Honey Dearest

these are my favorite cupcakes to make for the holiday season. they’re delicious and always a huge hit. boozy or not, your choice - but whatever you do, don’t skip the eggnog! it makes them really fluffy. i used irish whiskey this time around, but you could use bourbon or dark rum as well. i plan to make these again this week and i think i’ll go with spiced rum. mmmm, seriously can’t wait!

sorry, i only had my instagram pics for these guys…

Eggnog Cupcakes
severely adapted by Anna’s Swedish Butter Cake

Ingredients:
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 cup eggnog
1/4 cup bourbon, whiskey, OR dark rum
1/4 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract

Prepare pans by lining with cupcake liners. Preheat oven to 350°F. Sift or whisk together flour, baking powder, nutmeg and salt. Set aside. (This recipe made about 16 cupcakes for me).

Cream together the butter and sugar until smooth and well blended. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Alternately add the dry ingredients and the eggnog. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beaters. Add the vanilla and whiskey (or whatever booze you choose!)

Pour batter into prepared pans, 3/4 full. Bake 17-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely.

Eggnog Buttercream
my recipe

Ingredients:
6 ounces cream cheese
1 stick butter
1/4 cup eggnog
4 - 4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Fresh nutmeg

Cream butter and cream cheese in bowl of electric mixer or with handheld beaters. When the mixture is soft and fluffy begin to add sifted powdered sugar a little at a time. Slowly add 1 tablespoon of eggnog alternating with the powdered sugar until you reach the right consistency. (Sometimes I don’t need all of the sugar or the entire 1/4 cup of eggnog {sorry if that doesn’t help!}) Beat until creamy. Pipe onto cupcakes using a pastry bag or spread with a spatula. Sprinkle fresh nutmeg on top.

Cupcakes may be stored in an airtight container for up to four days. ENJOY!

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas around here. i really tried to keep things very simple and rustic this year, hence the burlap and greens everywhere! now i’m on to wrapping presents and baking galore!

happy friday and Merry Christmas everyone!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Merry Christmas!!!

the little birds make me happy :)

have you ever had monkey bread before? i’m pretty sure i have at some point when i was a kid, but can’t really remember. i still don’t know why they call it monkey bread, but i do know this is one recipe you need to try. i’m not kidding, this monkey bread is out of control. go ahead and try not eating the entire pan in one day. it’s totally addictive.

this was my first time making monkey bread and I was surprised how easy it was. a little time consuming, but really easy. you have to let the dough rise a couple of times so i suggest making it in advance. i made the whole thing up the day before and left it in the refrigerator over night. the dough is the same as a cinnamon bread dough rolled into little balls. the entire house smelled amazing as it was baking. i’ll definitely be making this again on Christmas morning for the family.

go ahead and get the recipe at Baked Sunday Mornings. or better yet, buy the Baked book. it keeps getting better and better!

can i just say how much i love christmas tree shops !? i scored a sixty-piece set of dishes for just $12.50. it’s kind of a long story and i won’t bore you with the details, but i sure am giddy with excitement. they’re actually a nice creamy white, not beige like they appear in the pics. they’re the kind i’ve been eying up for a while now…white with beading.

we didn’t need dishes until we decided to have my entire family over for christmas eve dinner. there’s going to be a total of twelve of us and we only have had eight plates. i got all sixty of these for less than i would of paid for a place setting of just four. AND they look just like the more expensive pottery barn ones. crazy!