Indulgent, Boozy Baked Delights: Champagne-Infused Cupcakes
Ready to impress at your next celebration? These opulent Champagne Cupcakes, perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, or just because, are just the ticket!
Here's the lowdown on creating these exquisite treats:
Easy Peasy, Breezy Note: You can prep the custard filling up to 2 days ahead, and bake the cupcakes a day before you intend to fill and frost them. Fancy a bottle of pop? Check out our guide on How to Open a Champagne Bottle.
But wait, there's more! For more cupcake bliss, don't forget to check out our Strawberry-Filled Cardamom Cupcakes, Vanilla Bean Cupcakes, and Chocolate Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallow Frosting.
- Difficulty Level: Medium
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Active Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients (19)
Cupcake Goodness:- 3 cups sifted cake flour (11 1/4 ounces)- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt- 4 large eggs, at room temp- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar (12 1/4 ounces)- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract- 1 cup canola oil- 1 cup Champagne or other fizzy wine
Custard Filling:- 1 1/2 cups half and half- 4 large egg yolks- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (3 1/2 ounces)- Pinch of salt- 1/3 cup Champagne or other bubbly- 2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/4 stick), in little chunks- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
For the Finishing Touch:- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, chilled- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar- Gold leaf or edible gold dust, for decorating
Steps to Cupcake Grandeur:
Step 1: Prepare the Cupcake Batters- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two 12-well muffin tins with paper cupcake liners and set aside.- In a large bowl, sift together the dry ingredients for the cupcakes (flour, baking powder, and salt); whisk well.- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract and mix for 1 minute on medium speed. Reduce the mixer speed to low and slowly add the oil, mixing just until incorporated.- Gradually add a third of the dry mixture to the mixer bowl, stirring until barely combined. Add half the Champagne and stir until combined. Repeat with the remaining dry ingredients and Champagne, not overmixing at this point (stirring by hand if necessary to avoid tough cupcakes).- Divide the batter evenly between the cupcake liners. Bake for 10 minutes, rotate the muffin tins in the oven, and continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes more, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer the muffin tins to wire racks for the cupcakes to cool.
Step 2: Whip up the Custard- In a medium-sized, heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat the half and half over low heat, not boiling. Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, and salt until combined. Add the Champagne and whisk well. Melt the cornstarch by adding a third of the warm half and half while whisking. Combine this mixture with the rest of the half and half in the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or heat-proof spatula.- Cook until the mixture begins to thicken, immediately strain through a fine sieve into a mixing bowl and stir in the butter and vanilla extract. Cover the custard with plastic wrap directly on the surface to prevent a skin from forming and let it cool in the fridge for at least 1 hour (up to 2 days ahead of assembly).
Step 3: Assemble with Love- To make the whipped cream frosting, whip the chilled cream, sugar, and vanilla extract together in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until the cream forms medium-firm peaks. Carefully fold in 1/2 cup of the chilled custard.- Transfer the custard into a pastry bag fitted with a small tip (or a zipper-top bag with the corner snipped). Using a small spoon or melon baller, remove the center of each cooled cupcake and fill with the custard filling.- Transfer the whipped cream to a pastry bag fitted with a star tip and pipe the frosting on top of each cupcake. Decorate with gold leaf or edible gold dust.
Protip: Substitute champagne with a bubbly apple cider for a delicious, non-alcoholic version of these elegant desserts.
These Champagne Cupcakes are the epitome of opulence, making them perfect for special celebrations. Enjoy!
these Champagne Cupcakes, with their undertones of elegance and sophistication, are an excellent choice for incorporating a touch of cool culinary artistry into your anniversary or birthday festivities; not only are they tasteful in nutrition, but their intricate step-by-step instructions make them a medium difficulty project, ensuring a satisfying sense of accomplishment upon completion; to enhance this gourmet treat even further, consider experimenting with a non-alcoholic version, swapping Champagne for bubbly apple cider, for a variation that caters to a broader audience and retains the exquisite flavors of the original recipe.
