Happy Birthday Sifting Focus and Cinnamon-Scented Devil’s Food Cupcakes
My heart swells with gratitude as Sifting Focus turns “1”. You, my readers, have offered up such kind words of encouragement during this past year. Your thoughtful comments make the sharing of this personal baking journal all the more meaningful. I have learned much in so many different areas of blogging, and growth feels wonderful. I have definitely faced some challenges, mostly in the area of technology. Baking comes naturally to me – Facebook and Twitter – not so much. It seems silly not to have thought of this earlier, but I was months into blogging before I realized what a wonderful gift I am creating for J. Just as a hand stitched quilt becomes an heirloom for future generations, through recipes, words, and photography I am creating a baking legacy for my daughter. If for no other reason, that makes it all worthwhile.
I am throwing myself a little party and I would like you all to be my guests. Help me celebrate by joining me in a verse of Happy Birthday. Light a sparkler, and sink your teeth into a deep dark devil’s food cupcake topped with mascarpone chocolate frosting. No need to bring a gift. Your love and support is present enough. As I close my eyes and make a birthday wish, it is for another year of more. More sharing, more growth, and more of the delight I experience from doing what I love most – baking.
These may sound like your ordinary chocolate cupcakes, but oh, they are so much more than that. Lightly scented with cinnamon, enriched with the flavor of coffee, and as deeply chocolate as devil’s food can get, these cupcakes hit all the high notes. A tried and true recipe that you will find yourself returning to over and over again.
Cinnamon Scented Devil’s Food Cupcakes
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 1/4 cups sugar
3 tablespoons espresso powder or instant coffee
1 1/4 cups hot water
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
3 /4 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1 tablespoons vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 325˚F and place racks in upper and lower third of oven. Line 30 muffin cups with paper liners and set aside.
Sift flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and baking soda into a large bowl. Stir the espresso powder into the hot water until dissolved. Set aside to cool. Combine sugar, cooled espresso, buttermilk, oil, eggs, egg yolks, and vanilla in another bowl. Using electric mixer, beat egg mixture until blended. Add dry ingredients. Beat on medium speed until blended, scraping bowl occasionally, about 4 minutes.
Spoon batter into liners, filling 2/3 full. Bake cupcakes until just firm to the touch, or until a cake tester inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, about 24 minutes. Transfer the cupcakes to a rack to cool for 10 minutes then remove them from the pan to a rack to cool completely.
Frost cupcakes with Chocolate Mascarpone Frosting. Can be made up to one day ahead.
Chocolate Mascarpone Frosting
8 ounces mascarpone, room temperature
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
6 tablespoons half and half, at room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 cups (2 pounds) confectioners’ sugar, sifted
Combine the mascarpone, butter, cocoa powder, half and half, vanilla, and salt and half of the confectioners’ sugar in a large bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat on low speed until well combined. Add the remaining confectioners’ sugar and beat until smooth. Use immediately or cover tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to two days. If refrigerated, bring to room temperature before using.
Yield: 30 Cupcakes
Source: Cupcakes – Adapted from Bon Appetit Magazine
Happy Birthday! Oh yes, pass me a Devil’s Food Cupcake! I wouldn’t want to miss the party!
Wouldn’t it be fabulous if we really could pass food through our own computer screens right into someone else’s.
Happy Birthday Sifting Focus and many more in good health! These look fabulous and will be making them soon. I’ve always added espresso powder to my chocolate batters, and the addition of cinnamon is very intriguing. Cupcakes are my favorite new thing to make and can’t wait for these to come out of the oven.
Love Lori
P.S. My niece started cooking school at Le Cordon Bleu and she’s been enjoying your blog as well.
Thanks Lori. So excited for your niece’s adventure. So jealous. Sweet of her to follow. Thanks for your support as well! XX
Happy Birthday Sifting Focus! Congratulations on a great first year. Maybe you can spend a week or two highlighting some of the great recipes from the last year? Can’t wait to make these cupcakes. . . .
Thank you Michael!
Happy Birthday/Anniversary! I can’t believe it has been a year. Thanks for all the advice and great recipes. Plus, your photographs are truly amazing – they are like eye candy!
You are so welcome! XX
Happy Blog Birthday! How quickly time flies, especially when you’re having a delicious time. Mary, your blog is one of the most meaningful gifts you are giving to your daughter, aside of course, from *you*. How lucky she is!
Here’s to many more tasty years 🙂
Thanks Liren! and likewise for your children. I thought of you yesterday and how much you have accomplished with your blog. I thought of how proud your mom would be of you. Her influence is woven throughout your lovely photographs, heartfelt writing, and delicious recipes. Apples don’t fall far from the tree. She had to have been a wonderful women. 🙂
Happy Birthday, Sifting Focus! I have enjoyed your blog so much since you launched – each and every photo is scrumptious (let alone the recipes). Here’s raising a tall cold glass of milk to your continued journey!
Thanks so much Gigi for the love and support!
Happy Birthday! Here’s to many more. Loved the journey so far and these are amazing cupcakes
Thanks Stac!
These were amazing cupcakes! My mom left out a few of these on the kitchen island for people to grab as they come and go, but unfortunately for them, they all went directly into my mouth. Congratulations again on the anniversary Mary!
Happy Birthday Sifting Focus. I just ate a chocolate cupcake from the Mary Bakery Shop. The cinnamon and cocoa added just a hint of flavor and was very pleasing. I”m lucky to be able to sample many desserts. Thank You Mary. Steve
Congratulations, Mary! That is quite an accomplishment, and quite an appropriate recipe to celebrate it. I wish you the best for many more years of successful baking and blogging, and of course, continuing to make our mouths water. Lots of love to you and the family.
Happy Birthday Honey !
I couldn’t be more proud of all you have accomplished, your unique voice as a baker and the unparalleled beauty of your photographs.
Rock On !
Love – H
Aahhh, Thanks Hun!
HAPPY happy HAPPY 1st Birthday! What an amazing accomplishment! My wish for you is you to continue to grow your fan base, grow your recipe library and become a picture laden Baking Cook Book. You are so very talented!
As for the cupcakes, they are INCREDIBLE. This statement comes from someone who can pass by chocolate without a second glance. The magic of the coffee and cinammon transforms ordinary chocolate cupcakes into something I now crave…
CONGRATULATIONS Mary!
Thanks for the support and all the love you have put behind me and the growing of Sifting Focus!
Congratulations Mary! It is amazing how far Sifting Focus has come from when Howard first told us about it two summers ago. These cupcakes look absolutely delectable and I especially love the sparkly candle and fun liners! Your food styling is impeccable 😉
Thanks Maral!
Congrats Mary! Your passion and inspiration is most definitely admired by all who view your site. Well done.
Thanks Tracy!
Happy Birthday Shifting Focus! 🙂 How exciting! I love reading your blog and cannot wait to see all of your other baking adventures in the future.
Thanks so much Lynna!
What a journey. Your writing, your photos and your baking are all amazing. I can’t wait to see where year 2 takes you.
Thanks Sher!
Woah! I’m really loving the template/theme of this blog. It’s simple,
yet effective. A lot of times it’s hard to get that “perfect balance” between user friendliness and visual appearance. I must say that you’ve done a amazing job with this.
In addition, the blog loads very quick for me on Firefox.
Excellent Blog!
Thank you Karolyn!