chill. To make the coffee buttercream frosting: In a med. bowl, beat the butter at med. speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar, beat until smooth, add cream cheese, vanilla, and cocoa then beat in the coffee til frosting has a sheen to it. Spoon coffee cream filling into a squeeze bottle with a long narrow tip. Insert the tip into the top of the cupcakes and squeeze about 1 T. of the filling into center of each cupcake. Spread the frosting evenly over the cupcakes and garnish with the espresso beans.

"Those that always help a friend will always have a friend."

Love,

MM