Margarita Cupcakes

Check out my mad cake decorating skills. I got a pastry bag and EVERYTHING because I have too much time on my hands. However, my amateur attempts at frosting go really well with the 1970s orange Tupperware I inherited from my grandma. This batch of cupcakes also commemorated the last of my granny's tequila. I love you so much Grandma, but now I'm buying Jose Cuervo. I'm just sayin' ...

How can you go wrong cooking with booze? You just can't. Even if you don't think you like tequila, you should try this cupcake.

I have spoken.

Margarita Cupcakes
from Confections of a Foodie Bride and Wilton

9 oz Margarita mix
3 oz tequila
3/4 oz triple sec
White cake mix (No-pudding mix works best)
3 egg whites
2 T vegetable oil
1 T lime zest
1 recipe Lime Buttercream Frosting (recipe follows)

Mix together the margarita mix, tequila, and Grand Marnier in a large glass or spouted bowl. You will use 1 1/4 cup of this in the cupcake mix. Throw the rest in a glass with some ice and drink it.

Mix the cake mix, egg whites, vegetable oil, lime zest, and 1 1/4 cup of the margarita mixture. Mix on low for about 30 seconds and then increase to medium speed for two minutes (the batter will still be a bit lumpy).

Spoon the batter into a prepared muffin pan (fill the cups somewhere between 2/3 and 3/4 full) and bake at 350 for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick registers “done” in the center cupcake. Remove the pan from the oven and cool 5 minutes. Remove the cupcakes and cool completely on a baking rack.

Once the cupcakes have cooled, make the frosting for the cupcakes.


Lime Buttercream Frosting
4 cups confectioners sugar
1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature
1/8 tsp salt
3 Tbsp lime juice

Add the butter, confectioner’s sugar, salt, and lime juice to the stand mixer and mix on low using the paddle attachment until combined. Turn the speed to med-high until the icing is fluffy. Add the icing to a pastry bag or use a spatula/knife to frost the cupcakes.

Note: Use additional lime juice or water to thin the frosting, if necessary.