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Spiced Rum and Eggnog Cupcakes with Eggnog Buttercream

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These eggnog cupcakes with spiced rum are so moist and fluffy! They’re topped with a creamy eggnog frosting. These are the perfect Christmas dessert. 

If you need more Christmas desserts ideas, you’ll also love my gingerbread cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and my Christmas Cupcakes.

Does anyone else stock their fridge with eggnog the minute it hits the shelves? I love using it with my morning coffee as a replacement for the milk, but I drink it so much faster. I can’t get enough. 

If there’s any leftover, you know I am making a batch of these eggnog cupcakes. They are flavored with nutmeg, spiced rum and of course, eggnog. The spiced rum really takes these cupcakes up a notch, but I know it’s not for everyone, so I’ve also offered an alcohol free option. 

If you’re looking for a cupcake recipe to serve with your Christmas dessert, let it be one of these cupcakes. 

How I developed this recipe

I received a copy of the Better Homes and Gardens 15th Edition Cookbook and I immediately flipped to each of the dessert sections to see what was new. This recipe is adapted from their yellow cake. I have added some spices and swapped out the water for rum and eggnog. I also decided to add some sour cream to this recipe because sour cream keeps cupcakes extra moist.

Adding the sour cream into the batter means that the batter must be very well mixed so that it is evenly distributed, otherwise some of your cupcakes might not bake up evenly. I always use a light sour cream instead of full fat.

an eggnog cupcake with a bite taken out it

Ingredients

  • Unsalted butter- this should be at room temperature, so allow about 30 minutes to prep
  • Granulated sugar
  • Eggs- these should be at room temperature, so take them out at the same time as the butter
  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking powder
  • Ground nutmeg
  • Salt
  • Spiced rum– such as Captain Morgan
  • Eggnog
  • Sour cream– either light or full fat sour cream will work. Sour cream adds richness and moisture to these cupcakes. 

How to make these alcohol free: Simply replace the spiced rum with additional eggnog

Sour cream substitute: You can use plain or Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. 

three eggnog cupcakes and a red cake stand in the background

How to Make Eggnog Cupcakes

  • Room temperature ingredients– allow the butter and eggs to come to room temperature for approximately 30 minutes. At the same time, preheat the oven. 
  • Cream the butter and sugar- until fluffy
  • Add eggs one at a time and ensure it’s well mixed before adding the next
  • Combine the dry ingredients
  • Alternate adding the dry and wet ingredients
  • Fill the cupcake pan using a large cookie scoop 
  • Bake and cool

Eggnog Buttercream is the best

The frosting on these cupcakes is an Eggnog Buttercream, which is one of my holiday favorites. I used the same buttercream for my Eggnog Cookies. I absolutely love this frosting, it’s creamy and so fluffy. 

You only need 4 ingredients: butter, powdered sugar, eggnog and nutmeg. 

The secret to making a perfect buttercream is to start with cold butter, which allows you to control the consistency of the frosting. It’s important that you beat the butter really well in the beginning until it’s really light and fluffy, as this will set up the base consistency for the frosting. You’ll repeat this process again as you add the powdered sugar.

To decorate these cupcakes, I used a large French Star tip, and you can see it’s piled nice and high, just like frosting should be! 

a red cake stand with eggnog cupcakes

How to store frosted cupcakes

These are best stored at room temperature in an airtight container. They are best when eaten within two days of preparing. 

Can I freeze these cupcakes?

If you need to freeze these cupcakes, I recommend freezing the cupcakes unfrosted if possible. Bake and cool completely, flash freeze for 15 minutes and then transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to one month. Thaw to room temperature prior to frosting.  

More Christmas dessert Recipes you’ll love

 

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three eggnog cupcakes and a red cake stand in the background

Eggnog Cupcakes

  • Author: Julianne Dell
  • Prep Time: 60 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Yield: 20-24 cupcakes

Description

These Golden yellow eggnog cupcakes are spiked with rum and topped with a creamy eggnog buttercream.

Ingredients

For the cupcake

  • ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ¾ cup (333g) granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 ½ cups (350g)  all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ teaspoon (10g) baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup (59ml) spiced rum
  • ¾ cup (177ml) eggnog
  • ½ cup (118ml) light sour cream

For the frosting

  • 1 ½ cups (339g) unsalted butter
  • 5 cups (650g) powdered sugar
  • 5 tablespoons (75ml) eggnog
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Instructions

For the cupcakes

  1. Preheat oven to 375°. Remove the butter and eggs from fridge and allow to come to room temperature for 30 minutes, or soften in the microwave for 15 seconds.
  2. Combine the butter with the sugar and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy.
  3. Add eggs, one at a time, ensuring that each egg is well beaten. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
  4. In a separate bowl, combine remaining dry ingredients and stir to combine. Add half the flour mixture followed by the rum, and mix just until combined.
  5. Pour in remaining dry ingredients, eggnog and sour cream and mix on medium speed until well combined.
  6. Using a large cookie scoop, divide the batter evenly, filling each liner 2/3 full.
  7. Bake at 375° F for 14-16 minutes. Test cupcakes for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the cupcake. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cupcakes are finished. Allow to cool completely.

For the frosting:

  1. Remove butter from fridge and allow to come to room temperature, or soften in the microwave for 15 seconds. Using a stand mixer, beat the butter for several minutes until light and fluffy.
  2. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time and slowly increase speed from low to medium. As the frosting becomes thicker, slowly add eggnog. Beat for several minutes until light and fluffy. Add nutmeg at any point.
  3. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes and sprinkle with nutmeg.

Notes

  • Recipe adapted from Better Homes and Gardens 15th Edition Cookbook yellow cake recipe
  • Alcohol free option: Swap out the rum by replacing it with eggnog.
  • Storing these cupcakes: These are best stored at room temperature in an airtight container. They are best when eaten within two days of preparing.
  • Freezing these cupcakes: If you need to freeze these cupcakes, I recommend freezing the cupcakes unfrosted if possible. Bake and cool completely, flash freeze for 15 minutes and then transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to one month. Thaw to room temperature prior to frosting.

 

Nutrition Information:
1 cupcake
469
50g
86mg
23g
64g
0g
3.6g
93mg
  • Category: Cupcakes
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

 

 

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