Margarita Cupcakes

Hello! My name is Kristin and I'm a guest baker on Goddess of Baking today! I was thrilled when Merlot asked me if I could help her in making Margarita Cupcakes for our ever so lovely co-worker, Jenn, since it was her birthday on Wednesday. I must admit that I'm not as good of a baker as Merlot because I do mess up from time to time, but I must say that I'm pretty decent.  Merlot and I brainstormed at work a few days ago and we came up this idea because these cupcakes seemed fun and who doesn't love drinking a nice, frothy margarita on your birthday?! I know I would! Plus, Jen's girlfriends had planned to go to dinner at El Ranchito, one of my favorite Mexican restaurants. The recipe did say that the batter would sort of curdle (which was kind of gross) because of the lime juice and we used Margartiaville Gold Tequila, but it all worked out though. We cooked the cupcakes 5 minutes less and they turned out absolutely perfect. After we took them out of the oven, we brushed them with some more tequila, so no one can blame us for them not being moist! Hahaha. While we waited for them to cool, we whipped up some buttercream frosting with some clear tequila so the frosting wouldn't turn yellow. We decided to split one and they were absolutely heavenly! In the frosting, we could taste the tequila for sure,  but in the actual cupcake part we think the tequila baked off,  but still amazing! I am going to have to make these for my girlfriend whose birthday is in August and is turning 21! I would recommend making these to anyone who is looking for a refreshing treat to cool off during these hot summer months. Happy Mixing and Drink up!

Happy Birthday Jenn!!

Margarita Cupcakes - Adapted from Brown Eyed Baker
Yield: 15 Cupcakes
Ingredients:
1 1/2 Cup Flour
1 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter, room temperature
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
2 Eggs, room temperature
Zest and Juice of 2 Limes
2 Tablespoons Tequila
1/4 Teaspoon Vanilla
1/2 Cup Buttermilk


Extra tequila for brushing cupcakes with - about 2 tablespoons depending on how buzzed you wanna get...


Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a standard muffin tin with paper liners and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.
3. In an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat the butter and sugar together until pale, light, and fluffy, about 5 mins.
4. Reduce the mixer speed to medium and add the eggs one at at time, mixing after each addition.
5. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the lime zest, lime juice, vanilla extract and tequila. Mix until combined. The mixture may start to look curdled at this point, but don’t worry, it will all come back together.
6. Reduce the mixer speed low. Add the dry ingredients in three batches, alternating with the buttermilk in two batches. Mix only until just incorporated, using a rubber spatula to give it one last mix by hand.
7. Divide the batter between the muffin cups. Bake for approximately 25 minutes or until just slightly golden and a skewer shows only moist crumbs attached, rotating the pan at the halfway point.
8. Allow cupcakes to cool for 5 minutes, and then remove to a cooling rack. Brush the tops of the cupcakes with the 1 to 2 tablespoons of tequila. Set the cupcakes aside to cool completely before frosting them.

Tequila Lime Buttercream:

1 Cup Unsalted Butter, room temperature

2 3/4 Cup Powdered Sugar

1 Tablespoon Lime Juice

2 Tablespoons Tequila - preferably clear tequila to keep the frosting white

1. To make the frosting, whip the butter on medium-high speed of an electric mixer using the whisk attachment for 5 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium-low, and gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing and scraping the sides of the bowl until all is incorporated. Give it a mix on medium speed for about 30 seconds. 
2. Add the lemon juice, tequila and salt mix on medium-high speed until incorporated and fluffy. If the frosting appears a bit too soft, add some additional sugar, one spoonful at a time until desired consistency is reached. Frost cupcakes and garnish, if desired, with lime zest, an additional sprinkling of salt and a lime wedge.

Baking Linky Partys:

• http://www.makeaheadmealsforbusymoms.com/melt-in-your-mouth-monday-week-20/#comment-26798