Cosmopolitan Cupcakes

I threw a girls' night cocktail and dinner party for my mixer, Bella, which was custom painted by Nick Dinardo of Un Amore Custom Designs.  I also made these very special cupcakes for the party...Everyone loved them, moist, vodka-soaked cranberries surrounded by rich lime flavored cake and topped with Cosmopolitan frosting.  What more can I say?  

Bella's party companions were: Melanie, Jacqueline (my BIWB partner extraordinaire), Dorothy (Iron Blogger), Peggy, Nancy, Holly, and Hayley (Blogger Phenom).  All great friends who listened very patiently over the long, long months waiting for Bella to return.  After several delays, including a trip to Michigan to get fixed, she arrived a few weeks ago.  I couldn't be more happy with Nick's design and finished art work.  I am truly luck to have Bella in my home.

And, a very, very special thanks to Peggy for allowing me to borrow her "extra" KitchenAid while Bella was away.  I couldn't have baked a thing or blogged these last few months.  Most especially, there would have been NO Xmas cookies for my 30 friends and family.  I could not thank Peggy enough...Really.  If you bake and you have a KitchenAid, you know I mean.  :)


So you see what Bella is holding?  Take a close look...It's a cosmopolitan!  As the artist, Nick, was putting the finishing touches on Bella, we had to decide what she would be holding.  Rose, wooden spoon, glass of wine?  Wait, wait!  I am known among my friends for making a killer cosmo.  It was only fitting that Bella should be enjoying one for eternity, too.  And, see that bling...Swarovski crystals baby!  Nick's very special gift just for Bella!!

More on Bella later as I'm developing her signature cupcake...Just be patient cuz' you're going to LOVE it!

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Step-by-Step

Add the lime juice and zest just before you use the cranberry mixture.

In a stand mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the eggs, one at a time and beat well.  Add the extracts.

Add in the cranberry mixer and mix on low just to combine.

On low speed, gradually add in the flour mixture alternating with the milk.  Add the last 1 cup of flour at the end. Mix as little as possible and just until the batter comes together.  Fold in the last bits by hand.   Next time: adding pink food gel to the batter!

Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake cups.  Bake as directed.  Look how beautiful right out of the oven... 

And, how lovely in their party liners as they cool to get ready for their frosting...

In the mixer, beat the butter on medium until broken up, then add all the liquids.  Beat this on medium until it is almost emulsified.  THIS is what I mean by ALMOST EMULSIFIED... 

Add in all the confectioners’ sugar and beat as directed.  I added about 3 tbsp corn syrup this time, it's different each time it seems.  I find the best piping consistency is when the frosting ~just~ falls back from the beater into the bowl.  Kinda like this... 

And, yes, it IS very imporant to beat it for 1 minute on medium high. 

Trust me.  It'll be fluffy and beautiful to pipe. 

Okay, so this little cupcake didn't get enough of the frosting and had to be the

sacraficial tasting and texture check cupcake.  Somebody had to do it! 

See all those booze-infused, plumped cranberries? 
Super moist and holds its shape...just the way I like it! 

Cosmopolitan Cupcakes
{adapted from Luck O' The Irish Cupcakes, makes 24 cupcakes}

Ingredients

Cranberry mixture

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup Vodka

1/4 cup Triple Sec

Zest and juice of one lime

Cupcakes

1 cup unsalted butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon orange extract

3 cups flour, divided
3 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk or half and half

Cosmo Frosting
2 stick salted butter

1/2 teaspoon orange extract

11/2 teaspoons vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste

2 Tbsp cranberry juice concentrate, thawed

1 Tbsp Vodka

1 Tbsp Triple Sec

1 Tbsp milk or cream

Pink food coloring or gel

5 cups sifted powdered sugar

Corn syrup

To Make the Cranberry Mixture

In a blender or food processor, add the cranberries, vodka and triple sec.  Blend until the cranberries are shredded, but not pureed.  Remove to a bowl, cover and let sit overnight.  Add the lime juice and zest just before you use the mixture.

To Make the Cupcakes
Preheat the oven to 350º F, and line 24 cupcake cups.

Combine salt, baking powder, cream of tartar and 2 cups of the flour in a bowl and set aside.

In a stand mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the eggs, one at a time and beat well.  Add the extracts and beat until creamy. Add in the cranberry mixer and mix on low just to combine.  On low speed, gradually add in the flour mixture alternating with the milk.  Add the last 1 cup of flour at the end. Mix as little as possible and just until the batter comes together.  Fold in the last bits by hand. 

Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake cups.  I use a #12 scoop and added maybe 1/2 Tbsp more batter to each cup.  Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes and remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

To Make the Frosting

With a paddle attachment on a stand mixer, beat the butter on medium until broken up, but not smooth about 1 minute (you don't want you butter to get too hot=runny).  Add the extracts, cranberry concentrate, vodka, triple sec, milk and food coloring/gel.  Beat on medium for one minute, scraping bowl, until just emulsified.  Beat for another minute, scrape bowl. 

Slowly add in all the confectioners’ sugar.  Beat on medium for 1 minute, scrape bowl.  Beat on medium for 1 minute, scrape bowl. To achieve desired spreading/piping consistency:  add 1 tbsp corn syrup and beat for 30 seconds, repeat as necessary until desired consistency.   Beat for 1 minute on medium high.  Decorate! 

I so enjoyed the party with my girlfriends and especially showing off Bella.  I'm sure there will be more girls' nights at my place as the weather gets nicer and we can be outside. 

Happy Spring!!

Ciao!

Ellen