I brought these to a small Friendsgiving last weekend and people were FIGHTING over them. At the end of the evening, I had to apologize that I didn’t make more. SO, these are good.
Cupcakes are fun in theory but can be an absolute wreck. Twenty dirty pans and four hours later, you might want to throw in the towel or go back to the easy box mix. When I was younger, I used to LOVE making cupcakes but I would eventually get so annoyed with how long the “fun flavors” took, so we only did it on occasion (muffins are just so much faster).
So I bring to you: chocolate bourbon cupcakes with cinnamon buttercream. ONE BOWL FOR THE MIX. ONE BOWL FOR THE FROSTING. OBVIOUSLY YOU NEED A CUPCAKE PAN. BUT THAT’S IT.
Now I need to put a CAUTION note here. I use a WHOLE cup of bourbon in these cupcakes. Yes, kind of a lot for about eighteen cakes, but it enhances the flavor of the chocolate so well and produces a very moist cake. Here is the thing: you must refrain from testing the batter too much. That is the best part of baking for me but I ended up tipsy after licking the spoon! The bourbon will taste strong in the unbaked batter but once baked, the cake tastes predominantly like delicious chocolate with a kick (it won’t get you drunk at that point).
Don’t feel like you need to get the best bourbon out there because you really don’t. I purchased the $15 Trader Joe’s brand bourbon whiskey (yes, really!) and it worked great.
Also, the frosting. I do NOT enjoy super sweet frosting. Remember the cupcakes and sheet cakes we would have at school that came from the local grocery store? I hate those. My ingredients below will allow full coverage of frosting on each cake, but not a mountain’s worth. The actual cake is so good the frosting doesn’t need to over power it. However, feel free to double the recipe or add more sugar to make it taste better to your liking.
Okay, I think that’s it! Whether you need a last minute Thanksgiving treat (for the pie averse) or something to bring to your next book club, consider these babies!
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What you need: Two medium mixing bowls, a stand mixer OR hand mixer, cupcake/muffin pan, cupcake liners and a butter knife.
Chocolate Bourbon Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream
Equipment
- Two medium mixing bowls
- stand mixer or hand mixer
- standard cupcake pan
- Butter knife
Ingredients
For the cupcakes
- 1 cup coconut oil melted
- 1 cup bourbon brand of your choice
- 2 eggs at room temperature
- 2/3 cup sour cream
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
For the frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks) slightly soft but not room temperature
- 3/4 cup confectioner's sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line your cupcake molds with liners.
- In a medium bowl, beat together the coconut oil, eggs, sour cream and sugar until combined. Add the bourbon and beat until incorporated. Then add the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix until smooth and no lumps remain.
- Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners (I baked them in two batches). Each liner should be about 3/4 of the way full. Transfer to the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes or until the center doesn't appear soft and wet. Let cool.
- While the cupcakes bake, make the frosting. In another bowl (with clean beaters), beat the butter until soft and airy, about 3 minutes. Add the sugar slowly, and taste test as you go to see if you want more or less sugar. Add the vanilla and cinnamon and beat for about 2-3 more minutes, until the frosting appears whipped. The frosting should not be a melted consistency but it shouldn't be rock hard either. Place in the fridge if it needs to stiffen a bit.
- Make sure your cupcakes are completely cooled before adding the frosting, as it could melt the buttercream quickly. With a butter knife, frost each cupcake to your liking, around 2-3 tablespoons per cake. Sprinkle cinnamon on top for optional decoration.
- Store in an air tight container or place in the fridge if you have leftovers for a few days. However, they probably won't last long! Enjoy!
