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Cleo Coyle’s latest release, DEAD TO THE LAST DROP, is terrific to the very last drop! I had high expectations for this book since Cleo’s previous books have all been winners, and this one didn’t disappoint…in fact, it blew right past all her others. Clare Cosi has moved to Washington, D.C., to open and manage the Village Blend’s newest coffeehouse and to be with her love, Mike Quinn, who works for the Department of Justice. In addition to the shop with it’s unique blends of coffee and mouth-watering pastries, the D.C. branch has started a jazz/supper club which is co-managed by Gardner. Clare expects the new coffeehouse to run efficiently with a profit like their New York location. Only it doesn’t and she is determined to figure what the problem is, starting with their arrogant chef who just may be stealing from her.
Gardner is actively showcasing new jazz musicians and Abby, one of the young women who performs, turns out to be the President of the United State’s daughter. It’s imperative that her identity remains secret but when a very drunk man bursts into the shop in the middle of the night during a jam session, it’s clear that he knows who she is. It doesn’t take long for Clare’s life to begin unraveling: from being “invited” to the White House to meet the First Lady who doesn’t appreciate her daughter playing in a jazz club to possible trouble in her relationship with Mike when his beautiful boss and a young, gorgeous detective have him in their sights. The drunk dies and the authorities determine he’s been murdered. When the President’s daughter disappears, the spotlight is turned on Clare for both the crimes and she ends up on the run trying to prove her innocence and find Abby before it’s too late.
In addition to an intricately woven plot that kept me on the edge of my seat and up way past my bedtime reading “just one more chapter”, Cleo provides numerous delicious Americana recipes along with background information on the dishes. She has allowed me to share her sinfully decadent recipe for Double-Chocolate Espresso Cupcakes! Oh my…these are yummy enough to make you swoon but don’t worry, the caffeine will revive you. The dark chocolate cupcake is moist with little bits of rich chocolate that melts in your mouth. The light, fluffy espresso frosting is like a creamy cloud sitting on top of these delicious little cakes. As Clare Cosi says, “Music, food, and coffee are universal languages,” and the author brings all three together in this thrilling mystery!
Be sure to take a look at a sneak peak (located at the bottom of this page) for COLD DEAD BREW, the next book in Cleo’s Coffeehouse Mystery series releasing January 10, 2017!
A special thank you to Cleo Coyle for offering one winner an autographed copy of DEAD TO THE LAST DROP! Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. Contest ends Saturday, September 17, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST and is open to U.S. residents only. Winners will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
Double-Chocolate Espresso Cupcakes
These dark, dense, and delightfully delicious little cakes topped by a light, creamy cloud of frosting were the most popular dessert at the Smithsonian party catered by Clare Cosi and her Village Blend crew. While Clare shared a sweet and heartfelt moment with Agent Sharon Cage, the party-goers took Clare’s cosmopolitan cupcakes off the tray and into their hearts. Always a favorite at the Village Blend in New York City, the sinfully sophisticated cakes have been added to the Jazz Space dessert menu and Clare’s DC pastry case.
Ingredients
Cupcakes
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon finely ground sea salt (or table salt)
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1/2 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup espresso or strong brewed coffee (cooled)
1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
3/4 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips (must be mini!)
Espresso Buttercream
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
1-1/4 teaspoons instant espresso powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons brewed coffee or espresso
Instructions
Cupcakes
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
Line a cupcake pan with paper liners. To prevent sticking of the baked muffins, spray lightly with non-stick cooking spray.
Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Cream the butter and sugars together until fluffy.
Beat in the egg.
Stop the mixer and add the milk, vanilla, and the cooled espresso or brewed coffee (with the instant espresso powder dissolved into it). Mix until incorporated.
Beat in the flour mixture. Do not over mix at this stage, but be sure all the raw flour is incorporated into the batter.
Fold in the mini chocolate chips. (They really should be mini chips for the best results. In a pinch, you can chop standard-sized chocolate chips or discs, but do not use standard chips for this recipe.)
Divide batter among the 12 lined cupcake cups of your pan.
Bake 18 to 22 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out with no batter clinging to it. (Be careful not to mistake melted chocolate chips with unbaked batter!)
Be sure to cool your cupcakes completely before frosting them.
Espresso Buttercream
Using an electric mixer, whip the softened butter until light and fluffy.
Reduce the mixer speed and add your powdered sugar a little at a time. After the powdered sugar has been added, scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Whisk your instant espresso powder into your vanilla extract and brewed coffee and then beat it into the frosting until it is beautifully fluffy and ready for the tops of your delicious double-chocolate espresso cupcakes. Top with chocolate shavings or chocolate-covered espresso bean!
Tip
You can add additional powdered sugar to the frosting until desired consistency is reached. When I made these cupcakes I knew they were going to be outdoors for a few hours on a very warm summer day, so I added quite a bit more sugar to make a stiff frosting. I wanted to make sure it didn’t melt before they were consumed!
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I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Here’s a sneak peak of COLD DEAD BREW, the next thrilling installment in Cleo Coyle’s Coffeehouse Mystery series, releasing January 10, 2017!
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Coffeehouse manager Clare Cosi sheds tears of joy when her NYPD detective boyfriend surprises her with an engagement ring. But her bridal bliss is put on hold when a chilling mystery brings a wave of deadly danger to those she holds dear…
After everything Clare and Mike have been through, they deserve a little bit of happily ever after. So when Mike decides to put a ring on Clare’s finger, Clare’s eccentric octogenarian employer is there to help. She donates the perfect coffee-colored diamonds to include in the setting and the name of a world-famous jeweler who happens to be an old family friend. But while the engagement is steeped in perfection, the celebration is not long lived.
First, a grim-faced attorney interrupts their party with a mysterious letter bequeathing a strange, hidden treasure to Clare’s daughter. Next, the renowned jeweler who designed Clare’s ring is found poisoned in his shop. Both events appear to be connected to a cold case murder involving a sunken ship, an Italian curse, a suspiciously charming jewel thief, and a shocking family secret. With deadly trouble brewing, Clare must track down clues in some of New York’s most secret places before an old vendetta starts producing fresh corpses.
With recipes to die for, including how to make cold-brew coffee at home!
When I drink coffee, I love Kona coffee from the Big Island of Hawaii. However, I typically drink tea instead of coffee every day and enjoy Teavana’s Golden Monkey black tea. I have to save coffee for special occasions since it bothers my acid reflux, otherwise I’d drink it every day 🙂
One word YUM!!!!!
Coffee for me and I drink Folger’s Black Silk.
Coffee – Folger’s instant!
I love a variety of different coffees. Beans and ground coffee? Starbuck’s, even Folgers for everyday use. In my Kuerig? I love the variety pack from the Brooklyn Bean Roastry and Fog Chaser Blend from the San Francisco Bay Co. I love a strong coffee blend, and fix my ‘fix’ in a drip pot, French-press, and my Kuerig! I’m an equal opportunity barista!
Don’t drink coffee. But do on occasion drink Hot Cinnamon Tea. Looks like a great read
I’ve never been a coffee drinker but will not pass up a dessert that has coffee in it.
I do love Starbucks vanilla lattes!
I LOVE Cleo Coyle
Teresa, that is so sweet, thank you, Sending my literary love right back to you!
~ Cleo
I enjoy coffee. I like a mild roast. These cupcakes look delish
I will have to make these cupcakes! My favorite brand of coffee is from Harry & David’s and is called Dark Chocolate Candy Cane. I also like Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice black tea. Looks like a fun book!!!
Wow! Those are gorgeous! Perfect for our monthly book club meeting group!
I have the first in this series on my shelf but it seems daunting because it’s so huge, I’ll never finish it. Although the premise of each of the books interests me…I need to bite the bullet! 🙂 Thanks for the yummy recipe too!
Amanda, while they might look like long books, the stories are so captivating that you will be sad it ended much too quickly! Plus Cleo includes so many delicious recipes that it’s not quite as long as it appears…although you’ll want to read through the recipes too 🙂
I drink maxwell house french roast with a dash of Bailey’s French Vanilla creamer each morning. Wow and the cupcakes…my two most favorite flavors together, chocolate and coffee…could it get any better!
I like the Dancing Moon Coffee Company. Love different types of coffee too. Flavored, espresso, Light, Medium. I use a Keurig and French Press.
The recipe above is to die for! Pun intended too. Can’t wait to make them.
Thanks for the chance to win an autographed copy of the book. I adore the Coffeehouse series. I have read each one and am usually so sad when I finish knowing I have to wait for a new one to be released.
I use a bunn coffee maker usually folgers. .
I’m a tea drinker, preferably 2nd flush Darjeeling and English Breakfast. No wimpy tea for me.
I have a latte or cappuccino once in a while.
No surprisingly since they are from Cleo, these sound wicked good.
i drink instant, usually Folgers. I like vanilla flavored too.
I drink mostly instant and my favorites are Taster’s Choice and Folgers.
I drink Chai Tea Lattes more than coffee, but if I had a Village Blend near me, I would convert to a full time coffee drinker. Between Matt Allegro’s beans, and Clare’s roasting methods, all of the coffees sound divine!
I am a coffee and tea drinker. I drink Chai tea when it comes to my tea but I like strong black coffee.
We usually perk Maxwell House French Roast. The recipe for the cupcakes sounds mouth-watering
and I’ve added it to my must try list.
My husband is the coffee drinker and he will only drink Yuban made at home. I love Starbucks hot chocolate with 1/4 of the chocolate and a little creme love it when hubby takes me there.
I don’t drink coffee, but I do like to drink herbal peach tea or herbal peppermint tea .
Biggby mint mocha or Folgers at home… Loverly cupcakes!
I like the instant coffee, International Coffee sugar free vanilla flavor. It is so good and then I add some sugar free chocolate and milk to it. Oh, and I like it iced, so yummy!
Have to try this. Thanks for sharing.
I do not drink coffee or tea. I use to drink tea. Now I drink pepsi, hot chocolate, chocolate milk and orange juice. I love most mystery books. Thank you for the chance to wiin a autographed copy of Dead To The Last Drop.
Thanks for a chance to win ! Definetely going to make those cupcakes!!!
I try all kinds of drip coffee. I like to try different flavors.
Baking is one of my most favorite hobbies! The cupcake recipes look awesome and delicious to eat!
Love drinking flavored coffee
Thank you so much, Kim, for the beautiful post. I absolutely LOVED your review of DEAD TO THE LAST DROP, and I am loving all of these wonderful comments. As many of our readers have said over the years, you do not need to love coffee to love The Coffeehouse Mysteries.
Our amateur sleuth, single-mom Clare, serves up delicious murder mysteries along with coffee, tea, and goodies in her coffee shop, and my husband and I have enjoyed writing her stories for more than ten years. As for our favorite coffee, we have many, and we write about a different one in every book. DEAD TO THE LAST DROP is the 15th book in our series, and our 16th entry, DEAD COLD BREW, is coming from Penguin Random House in January 2017, with more on the way!
Finally, Marc and I want to send very special thanks to Kim and her wonderful Cinnamon and Sugar blog, not only for this wonderful review and recipe post, but for her continued support of so many cozy mystery authors.
For all you do, Kim, we love you!
Cleo Coyle, author of
The Coffeehouse Mysteries and
Haunted Bookshop Mysteries
Cleo, it is my absolute pleasure to host you and Marc celebrating your Coffeehouse Mysteries. I’m thrilled to hear your next book in the series will be releasing in January…I can’t wait!!! From the bottom of my heart thank you for keeping us readers entertained and well fed!
I’m a coffee drinker and I like Costco’s Kirkland brand breakfast blend. It makes a great cup of coffee.
I just like plain ole iced tea with lemon.
Love Tazo Zen and Tazo Chai.
Cafe Du Monde or CDM. Love coffee with chicory. Mostly i drink iced tea, and it has to be Luzianne. Love the Cleo Coyle books
My favorite brand of coffee is Folgers.
I don’t have a favorite brand of coffee~I tend to get yummy frappes from Starbucks or McDonald’s or sometimes an iced coffee. These look so delicious!
I’m a tea drinker and I usually buy the store brand of black tea.
i like pure Kona & German coffee.
I am definitely a coffee drinker. I am pretty boring in my coffee choices. I like just a plain cup of coffee. We have a Kurig , and so I do have several different brands I switch around with. I like Folgers Classic, Starbucks Veranda, Green Mountain Breakfast Blend, and Green Mountain Nantucket blend.
I love coffee! Thanks for a chance to win a copy! The recipe sounds delish.
My husband is the coffee drinker at our house; I’m a tea drinker. But I love Cleo’s books and can’t wait to read the new one. The recipe looks yummy as well. 🙂
I do not drink coffee but I love my teas. Lavendar tea is my favorite
I drink Kava. It’s 90% acid neutralized so it doesn’t bother my stomach and my GERD.