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Itโs about that timeโฆ.
Another boozy dessert.
What? Itโs been a whole month since I did those Oatmeal Cookie Banana Crisp with Chocolate Kahlua Sauce.
I have discovered the awesomeness of hazelnut liquor.
And I am not talking about adding it to drinks. Drinks are not my thing, but desserts??
Heck. Yes.
Hazelnut liquor is just, wow.
Is it weird that I feel like I could sit and sniff the bottle for hours and hours. I like to do the same thing with vanilla, they both remind me of chocolate cake and Christmas.
I love it.
Yesterday, was just one of those days.
Things were crazy, the brothers were bored, the house was one giant mess and these cupcakes were much needed.
Since I went to the store the other day and practically forgot everything on my list, I used what I had in my cupboard for these.
Which was honey, hazelnuts, chocolate chunks (always, always, chocolate) and hazelnut liquor.
Lucky for me the flavors just workedโฆ.
But, they still took me three batches to get photo ready.
Ugh.
If I was not going to be taking photos and trying to make these look all cute, the first batch would have been a winner, but of course I over-filled my cupcake tins and ended up with giant muffin tops that just did not look pretty. Then for the second batch I totally LOST MY MIND and left out all the baking powder. Yeah, still edible, but totally dense and flat.
Finally, after like four hours working on the same cupcakes I got it right. I am now buried in hazelnut cupcakes.
Not complaining.
Unlike me though, if you are smart and use your head these guys are just as easy as any other cupcake recipe. Make the batter, bake, make the frosting (oh my gosh, so good), toast the hazel nuts and frost.
Done!
Oh and donโt forget the extra drizzle of honey.
Honey Toasted Hazelnut Chocolate Chunk Cupcakes with Boozy Honey Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon hazelnut liquor
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/4 cup warm coffee, may sub more milk if desired
- 8 ounces high quility chocolate, chopped
Frosting
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 1/2 - 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1-2 tablespoons hazelnut liquor, can sub vanilla if desired
Honey Toasted Hazelnuts
- 1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts
- 1 tablespoon honey, plus more for drizzinling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a muffin tin with 16-18 liners or grease with cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, and the salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the brown sugar, honey, hazelnut liquor and vanilla and beat until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Add the milk and coffee into a glass measuring cup or small bowl.
- Then alternately add flour mixture and milk/coffee to the butter mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until mixture is combined. Fold in the chocolate chunks.
- Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each about three-fourths full.
- Bake for 20 to 15 minutes or until the center of the cupcakes does not jiggle and the tops are puffed and lightly browned. Cool cupcakes in muffin cups for 10 minutes. Remove cupcakes from muffin cups. Cool completely.
- While the cupcakes bake toast hazelnuts. Heat a small non-stick skillet over medium heat, add the hazelnuts and honey to the pan. Toast over medium for about 5 minutes, just be careful and watch that they don not burn. Remove and allow to cool.
- To make the frosting, In large mixing bowl beat the butter, honey, and hazelnut liquor the with mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Gradually add 1 cup of the powdered sugar, beating well. Taste and if desired add more powdered sugar to your liking.
- To assemble, pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes and sprinkle with the honey toasted hazelnuts. Drizzle with honey if desired.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Because it is totally necessary. No, really it is!
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Could we make this into a cake?
Hey Gauri,
Sure you could do that, you will just need to increase your baking time. I hope you enjoy the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Is the amount of flour correct? Havenโt finished them and they baked up okay. But I only got 10 cupcakes not 16?
Hey Rachel,
Yes the measurements are correct. Did you adjust the recipe at all? Maybe you filled the muffin tins too much? Let me know! xTieghan
Hi there! Could you tell me how stiff this Honey buttercream is? I ask because I’ve made some honey frostings before, and they all end up super loose. I need a nice stiff one! Thanks a bunch!
Hi Amanda! It holds up pretty well, light and fluffy, but it will hold it’s shape. ๐
Could I swap the coffee with espresso powder? Mix that with the milk instead of making a cup of coffee.
Hey Arleen, yes that will fine. I would use 1 teaspoon coffee powder. Let me know if you gave questions. Thanks!
Hey there!
This recipe looks amazing!!
Im so gonna try it!
What could be substituted if I’d like it without coffee?
Thank you!!
Hi! You can swap the coffee with water. Thanks!
They look amazing, but I’m just a little confused about the ingredients for the cupcake batter. You mention two different quantities of honey (1/4 cup and 1 tbsp), but you do not mention when to use the two different quantities.
Hey Elizabeth! I am so sorry about that, the 1 teaspoon of honey should actually be 1 teaspoon vanilla. I fixed the recipe so it reads correctly now. Thanks for pointing that out. Hope you love the cupcakes!
You made such flavorful combo in these cupcakes, it seem really mouthwatering.I’ve featured this recipe on my blog, hoping that you don’t mind, but if you do, please contact me and I’ll remove it. All the best.
Thanks Vera! It’s no problem!
Save two for me….love your photography! It’s just amazing! We’d love for you to come over to our newest link party over at The Inspiration Network: DELISH- a desserts only link party. Bring your desserts and let’s party!!
http://theinspiration-network.com/delish-dessert-link-party-no-1/
Smiles,
Melanie and Diana
The Inspiration Network
Thank you so much!
These look delicious! We’d love for you to come over to our newest link party over at The Inspiration Network: DELISH- a desserts only link party. Bring your desserts and let’s party!!
http://theinspiration-network.com/delish-dessert-link-party-no-1/
Smiles,
Melanie and Diana
The Inspiration Network
I just love our boozy desserts!! I would love to face plant right into one of these. Seriously.
Haha! Thanks Jocelyn!
Gorgeous!! These cupcakes would brighten up any day! ๐ I feel you on numerous baking attempts – I hate when my first version of a recipe doesn’t come out exactly as I want!
Ugh. I know! It can be so annoying!!
Thanks Jennifer!
I love hazelnuts and that finish of honey drizzle is perfection!
Thank you!! The honey drizzle is awesome!