Margarita Cupcakes

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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.
Category:Cupcake Recipes