Shiver Me Timbers... Pirate Cupcakes

Ahoy Me Hearties! (Hello my Friends)

 I have a treat that band'o pirates 'o all ages gunna enjoy! These devilishly jolly cupcakes be full of chocolate treasures. These mocha devils grub cupcakes be full 'o chocolate 'n gold. These jolly cupcakes be perfect 'fer International Speak Like A Scurvy Pirate Day. X marks th' spot 'o gold 'n chocolate meet. Don't worry 'bout th' sand, it makes th' cupcakes even more hearty grub. Enjoy me swashbucklers 'n grog-filled shout International Speak Like A Scurvy Pirate Day (put grub in me gullet) like a scurvy pirate day.

Fair Winds me hearties!

Pirate maiden, th' lady th' scurvy pirate Kate 'o th' treasure o' 'n grub

Deviled Grub Cake wit' Mocha 'n Stuffed  Gold'n Riches

(Devils Food Cake with Mocha)

Cupcakes
1 box Pillsbury Devils food cake mix
3 heaping tablespoons cocoa
1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 teaspoon instant espresso
1 tablespoon sugar

Cupcake Stuffing (optional)
1 cup crushed graham crackers
1/2 cup room temperature fudge

Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Line the cupcake tins with the cupcake liners or spray with a non-stick cooking spray.
In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle or a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat together the cake mix, oil, eggs, vanilla and almond extracts, sugar, and instant expresso. Beat for about two minutes on medium speed until mixed well.
Scoop the batter into each cupcake liner with a ice cream scoop. Don't fill the cupcakes more then 3/4th full.  
 Bake the cupcakes according to the directions on the back of the cake mix. Bake in preheated oven for 18-22 minutes. Leave the cupcakes in the muffin tins for about 5 minutes. Then remove the cupcakes and cool on a wire rack.

Once the cupcakes are cool, use an apple corer to cut a small hole into the cupcakes, don't push more than 1/2 through the cupcake. Leave the cupcake core in the apple corer and carefully pour in warm fudge, graham crackers or golden nuggets into the center of the cupcake. It's up to you what riches or treasure you hide in the cupcakes. Replace the cupcake's core and pat it into place. Frost the cupcakes and top with sand (crushed graham crackers) and sprinkle on a tiny bit of instant express powder. 

Pirate Booty Mocha Frosting

a Calamity Kate Original

2 sticks (1 cup) butter, room temperature
1/2 cup Crisco
1/ tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon butter flavoring or use butter flavored Crisco
1 tablespoon Jif Mocha Cappuccino spread
3 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 cup chocolate gold nuggets to hide inside the cupcakes and to top the cupcakes

In a stand mixer with the paddle on, whip together the butter, Jif mocha spread and Crisco on medium-high speed for about 3 minutes or until they are mixed together with no lumps. Add in the powdered sugar, one cup at a time. Scrape the side of the bowl down and add in the vanilla and butter flavoring. Whip on high until the frosting is fluffy, about 5 minutes.
Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes and sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs (sand) and add on the gold nuggets.

Homemade Mocha Stuff'n

A Calamity Kate Original 

I whipped this up while waiting for the cupcakes to come out of the oven. It was a delicious and a perfect surprise when you bite into the cupcakes. I originally wasn't going to share this recipe with you, it is really like an oily chocolate fudge. But when it was in the cupcake, it was perfect, not oily and very  mocha-y. Enjoy!

1/2 cup of Jif Mocha Cappuccino spread

1 cup powered sugar

2 teaspoons water or coffee

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon light Karo syrup

In a medium mixing bowl, whip the Jif spread with a hand mixer, for about 3 minutes or until it is fluffy.  Add in the powered sugar and mix for 2 to 3 minutes. Add in the coffee or water, vanilla and kayo syrup. 

Roll into small 1/2 teaspoon balls. You can coat these with graham cracker crumbs or not. And the candy balls into the hole in the cupcake. Replace the core and frost with Pirate Booty Mocha Frosting!

Tis scurvy pirate speech comes from message like a scurvy pirate!

These boy party ideas were also featured on Spaceships and Laser Beams.
- See more at: http://spaceshipsandlaserbeams.com/blog/2013/02/party-central/boy-party-ideas-add-yours-to-our-linky#sthash.vEkRxH80.dpuf