12.02.2009

eggnog cupcakes make me smile through the tears

I've had it in my brain to try baking up some eggnog cupcakes. Today was the day for it! I put on some Christmas tunes and danced around my kitchen to the sounds of Frosty the Snowman, White Christmas, and of course, a little Karen Carpenter.

I had some moments of giddiness as I scooped the batter into my snowman cupcake liners. My anticipation grew as I delighted in the aroma that filled the air as the cupcakes were baking.

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While the cupcakes cooled, I whipped up some yummy frosting and quickly frosted one for my friend Meredith. We were meeting up so that she could deliver my PartyLite order. We chatted over lunch. It was fun getting to know her a bit better. We went to school together and until the PartyLite party we hadn't seen eachother for over twenty years. I wish a had a photo to show, she's such a doll! ;0)

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Speaking of dolls, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law got me this darling ornament. Isn't she too cute?!

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It was a bittersweet day. I noticed this evening that our parakeet had died. I had to break the news to my sweet children. It was a tough mommy moment. It's the first time we've had to handle the death of a pet. I'm actually glad we started small, if you know what I mean.

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Thanks for letting me share my day.

Eggnog Cupcakes
by theUngourmet

makes 1 dozen cupcakes

1 1/2 cups AP flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup sugar (I used slightly less)
1/3 cup softened butter
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp rum extract
3/4 cup eggnog
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside. Cream the sugar and butter together until fluffy. Add the eggs, vanilla and rum extract and beat until smooth. Alternate adding the flour mixture and eggnog, beating well with each addition. Continue beating for 1 more minute. Spoon batter evenly into 12 muffin liners and bake at 350 degrees for about 18 minutes until toothpick inserted in center of cupcakes comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.

Creamy rum frosting

2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup softened butter
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1 tsp rum extract
1-2 tbsp eggnog

Beat the powdered sugar, butter, shortening, and rum extract on low speed until blended. Add the eggnog 1 tsp at a time until desired consistency is reached.

print recipe

Frost up those cupcakes and drown your sorrows or share your joy!

56 comments:

Jenn said...

Cupcake queen strikes again!!! Though, I'm not really a fan of eggnog. I think I'd give these a go.

Sophia said...

Oh Kim, you've got such a soft heart. Sorry about the little pet. But these are the perfect medicine for a little heartbreak!

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

How yummy! And what a cute little ornament!

XOXO
Jen

love lives in the kitchen said...

i love your blog! happy to find you and to be ypur new follower ;)
have a sweet day!
justyna

Dajana said...

So sorry about the little one :(
The cupcakes are gorgeous. Must try them this Christmas. And the cute little ornament, so sweet.

Angie's Recipes said...

Your kitchen must be all the time filled with pleasant aroma, sweet fragrance and lots of joy!

Shelby said...

The cupcakes sound yummy and I can only imagine how you home must have smelled! I'm so sorry to hear about your parakeet.

Ginger said...

Kim,

So Sorry to hear about your parakeet. That same thing happened to me with our Cockatiel Max. I had him longer than I had my husband 25 years. I just went up to the cage and there he was.

I knew that your cupcakes would be incredible. I really like how every photo that you take is AWESOME!!

Good thing that I don't live closer I think you might get sick of me!! Have a wonderful day and if you ever start shipping your cupcakes, I AM IN FOR A BATCH!

Gin

Palidor said...

Aww, I'm sorry to hear about your parakeet! :-(

Those cupcakes look really, REALLY good. I love the cute cupcake liners.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

These cupcakes are worth every bite and every dotted "i". A pet becomes a part of the family no matter what size so sorry you had to break it to the kids.

Michelle said...

On my goodness...do these cupcakes sound good and I love the rum flavored frosting.

My brother the eggnog addict and would love these.

TKW said...

Those cupcakes look magnificent! Especially next to that cute ornament.

Condolences on the loss of your parakeet. I remember well the hysterics we went through when "Swirly" the betta fish died...

Chef E said...

so freakin' cute, yummy, and I bet you had fun dancin' in the kitchen!

My sister and I were laughing how we did not grow up with egg nog, but have this devilish kind of craving for it every year! Now I have to tell her about these...

Heather S-G said...

I'm sorry to hear about your parakeet...I know that must have been hard to explain to the kiddos :( But your cupcakes sounds heavenly...and your new blog design looks awesome!

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

always sad about a pet. I have lost 4 perfect friends in my time, yet continue despite the pain coming...

BUT, on a happier note...

wow, I love these, a wonderful holiday treat (and love the rum)

♥peachkins♥ said...

cute cupcakes!

Claudia said...

Always dance in the kitchen while baking! These are so sweet. I used to make an eggnog cake every year. Lost the recipe so will be fun to try yours. So sorry about your pet. We lost a pet this weekend and it was very hard and my children are grown. Always grateful to have had them.

Jingle said...

Those sound SO good! And I was wondering what I would make for our family Christmas gathering! These will be perfect! Thanks!

Allyson said...

I. Love. Cupcakes. And I don't think I eat (or bake) them nearly enough. Thank you for sharing this recipe! And so timely, it's about the only time of year where you can walk into anyhttp://www.beadage.net/supplies/clasps.shtml grocery store/gas station/corner deli and find eggnog. I hope your kids took the news well. My parents started me on a fish. Way easier to start "small."

Allyson said...

Huh. Whoops. I didn't mean to include a link to where I buy my jewelry clasps in my comment. Computer gremlins strike again.

Mary Bergfeld said...

I love the day you shared with us. Your cupcakes look wonderful and the ornament is really cute. I'm sorry about the children's bird. I know losing him at this time of year is tough, but there's a lot going on to distract them.

Terri said...

Oh my goodness!!! I love eggnog and I am def. going to try this recipe! I am sorry to hear about your bird. It is always sad when a pet dies, no matter what size they are :( Sorry you had to deal with that yesterday.

Christo Gonzales said...

I hear you on the 'starting small' imagine having to tell them the giraffe died - dumb I know - just trying a little levity....

Chiara "Kika" Assi said...

I swear, you come up with the best cupcake and muffin ideas ever!! Sorry to hear about your pet -it's a hard thing to deal with, no matter how big or small.

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry about your parakeet :( The cupcakes are wonderful, I love the eggnog flavor, yummy!

Reeni said...

So sorry about your parakeet. These scrumptious eggnog cupcakes are a delicious way to comfort one's self! That ornament is too cute!

Unknown said...

nothing says christmas like eggnog. we love eggnog and i bookmarked this post so i can make some of these yummy cupcakes for our christmas party on the 12th. thanks!

sorry about the parakeet...you're right to start small. but kids are pretty resilient...they'll be ready for a new kitten by christmas...wink, wink!

The imPerfect Housewife said...

I love this because I love egg nog! My friend has a recipe for egg nog fudge that I want to try sometime but fudge is so moody and I'm always afraid it'll be a soupy mess. Cupcakes I can do!! YUMMM - hope you're doing well, the blog looks ADORABLE (of course!!). ♥

Kimmay said...

I'm sorry about the pet bird... that stuff is NEVER easy. But this cupcakes do look amazing and I think I'm going to have to try them! Thanks for sharing with us :)

Kimmay said...

I'm sorry about the pet bird... that stuff is NEVER easy. But this cupcakes do look amazing and I think I'm going to have to try them! Thanks for sharing with us :)

Randi Troxell said...

my hubby would just sooo die!!!

he loves eggnog.. and cupcakes.. and im sure he would looove this!!!

Joanne said...

You are truly the master of the cupcake world. I'm sorry about your pet parakeet. The first death of an animal is always hard. but it seems like you handled it really well!

The frosting on these babies is making me swoon.

Delicious Dishings said...

What a great recipe! Those cupcakes are beautiful and the doll is adorable. So sorry to hear about your parakeet.

scrappysue said...

so all kinds of emotions experienced today! thanks for sharing. awesome cupcake pics

Krista said...

We had to flush a fishy last week. I know that it's just a fish, but "Heart" had been my daughter's one and only pet for the last 2 years. It even moved across the country with us. It was a little tough saying goodbye. Of course, now she's plotting for her next pet...

These look perfect. I love eggnog and all desserts flavored with rum. I bet that these were amazing!

Pam said...

Sorry about the death of your parakeet - I bet these cupcakes made you all feel better.

square kitchen said...

hey... i see a new header. i like the new style. well done.

teresa said...

aw, bittersweet indeed, i'm sorry to hear about your parakeet. i am very excited about these cupcakes though, i was just thinking about how fun it would be to make something with eggnog!

Faith said...

Aww, I'm sorry about your parakeet...the loss of a pet is hard.

Your cupcake recipe sounds perfect and I love the adorable ornament!

pam said...

I made eggnog cupcakes last year! They were so good.

So sorry about your birdie, we had a parakeet named Shanghai, who was such a part of our family.

Katy ~ said...

Eggnog cupcakes, how perfect for the season. Sounds so moist and good with the rum and spices. YUM YUM I think I may have to have one of these!

So sorry to hear about your 'keet. They are so dear and happy, giving much.

Selba said...

Wow! cupcake made from eggnog! That's so innovative :)

NKP said...

A great idea for a cupcake, you are the master!
Such a cute ornament!
Yes, the death of a pet is hard, and it does help for the kids to learn about death in small doses, but it is still so hard to lose a family pet. I hope you guys are doing well.

debra@dustjacket said...

These look beautiful and I just love your ornament.

Sorry about your pet honey :(
xoxo

pigpigscorner said...

Great idea using eggnog! The doll is so cute!

teresa said...

ps, i have an award for you!

A Cooking Bookworm said...

Oh, sorry about your bird! :-(

LOVE your new ornament!!! Very cute!

And, hubby loves eggnog - bet he'd love these cupcakes! Great recipe!

figtree said...

These look delish! Our hamster Chedder died over 5 years ago, my kids stil remember him fondly. Thanks for the recipe.

Jeannie said...

Lovely cupcakes...bet they tasted awesome. Love your doll too..it is so cute!

Julia said...

Oh so sorry about the little birdy. But you are probably right about him being a good "starter" death. Oh that sounded awful... but you know what I mean.

There is hardly a cupcake I could walk past and not want to eat. These unfortunately fall into this category as well.

Liking your new look alot!!! Well done.

Quasi Serendipita said...

These look really good!

Rhiannon Banda-Scott said...

I am sorry about your pet :( I hope you all are doing OK!

And these cuppies sure sound amazing! Wowza!

Julie said...

Those cupcakes sound delicious. I just love that ornament...so cute!

Unknown said...

love the eggnog cupcakes. sooooo cool that you're reuniting with a friend from school...and so sad about your parakeet. But I still want to make the cupcakes. I love eggnog!!

~Kathie~ said...

These cupcakes look wonderful!! And what an adorable ornament!!

Vanessa said...

I can't wait to try the lavender and honey cupcake recipe.
http://www.designjewelry.com

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