Margarita Cupcakes



Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Yields: 24 cupcakes

Description
Boozy cupcake fun for Cinco de Mayo or just a grown up party.

Ingredients
Cupcake
 * 3 cups cake four
 * 1 Tbsp. baking powder
 * 1/2 tsp. salt
 * 1 cup unsalted butter, room temp
 * 2 cups superfine (or baking) sugar
 * 4 large eggs, room temp
 * The zests and juice of 3 limes
 * 1/2 tsp. vanilla
 * 1 cup buttermilk (I use powdered)
 * 1/4 cup tequila (or half tequila/half orange liqueur, optional)

Buttercream Frosting
 * 1 cup unsalted butter, room temp
 * 5-6 cups powdered sugar
 * 2 Tbsp. lime juice
 * 1/4 teaspoon salt
 * 1 teaspoon lime zest
 * 1 Tbsp. tequila (optional)
 * Green food coloring (optional)
 * Small lime slices or silver sanding sugar for garnish (optional)

Directions
Make the Cupcakes
 * Preheat over to 325F. Line two cupcake pans with paper liners.
 * Whisk flour, baking powder and salt together in small bowl, set aside.
 * With your mixer on med-high, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy (3-5 minutes). Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each egg., scraping down the bowl at least once. Beat in lime zest, lime juice, and vanilla.
 * With your mixer on low, mix in the dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with the buttermilk. Begin and end with the dry mixture. Mix only until incorporated.
 * Fill each cupcake liner about 3/4 full. Bake for 25 minutes or until done (toothpick, when inserted to center of cupcake, comes out clean). Let cool 5 minutes in the pan, then brush with tequila if using. Allow to cool fully on wire racks before frosting!

Make the Frosting
 * Place butter in a mixer bowl and beat fluffy. Add 5 cups of powdered sugar, salt, lime juice, and lime zest. Add tequila if desired. Mix until thick and creamy. Add more powdered sugar until frosting is desired consistency.
 * Mix in a tiny amount of green food coloring if desired. Frost cupcakes and decorate with small lime slices, sanding sugar or remaining lime zest.