Margarita Cupcakes

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, room temp
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs, room temp
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons tequila
• 3 limes, juice and zest
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 8 egg whites
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 pinch coarse salt
• 1 1/2 cups butter, unsalted room temp
• 2 -3 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 -3 tablespoons tequila
• 1 lime, zest of (optional)
• green sugar (optional)

Recipe

• 1 for the cupcakes:.
• 2 sift flour, baking powder and salt.
• 3 cream butter and sugar about 3 minutes until fluffy.
• 4 add eggs 1 at a time, mixing between each one.
• 5 add vanilla, lime juice, tequila and zest, mix to combine.
• 6 add flour and buttermilk alternately, beginning and ending with the flour.
• 7 fill cupcake cups and bake at 325 for 22-25 minutes.
• 8 cool 10 minutes in pans then completely on racks.
• 9 for the buttercream:.
• 10 combine egg whites, sugar and salt in stand mixer bowl (metal) over a pot of simmering water- water shouldn't touch the bowl.
• 11 whisk until sugar dissolves- use your fingers to test, it won't be too hot to touch and you shouldn't feel any sugar grains. if you take the temp it should be about 160.
• 12 place the bowl back in the mixer with the whisk attachment and beat medhigh/high until stiff and glossy and cool (about 8-10 minutes, dont worry this is one time you can't over beat).
• 13 when the bowl and whites are cooled add butter- room temp but cool, not too soft- 2 tbs at a time until it's all added.
• 14 it might look liquidy but just keep beating. it might then look curdled, keep on beating., if it's really not thickening put it in the fridge for 15-30 minutes, take it out and whip it again, still on med-high. it should be smooth and satiny.
• 15 add the tequila and lime with the mixer going
• 16 when cupcakes are completely cool pipe frosting generously
• 17 * to amp up the margarita flavor brush cooled cupcakes with tequila before frosting and rub lime zest into the green (or ) sugar until fragrant. sprinkle over frosted cupcakes- ad a little salt if you like it too!