Birthday Cupcakes

We have been celebrating B's birthday this weekend and I made him cupcakes!

Hazelnut Creme Brûlée Cupcakes

Makes about 24 cupcakes

I wish the flavors were a little stronger but they were good cupcakes!

3/4 cup butter

3 eggs

2 1/2 cups of flour

2 teaspoons of baking powder

1/2 teaspoons salt

1 3/4 cups sugar

2 tablespoons hazelnut liqueur

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup milk

1/2 cup of chopped hazelnuts

1)  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Beat butter and gradually add sugar until combined.  Add eggs one at a time.  Beat in liqueur and vanilla.  Mix in dry ingredients and milk (alternate).  Fold in nuts.

2)  Scoop into lined muffin cups and use a spoon to smooth the top.

3)  Bake for 15 - 18 minutes until a toothpick pulls out clean.  Cool completely.

4)  Make frosting:  Beat 1/3 cup of a butter.  Gradually add 1 cup of powdered sugar until well mixed.  Add 2 tablespoons of milk, 1 tablespoon of hazelnut liqueur, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla.  Gradually add in 3 cups of powdered sugar and (3 - 4 for teaspoons of milk) until the frosting is the desired consistency.

5) Top with caramelized sugar:  Put 1/3 cup of sugar in a pan over medium-high heat until sugar starts to melt (shake occasionally - do not stir).  When sugar stars to melt put heat on low and cook for about 5 minutes or until the sugar is melted.  Remove from heat and drizzle over the cupcakes with a wooden spoon.

I also made some plain vanilla cupcakes with whipped cream frosting.  Honestly they were a slight disappointment - they tasted like a sugar cookie and the whipped cream frosting was just okay.  Next time I would go with a traditional frosting.