Kentucky Derby Pie Cupcakes

Another day, another Pinterest inspired cupcake! Kentucky Derby Pie Cupcakes are apparently a twist on Kentucky Derby Pie, which I know nothing about, but I do know that chocolate, vanilla, bourbon and walnuts are a really, really good idea. It’s a Saturday morning, and day 10 of my big cupcake month, I’m nearly a third of the way through, and it’s definitely time for a celebration cupcake.

I confess – I really love bourbon. I didn’t when I was younger, and I’m not sure how it happened – but now it’s a favourite. All those caramel and vanilla notes. So these cupcakes were really fun to make, and the licking out the bowl with the cake batter in it made a great lunch.

Kentucky Derby Pie Cupcakes

I borrowed this recipe from Brown Eyed Baker, and I really really REALLY want to thank her! These are definitely a new favourite! I confess I swapped out the mixture of brown and white sugar for golden caster sugar, and couldn’t resist adding extra bourbon to the buttercream (greedy, I guess). The walnut brittle was also a flash of inspiration. See how yummy they look.

Kentucky Derby Pie Cupcakes

Makes 12

Bourbon Walnut Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

ingredients

125 g salted butter, softened
1/2 cup golden caster sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 tbsp bourbon
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped walnuts

mixing

Line a 12 hole muffin pan with cupcake cases, spray with non-stick spray.

Beat butter and sugar together until light and creamy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Sift the flour and baking powder over the butter mixture, add the milk and bourbon, beating until creamy. Stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts. Spoon batter into prepared cases, and bake at 175 degrees Celsius for 25 minutes or until a skewer inserted into a cupcake comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool.

Kentucky Derby Pie Cupcakes

Dollop a big spoonful of frosting on top of each cold cupcake, and spread over with a fork, making nice peaky shapes. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and crushed walnut brittle. Drizzle over some bourbon salted caramel and decorate with a shard of walnut brittle.

Vanilla Bourbon Buttercream

ingredients

250g salted butter, softened
250g icing sugar
2omL vanilla
1/4 cup bourbon
3 tbsp chocolate chips, to decorate
bourbon salted caramel (optional), to decorate

mixing

Beat butter until very creamy. Add the icing sugar, beat until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and bourbon and beat the frosting again for about 2 minutes.

Walnut brittle

1/4 cup golden caster sugar
1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Place the sugar in a heavy based saucepan and heat carefully until the sugar melts, taking care to remove from the heat from time to time so that the sugar melts without burning. When the sugar is completely transparent and caramel coloured, stir in the walnuts. The mixture will start to firm up immediately. Tip the mixture onto a square sheet of baking paper, and cover with another sheet of paper. Using a rolling pin, roll the mixture out to about 2-3mm thick. Let the walnut brittle cool.

Walnut Brittle

Kentucky Derby Pie Cupcakes

So scrumptious. Enjoy!xxx