Eggnog Cupcakes & Bourbon Buttercream Frosting
I swear to god, I don’t bake. But the bourbon keeps insisting that it should be in desert… who am I to deny the bourbon what it wants?? These boozy holiday cupcakes are a spin off from an eggnog pound cake recipe. Some minor alterations, a little extra kick of bourbon, and a frosting that will keep you warm all night makes for a really special holiday treat.
The bourbon buttercream frosting is really where it’s at in this recipe. I think it would be wonderful on all kinds of cupcakes, but ‘tis, the season, so eggnog it is! The use of kosher salt is important here, because the salt crystals actually lend themselves to a “salted” frosting flavor.
EGGNOG CUPCAKE BATTER
yellow cake mix (pre packaged)
1/2c butter (softened)
2 eggs
1 1/2c eggnog
1/4c bourbon
1/8 tsp grated nutmeg
Preheat oven to 375 and prepare two 12in muffin tins with papers. Combine all ingredients with hand mixer (or stand mixer) until dry and wet are fully incorporated. Divide the batter evenly among the 24 cupcake papers, and bake for 15min. Remove and let cool completely on racks before frosting.
BOURBON BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
1c butter (softened)
2c confectioners sugar (sifted)
1/2tbs vanilla
2-4oz bourbon (depending on personal taste)
1tsp Kosher salt
grated nutmeg (for dusting)
Using a stand mixer and whisk attachment (or hand blender if you feel like getting a workout in), beat butter for 6-8 minutes, or until it’s lighter in color. Then slowly add sugar, a spoonful at a time, until fully incorporated with the butter. Then add salt, vanilla, and bourbon, and continue blending for another 4-5 minutes, until desired firmness is reached. Pipe or spread onto cooled cupcakes, dust with nutmeg, and enjoy!
Also, this might be the perfect way to use up that leftover eggnog that everyone has at the holidays. Trust me, I know. We all do it. We think we want lots of eggnog, then one glass is enough. Then, there it lurks in your fridge… taunting you. Judging you for doing the same thing AGAIN. But not this year- this year there is a plan, and it involves cupcakes. It’s a Christmas miracle!
Cheers, friends!!
