Lips like sugar, sugar kisses

For someone who LOVES coffee, I actually don't drink it that much. I usually like it in cakes, ice cream - I just love the smell and flavor. With one exception. If there is a donut in the hizzouse, I need coffee with it. Therefore, Coffee + Donuts Cupcakes were inevitable.

Everyday I open my cabinets and there's my Mini Donut Maker staring at me. I haven't used it in about a year and I thought this was the perfect project. I made a strong coffee cupcake, with a coffee frosting, and then commandeered the kids to help out with the donut decorating.The donuts for the picture were mine - because frankly, the kid's were...heavily sprinkled. Imagine - entire bottles of sprinkles...everywhere. Ugh. But they had fun and I always want them to help out. Good thing I have tons of sprinkles close by.

I have been working on these cupcakes for a long time, and luckily, they came out just as I had hoped. For this recipe, I spent a lot of time dreaming about them, tweaking the recipe, and sketching out the idea. Yes, I have a sketchbook of food ideas, no I am not a crazy hobo.

I do think pastry on pastry is a bit over the top - I feel like I've just made the turducken of desserts. Still, you can't deny the cuteness. Also MMM, coffee.

Coffee + Donuts Cupcakes