Earlier this month, I saw on The Frugal Foodie Mama's blog that she, along with This Gal Cooks, were hosting the first ever Spiked! Recipe Challenge.
Alcohol can lend great flavor to sweet and savory recipes, so the Spiked! Recipe Challenge encourages bloggers to create or adapt a recipe to include alcohol. The January challenge was to include champagne (or other sparkling wine).
This was perfect for me, because I had half a bottle of leftover champagne from New Years. (I know, I know — leftover wine?!? What's that?!?) I even had a general idea in mind. I wanted to play on the traditional pairing of strawberries and champagne.
I considered trying my strawberry macarons again, with champagne buttercream filling. But with limited time to get the perfect results, I decided to make strawberry cupcakes with champagne buttercream frosting.
The fresh strawberries make these cupcakes so moist with a bright flavor. I used frozen strawberries to make my puree, but during peak strawberry season, fresh strawberries will work just as well. The puree turns these cupcakes a beautiful shade of pink. It's your choice whether to strain the strawberry seeds out of the puree or not. I chose not to, and didn't find the seeds bothersome.
Reducing the champagne concentrates the flavor of the wine, so you can add more flavor without affecting the consistency of the icing. Boiling also burns off some of the alcohol content, but not all of it. It's a small amount of alcohol in the big picture, so I promise not to judge if you let your kids have a taste.
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Chelsea {Whatcha Makin' Now?} says
I have a funny feeling that if I made these I would eat all the frosting before they made it to the cupcakes.....but I'm going to take the risk and pin these for later. 🙂
Paula says
Looks scrumptious!! I love this challenge, I went the savory route w/ Pan Seared Catfish and Champagne Risotto. Love your blog! Have a great day
Paula
Eva @ Eva Bakes says
Looks great! Champagne buttercream is amazing - I just made some this past weekend with lemon zest and lemon juice.
Nina @ Crazy for Cookies and More says
Your cupcakes look yummy... we had the same idea in mind. Strawberries and Champagne just seem to go together.
Carrie @ Frugal Foodie Mama says
Strawberries and champagne- classic! And the color of your cupcakes is so pretty! 🙂
Thank you so much for entering Julie & I's first ever Spiked! Recipe Challenge! Good luck, hun!
Julie says
Beautiful! Your cupcakes look amazing! I love that you used actual strawberries to flavor your cake.
Thanks for participating in the Spiked! Challenge. 🙂
Kira @ my sesame seed buns says
I love your cupcakes. They look delicious! I'm a fellow contestant...Come visit me at My Sesame Seed Buns sometime! Good Luck!
Raquel @ Organized Island says
Yes please! Those look SO good! I love cupcakes and like that you used the champagne in the frosting!
Janelle King says
You can never go wrong with champagne and cupcakes. This look so decadent. New fan from Never Dessert You.
Coleen says
Thanks for stopping by, Janelle!
ang says
Oh Coleen,
these look divine! I pinned your recipe to my new Champagne board (http://pinterest.com/angelamarit/champagne-recipes/) and can't wait to give these a try!!
Happy Thursday!
ang
jugglingactmama.blogspot.com
Coleen says
Thank you, Ang!