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