Bourbon Pie Cupcakes

Bourbon Pie Cupcakes

These are my latest gourmet cupcakes to concoct.  The idea came to me as I was chatting with a friend and trying to come up with some fall recipes.  I threw out an idea related to pecan pie, and she said I should do a cupcake for that.  From there it evolved into what I have created here.  These are so delightful.  I truly hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

These cupcakes include a few of my own recipes: spiced nuts, chocolate bourbon cupcakes, and my salted caramel buttercream frosting.

Chocolate Bourbon Cupcakes

Yields: 24 cupcakes

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 ½ cups granulated sugar

¾ cups cocoa, unsweetened

½ cups brown sugar, packed

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 eggs (room temperature)

1 cup warm water

¾ cups vegetable oil

½ cup bourbon whiskey

½ cup spiced pecans, roughly chopped
Spiced pecan halves for garnish (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F
2. Line 2 cupcake pans with cupcake liners
3. In a medium mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients, except nuts
4. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix well
5. Fill lined cupcake pans until ½ to ⅔ full
6. Add ½ tsp of chopped spiced nuts to each cupcake.  Press down lightly but don’t mix in.
7. Bake in preheated oven for 20-24 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean

Once cool, frost with the salted caramel buttercream frosting and garnish with a spiced pecan half, if desired.

Salted Caramel Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients:

1 cup salted butter, softened

1 cup salted caramel sauce

2 tsp vanilla extract

4- 5 cups confectioner’s sugar

Directions:

1. Cream butter until light and fluffy
2. Add caramel sauce and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined
3. Add confectioner’s sugar a little at a time.  Mix until well combined and light and fluffy

Salted Caramel Sauce

Ingredients:

1 cup caramel candies

4 Tbsp heavy cream (to desired consistency)

2 tsp salt

Directions:

1. Combine ingredients in a microwave safe bowl
2. Microwave on half power for 30 seconds at a time stirring well each time
3. Continue microwaving and stirring until smooth