Mini Cupcakes with Alcohol

Friday night my friends had an engagement party and asked if I would bring some cupcakes. While I was trying to figure out which flavors would be the best, it suddenly hit me. Alcohol. But not just any, Margarita and Pumpkin Bourbon would be perfect. So I spent the early portion of the day trying to track down the perfect recipe. I wasn't entirely happy with many of them, but still managed to pull it off. In the end I decided to brush the warm cupcakes with the alcohol and add alcohol to the frosting. They were a hit. The happy couple enjoyed them as well as party-goers.

Margarita Mini Cupcakes
1 cup flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. of salt
3 tbsp. of butter at room temp.
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
Zest of two limes
Tequila

1) Preheat oven to 325 F
2) Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and butter until it turns into a crumbly mixture
3) Pour in half of the milk then whisk the remaining milk with the egg and vanilla, then pour into mixture
4) Fold in lime zest
5) Fill molds 1/2 full and bake for 12-15 minutes
6) Brush with tequila

For the frosting
2 sticks of butter
2 cups of sugar
3 tbsp. lime juice
2 tbsp. (or more) of tequila
2 tbsp. lime zest
Salt to taste

Mix ingredients, then frost cupcakes and enjoy!

Bourbon Pumpkin Mini Cupcakes
1 stick of butter, room temp.
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup sugar
2 cups cake flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. ground clove
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
1 tbsp. bourbon

1) Preheat oven to 350 F
2) Mix wet ingredients and then add dry ingredients until combined
3) Fill molds 3/4 full
4) Bake for 12-15 minutes
5) Brush with bourbon and let cool

For the frosting
2 8 oz. packages of cream cheese, at room temp.
1 stick of butter, room temp.
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup (or more) bourbon

Mix ingredients and frost cupcakes