Cupcakes. From a mix out of a box, to fancy $5 (or more) gourmet ones, everyone loves cupcakes. For Superbowl Sunday I tasked myself with bringing cupcakes to the party. Having run out of whipping cream, bar chocolate and wanting to make something different I decided on Apple Spice (plus I had apple sauce in the pantry). When it came time to choose  the icing, I started to make a standard cream cheese, but remembered that I had good quality Bourbon in the pantry; so Bourbon Cream Cheese Frosting it would be.

Apple Spice Cupcakes with Bourbon Cream Cheese Frosting

Cupcakes

1/3 cup softened butter
3/4 sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/3 cup AP flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 tsp cloves
3/4 cup applesauce ( I used chunky, make sure it doesn’t have extra sweetener or flavoring)

* this recipe makes between 14-16 cupcakes*

– Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
– cream butter and sugar together, add eggs and vanilla, mix to combine
– sift together  remaining dry ingredients and add to the wet ( I mix in about a 1/2 cup at a time) alternating with the applesauce
– once mixed, fill lined cupcake tins about 2/3 full

Bake for 20-25 minutes. I always rotate the pan halfway through the cooking process to ensure even baking. After 20 minutes the cupcakes with a toothpick. You may need to continue baking for an additional 2-5 minutes depending on your oven

Frosting

1/2 cup butter softened
8 ounces cream cheese softened
4 cups confectioner sugar
5-7 tablespoons good quality bourbon

Beat together butter and cream cheese until smooth. Carefully add confectioner sugar (about 1/2 cup at a time). Add bourbon and beat until combined, smooth and creamy.

I covered and let the frosting  firm up in the fridge for about an hour before icing the cup cakes.