dessert

Buttermilk Maple Cupcakes + Bourbon Maple Frosting

Ingredients:

Cupcakes:

  • 1/2 cup butter softened and chopped into cubes

  • 3/4 cup maple syrup

  • 1/4 cup dark brown sugar

  • 1 egg

  • 2 teaspoons bourbon

  • 1 1/3 cup flour

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 3/4 cup buttermilk

  • optional 3 tablespoons bourbon barrel aged maple syrup + 1 tablespoon bourbon for glaze

Frosting:

  • 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)

  • 1/2 cup butter softened and chopped into cubes

  • 2 tablespoons buttermilk

  • 1/4 cup bourbon barrel aged maple syrup

  • 4 cups powdered sugar  

  • 1 teaspoon bourbon

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Cupcakes

  • Preheat your oven to 350 F

  • Mix butter, maple syrup and brown sugar in the bowl and beat on medium-high speed until butter is evenly dispersed.  It won't form the usual fluffy batter at this stage because of the syrup, the syrup "settles out" of the mixture a bit.

  • Add the egg and bourbon, mix well.

  • In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

  • To the butter-sugar mixture, slowly add and stir in the dry ingredients and buttermilk, alternating dry ingredients and buttermilk until it is a smooth batter.  

  • Fill cupcake liners 2/3 of the way with batter. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and edges are a perfect golden brown.

  • Allow cupcakes to cool completely in pans before frosting.

  • **optional** If you're aiming for absolute decadence (and honestly, if you're making bourbon maple cupcakes, absolute decadence should be the goal) combine the additional 3 tablespoons of bourbon barrel aged maple and 1 tablespoon of bourbon in a small bowl.  Paint lightly over the top of the cupcakes with a pastry brush and allow to soak in fully before frosting.

Frosting

  • In a stand mixer or large bowl with electric mixer beat together softened cream cheese and butter until well-combined.

  • Add bourbon, buttermilk, salt and bourbon barrel aged maple syrup, mixing on medium until fully combined.

  • Gradually add powdered sugar until completely combined.  

  • Spread over your cupcakes and enjoy! 

Pre-frosting, the buttermilk maple cupcake is moist and delicious with golden edges

Pre-frosting, the buttermilk maple cupcake is moist and delicious with golden edges

Frosted with the Bourbon + Buttermilk maple frosting, this cupcake is a perfect balance of rich maple sweetness and tangy buttermilk

Frosted with the Bourbon + Buttermilk maple frosting, this cupcake is a perfect balance of rich maple sweetness and tangy buttermilk

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