If you are looking for something to give you an energy boost this holiday weekend, may I suggest these delightful coffee-filled muffins?

If you are tired of drinking your caffeine and would prefer to indulge that addiction in muffin (or dare I say cupcake?) form, may I recommend these sweet little baked goods?

They are made with Starbucks VIA® Instant Coffee and will knock your socks off. Okay, I know it is technically still summer and you probably don’t have socks on. But if you do…well, let’s just say I didn’t warn you. I found the magical VIA® at my local Target store, which now has a Starbucks inside. *swoons for a minute*

Speaking of swooning…just look at this frosted muffin, which we can now officially crown as a glorious cupcake.

Psst…the frosting has VIA® Instant Coffee in it too, just in case the muffin alone wasn’t enough to beckon you.

And did I mention there are also chocolate chips? Here is a close up of the sweet little chocolatey bits before they were frosted up.

It’s been decided. She’s a tasty treat and good for a caffeine fix to boot, naked or dressed in frosting.

Here is the recipe, adapted slightly from The Tasty Kitchen’s post by nancypants

FOR THE MUFFINS:

• 2 packages Starbucks VIA® Instant Coffee
• ½ cups Warm Milk
• ¼ cups Melted Butter
• 1 whole Egg
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 1 cup Flour
• ⅓ cups Sugar
• 1-½ teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon Salt
• 1 cup Chocolate Chips

FOR THE ICING (OPTIONAL):

• ½ cups Butter, Softened
• 2 cups Powdered Sugar, Or More As Needed
• ½ teaspoons Vanilla
• 1 package Starbucks VIA® Instant Coffee
• 1 Tablespoon Boiling Water

Dissolve Starbucks VIA® instant coffee in warm milk. Stir and mash with a spoon up against the side of the bowl until instant coffee is completely dissolved. Next, add melted butter, egg, and vanilla and whisk until combined.

In another bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.

Pour wet ingredients into a well in the center of the dry ingredients and stir well to incorporate completely. Finally, stir in the chocolate chips.  Fill muffin tins 2/3 full and bake at 375° for 17-20 minutes

For the Icing:

Start by beating together the butter, sifted powdered sugar (which you can use more than
two cups of to attain the right consistency) and vanilla. In a small bowl, mix the VIA® Instant Coffee together with the boiling water until coffee is dissolved.  Add it to the butter mixture and mix until fully incorporated.