I did intend on doing a post on how to make a classic prohibition era cocktail, but I decided it would be better to do cocktail inspired cupcakes instead. This is my own Sidecar cupcake recipe, adapted from a simple lemon cupcake recipe.

Sidecar Cupcakes

2013-05-28 20:27:35

Serves 12

This is my version of 'Sidecar' cupcakes, it is adapted from the Love Bakery Lemon cupcake recipe. It is inspired by one of the many Sidecar cocktail recipes, that contains cointreau, brandy and lemon juice

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298 calories

34 g

76 g

18 g

2 g

11 g

83 g

17 g

33 g

1 g

6 g

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size

83g

Servings

12

Amount Per Serving

Calories 298

Calories from Fat 157

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 18g

27%

Saturated Fat 11g

55%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 5g

Cholesterol 76mg

25%

Sodium 17mg

1%

Total Carbohydrates 34g

11%

Dietary Fiber 0g

2%

Sugars 33g

Protein 2g

Vitamin A

12%

Vitamin C

15%

Calcium

3%

Iron

1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

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For the cakes

1. 125g unsalted butter, at room temperature
2. 125g caster sugar
3. 2 tsp Cointreau
4. 1 tbsp grated Lemon zest
5. 2 eggs, at room temperature
6. 125g self-raising flower
7. 1/2 tsp baking powder
8. 3 tbsp skimmed milk

For the frosting

1. 125g butter, at room temperature
2. 1 tsp brandy
3. 1tsp grated lemon zest
4. 250g icing sugar, sifted
5. 1 tbsp skimmed milk
6. orange food colouring (optional)
7. Yellow sanding sugar to decorate (optional)

To make the cakes

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (160° Fan-forced) and line the holes of a 12 hole muffin pan with patty pans
2. Add the butter, caster sugar, lemon zest and cointreau to a mixing bowl and mix with an electric mixer for 7 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
3. Add the eggs, one at a time and mix for 2 minutes.
4. Mix the flour and baking powder in a separate bowl, then add to the mixing bowl (with the butter, sugar etc.) and mix until incorporated. Add the milk and mix for a further minute.
5. Divide the mixture evenly between the patty pans. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden on top.
6. Remove the baked cupcakes from the oven and immediately transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

To make the frosting

1. Cream the butter, lemon zest and brandy together with an electric mixer for 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
2. Add the icing sugar, milk and food colouring. Mix for a further 2 minutes until well blended.

To Decorate

1. Top the cupcakes with frosting, either by piping or spreading with a palette knife.
2. Sprinkle with yellow sanding sugar (this mimics the sugar rim on the Sidecar cocktail)

Notes

1. I used a fan-forced oven and it turned out that even 20 minutes was going to be too long. You may need to judge for yourself, by smell and look, to know when they're ready.
2. An alcohol free alternative to this recipe would to replace the cointreau with some orange extract/essence and replace the brandy in the icing with lemon extract/essence

By Cotton Candy Diva

Adapted from Love bakery Lemon cupcakes recipe

beta

calories

298

fat

18g

protein

2g

carbs

34g

more

Adapted from Love bakery Lemon cupcakes recipe

Cotton Candy Diva https://www.cottoncandydiva.com/

The Love Bakery ‘cupcakes from the heart’ has so many great recipes to try (not sponsored BTW, I just love the book!), it also has handy tips on decorating. My favourite section of the book is ‘Cuptails’ (like this sidecar cupcake recipe), they would be perfect for a New Years or Christmas party! You can buy the cookbook here

The Sidecar cocktail was popular in the prohibition era, back then it was usually made with cognac, triple sec and lemon juice. There are a few different variations, including the brandy recipe that I used for inspiration in my sidecar cupcake recipe.

 A warning when making the frosting, don’t go overboard with the brandy (especially if you’re using the real stuff). I tasted my frosting before I piped it and all I could taste was the lemon zest, so I added (what I thought was) a little more…big mistake, the brandy near took my breath away!

Strictly an adults only treat, enjoy responsibly! 😉

XO XO
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