RECIPE: Margarita Cupcakes For National Margarita Day

[1] Margarita cupcakes (photo and recipe © Santo Spirits).

[2] Yes, you can drink a Margarita with the cupcakes (photo © Casa Noble Tequila).

[3] Santo Fino Blanco Tequila (photo © Luekens Liquors).

National Margarita Day is February 22nd*.

If you need a recipe, here are 27 Margarita recipes, from classic to nouvelle.

Let’s add some food fun. Here’s a sweet bite to go with the cocktail: Margarita cupcakes.

The cupcakes and icing contain the ingredients of a classic Margarita: tequila, triple sec and lime zest and juice.

Can you drink a Margarita (photo #2) alongside the cupcake? Absolutely!

Thanks to Santo Tequila (photo #3) for the recipe.
 
 
RECIPE: MARGARITA CUPCAKES

Make the cupcakes more festive with printed cupcake liners (photo #1).

Ingredients For 12 Cupcakes

For The Cupcakes

 
For The Glaze

 
For The Icing

1. PREHEAT THE oven to 325°F. Line a muffin tin with paper liners.

2. SIFT together the flour, baking powder and salt.

3. CREAM the butter and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time; mix well after each addition.

4. ADD the lime zest, lime juice, tequila, triple sec, vanilla and lime extract.

5. ADD the dry ingredients in 3 batches, alternating with buttermilk. Mix until just combined; do not over-mix (it toughens the crumb‡).

6. DIVIDE the batter among the cupcake liners. Bake for approximately 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick shows only moist crumbs. Meanwhile…

7. MAKE the glaze. When the cupcakes are done, remove the tin from the oven.

8. BRUSH the tops of the cupcakes with the glaze. Allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove to cooling rack.

9. MAKE the icing: Cream the butter and sugar together. Add the zest, tequila and triple sec. Add in the cream and beat for approximately 5 minutes more, until the icing is light and fluffy.

10. PIPE or spread the icing on the cooled cupcakes. Garnish with lime zest (zest the lime right over the icing) or a segment of a lime wheel.
 
 
> CUPCAKE HISTORY

> MARGARITA HISTORY
 
 
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*February 22nd is also the birthday of George Washington, who likely never heard of tequila. He drank beer and porter, which he brewed on his estate. He also liked Madeira, a fortified wine produced on the Portuguese island of Madeira. He also planted American grapes for wine. He had tried planting Madeira, but the grapes were not successful in the Virginia soil [source].

†Lime extract has a zesty lime flavor that is used most often in baking and beverages. The lime flavor in this extract comes from distilled lime oil pressed from the skin of limes. Just a teaspoon adds a zingy twist to dip, drinks, fudge, salsa, etc. If you don’t want to buy a bottle, here’s how to make it from fresh limes.

‡The crumb is the inside of bread or cake; i.e., that which is under the crust. The term refers to the interior texture and tenderness, among other characteristics.