Trend Alert: Alcoholic Cupcakes

What could be better than dessert and a drink?  A drink flavored dessert!  A new trend that seems to be popping up everywhere is alcohol infused cupcakes.  Just about any drink you can think of has now been made into a delicious cupcake and JC Bartending wants to share a few recipes with you!

Cosmopolitan Cupcakes with Cosmopolitan Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter room temp
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs room temp
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2-1/2 tsp baking powder
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 1 1/4 cup Cosmopolitan ( recipe to follow)
• zest of 1 lime
• Red paste or gel food coloring.(optional, if you would like a stronger reddish tint in the cake)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Line muffin pans with cupcake papers.
2. With a mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until fluffy.
   Add the eggs 1 at a time and beat until well combined. Add the lime zest
3. Combine all dry ingredients in a separate bowl and set aside
4. 1 ½ cups cosmopolitan in a separate bowl.
   Add in 1 cup each of the dry and wet mixtures alternately, beating on low until the whole mixture is well combined.
5. Bake at 350 F for 18-22 minutes
6. Cool for 10 minutes in pan.

For glaze:

1. 1/2 cup cosmopolitan
2. Heat the cosmopolitan over med heat until thickened and slightly reduced.
3. Brush with cranberry/vodka glaze when cupcakes are still slightly warm.
   When cupcakes are completely cooled, frost with Cosmo Buttercream

Cosmopolitan Buttercream Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3 sticks or 1 1/2c butter room temp
• 4 c confectioner’s sugar
• 1 tbsp meringue powder ( optional)
• pinch salt
• 1 tsp lime zest
• 3-4 tbsp of the Cosmopolitan (or more until you reach desired consistency)
• red food coloring

Directions:

Cream the butter until light and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time beating well with each addition. Add the meringue powder and the salt. Mix in the zest. Add the Cosmopolitan one tablespoon at a time until you reach desired consistency.