Nest cupcakes

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INGREDIENTS:

Cupcake Batter:

1 cup hot water

3 tablespoons instant coffee powder

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3/4 cup chocolate chips

2 teaspoons white vinegar

Crème eggs

Buttercream:

2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar

1/2 cup cocoa powder

Chocolate sprinkles

Chocolate eggs

METHOD:

Bake the cupcakes: In a large mixing bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt.
In a separate bowl, dissolve the instant coffee in the hot water.
Then add the cocoa powder and vanilla, whisk together, then pour into the dry mixture.
Add the vegetable oil, chocolate chips and vinegar, and mix until everything is well combined.
Divide the mixture between lined cupcake tins.
To make them look extra nest-like, use white or brown cupcake liners.
Stick a crème egg vertically into each cupcake, suspending the egg in the batter, so that it's not actually touching the cupcake tin.
Bake the cupcakes at 375F for 15-20 minutes.
Cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely.

Make the buttercream: Beat the butter with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy.
Add the vanilla extract and beat until combined.
Add the confectioner's sugar and cocoa powder one cup at a time, then beat for 3-5 minutes.

Assembly: Place the buttercream in a piping bag fitted with a very large, round piping tip.
Pipe a ring of buttercream onto the cupcakes and a smaller dollop of buttercream into the center.
This will create a nest shape.
Dunk the cupcakes into the chocolate sprinkles, fully coating the buttercream.
Fill the nests with some chocolate eggs and enjoy! When biting into the cupcakes, you'll reveal a crème egg inside - it will melt slightly when baking and give the cupcakes a delicious toffee-like flavour!