Vanilla Cupcakes with Champagne Frosting
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Tasty vanilla cupcakes are perfectly moist and fluffy with a rich, buttery flavor. It’s topped with a swirl of incredible champagne buttercream frosting that is light, airy, and infused with the subtle sparkle of bubbly. A final touch of shimmering sprinkles adds a festive sparkle.
New Year’s Eve is just a few days away. Usually for the holiday I make a few appetizers and desserts for my husband and I. Then we open up a bottle of champagne to enjoy in front of the fire. I’m not quite sure there will be a fire this year as it’s been unseasonably warm but I can guarantee there will be food.
Some years we go out to dinner then come home and snack. Other years we stay in and make a nice dinners. Then other years we go out to friends houses but we almost always make it back to our own home to ring in the new year with treats and champagne. This year will be no different.
What is the difference between champagne and sparkling wine?
Basically true Champagne can only come from the Champagne region of France. All other sparkling wines are simply called sparkling wine. Champagne is generally only made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, or Pinot Meunier while sparkling wines are made from a variety of grapes.
I change the food we eat every year as well. I think this year we’ll probably mini Maryland Crab Cakes as a hearty appetizer. I almost always make Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip because we can snack on it all night then eat it on nachos or in a quesadilla the next day. I also like to have some type of Cheese Tray or appetizer because cheese goes so well with wine and champagne.
For dessert I usually like making cupcakes because we can eat one or two that night and save the rest for later. I’ve also made fudge or bon bons as a treat.
This year I decided to use some of the champagne we’ll be drinking in our cupcakes. Because why not? If I’m going to drink it I might as well enjoy it in my dessert as well.
Can I use a boxed cake mix?
Of course! Doctor it up a bit by adding a package of vanilla pudding mix, substitute butter for the oil, and milk for the water. It’ll taste like the cupcakes are homemade!
I made a traditional vanilla cupcakes and then topped it off with my champagne buttercream frosting along with silver sprinkles and pink edible pearls to make it special. These are a great New Year’s cupcake or special celebration cupcake.
Vanilla Cupcakes with Champagne Frosting
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes:
- 1 c. butter softened
- 1 1/4 c. sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla
- 2 1/3 c. flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 c. milk
For the frosting:
- 1 c. butter softened
- 3-4 Tablespoons champagne
- 4 c. powdered sugar
- silver sprinkles
- pink edible pearls
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two muffin tins with cupcake liners.
- In a large bowl cream the butter and sugar until smooth. Add the eggs and mix well. Stir in the vanilla.
- In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Add half of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix well. Add in the milk and stir until combined. Stir in the remaining flour until smooth.
- Fill the cupcake liners 2/3 of the way full with the vanilla batter.
- Bake for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.
- Meanwhile beat the butter for the frosting with a hand mixer until smooth. Add in the champagne and mix well.
- Add the powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time until your frosting is the desired consistency. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes.
- Top the cupcakes with silver sprinkles and pink edible pearls.
Notes
These sound delish!