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Egg Nog Cupcakes with Bourbon Caramel

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Bourbon Egg-nog Cupcakes

Are you in the “like eggnog” camp or the “egg nog is gross” camp? I know it’s pretty divided amongst folks- but I’m happy to say that I absolutely adore it. I don’t know what it is that makes it taste like a Holiday milkshake, but that’s exactly how it tastes. Thick, creamy, spicy and one of those sensory-recall things that automatically make me think of Christmas. You know what I’m talking about? Sometimes a smell or taste just brings you back to a certain moment in life….happens to me all the time….especially with smells line pine needles and nutmeg and gingerbread. Mmmm.

Bourbon Egg nog Cupcakes

These cupcakes were divine. I mean there is not much I like more than egg nog with a splash of bourbon  in it (or whiskey or rum,) and since I am obviously obsessed with caramel, what could be better than a combination of all three? The eggnog flavor in these cupcakes is subtle, but present enough that you’d know what it was if you tried it. And I must point out that these were pretty darn easy to make. I had these baked, filled, frosted and photographed in under two hours. Not bad huh?

Also- I got some engagement pictures taken over the weekend by my talented sister Nadia. Here is a sneak preview of a few of my favorites. :)

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Engagment Photo

Print
Egg Nog Cupcakes with Bourbon Caramel
Yield: 18-20 cupcakes
 
Ingredients
  • 1⅓ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ tsp. baking soda
  • ½ tsp. baking powder
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
  • ¼ cup dark rum or bourbon (optional)
  • 1 cup eggnog
  • ¼ cup vegetable or canola oil
  • 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 cup sugar
  • For Caramel:
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ¼ cup water
  • 6 tablespoons butter cut into small pieces
  • ⅜ cup heavy cream
  • ⅛ cup bourbon
  • For Frosting:
  • 2 sticks of butter
  • 4½ cups powdered sugar
  • 4 tablespoons egg nog
  • pinch of nutmeg
  • pinch of salt
Instructions
To make the Cupcakes:
  1. Preheat the oven to 350? F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and nutmeg; whisk to combine. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the rum, eggnog, vegetable oil, vinegar, and sugar. Beat on medium-low speed until well blended. Add in the dry ingredients and mix on low speed just until incorporated.
  2. Divide the batter between the prepared cupcake liners, filling the cups ⅔ full. Bake 22-24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
For Caramel:
  1. Whisk together the sugar and water in a medium saucepan and whisk over high heat until sugar is dissolved. Don't stir the mixture but gently swirl the pan until it has reached a dark brown amber color. At that point whisk in the butter. (Careful- it will bubble up- don't burn yourself.) Remove from the heat and whisk in the cream and bourbon. Allow caramel to cool in the fridge before filling/drizzling.
For Frosting:
  1. Using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter until it is creamy and pale. Gradually add the powdered sugar until thick and creamy. Add the egg nog one tablespoon at a time until the texture seems right. Add the nutmeg and salt and beat for another minute or so.
To Assemble:
  1. Once the cupcakes have cooled, scoop a tablespoon-size amount out of each one with a small spoon or paring knife. Fill with caramel, pipe on frosting and drizzle with remaining caramel. Sprinkle with a dash of nutmeg and enjoy!

Cupcake Recipe adapted from: Annie’s Eats
Engagement Pics taken by Nadia Quinn: www.wahhabphotography.com

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Comments

  1. I posted about Eggnog Donuts with an Eggnog Rum Glaze yesterday…Great minds have eggnog and booze and dessert on the brain, eh?

    Yours look wonderful! Would love to try them!

    Reply

  2. Love the cupcakes and love the photos!! Congrats girly! :)

    I’m on the love egg nog side, as long as it’s cooked! *Ick* Raw eggs?? No thanks!

    Reply

  4. Oh man, these look amazing! Look at that gooey center :) I am definitely in the love eggnog camp, and I didn’t even know what it was until I turned 19 and visited the States.

    Gorgeous pictures, again, congratulations!

    Reply

  8. Your pics came out great! I love the balloon one and the one with the and sign. So cute I almost forgot about the sexy looking cupcakes too. YUM!

    Reply

  9. Beautiful photos :) congratulations on your engagement!!!! As for this recipe, I’ll save it in case we have leftover eggnog after the Christmas party. My husband and I love eggnog, and we both love frosted cupcakes. Thanks for sharing your photos and this recipe!

    Reply

  11. The engagement pictures are adorable. Wishing you oodles of happiness. The cupcakes are looking pretty fantastic too, I’m on the fence with eggnog, but would gladly down a couple of these cupcakes.

    Reply

  14. I’m definitely in the love eggnog half of your readers…I had my first taste this weekend and now can’t get it out of my head!! These look amazing. Adorable pics too – hope you share some more!

    Reply

  15. Gorgeous photos, Audra! We’re having ours taken in a few weeks. How exciting.The cupcakes are amazing, too… Finally someone who shares my love for egg nog!

    Reply

  34. Okay, you can’t put something as adorable as your engagement pictures and as amazing as egg nog cupcakes in the same post. It makes it too hard to decide what to tell you I love the most. Love supercedes everything though and those engagement pics are AMAZING. You lucky girl. Congrats!

    Reply

    • Hey Kaylee- Sorry that your cupcakes flopped. I unfortunately can’t pin point what went wrong since I wasn’t there- it could have been a problem with ingredients or possible your oven temperature.

      Reply

      • thank you! and dont worry about the cupcakes i just changed the cupcake into a vanilla recipe and used the frosting. : )

        Reply

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