Eggnog Cupcakes

So there's this company that I like called Meri Meri (http://www.merimeri.com/) and they make party and baking supplies. I recently found this adorable Nutcracker cupcake kit and had to buy it. (Personal note: I am receiving no compensation from this company – I simply wanted to tell you about it.) It didn't take long to decide what kind of cupcake I wanted to fill the pretty papers with because this is eggnog season and I haven't made Eggnog Cupcakes for a whole year. I hope you enjoy these cupcakes and have a wonderful holiday season.

Cupcake Ingredients:

1 ½ cup flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon nutmeg

¼ teaspoon salt

¾ cup eggnog

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup butter, softened

1 ½ cup sugar

3 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tins with paper liners and set aside. Stir together the flour, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. In a small bowl, stir together the eggnog and vanilla; set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter on medium speed until creamy. Add the sugar slowly, ½ cup at a time. Scrape down the bowl. Add eggs one at a time, continuing to beat on medium speed. Scrape down the bowl and turn the mixer on low speed. Pour 1/3 of the dry ingredients into the stand mixer bowl, followed by ½ of the eggnog, then another 1/3 of the dry ingredients, followed by the remaining eggnog, and finally the last of the dry ingredients. Mix until thoroughly blended. Fill the cups of the muffin tins 2/3 full and bake for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. When a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out either clean or with a few crumbs attached, the cupcakes are done.

Eggnog Frosting Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened

3 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1-2 tablespoons eggnog (depending on desired consistency)

a few dashes of nutmeg (optional)

In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the butter and powdered sugar. Mix on low speed until well blended, then increase the speed to medium and beat for 3 minutes. Scrape down the bowl. Add the vanilla and eggnog and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute. Frost cooled cupcakes.

Source: I have had this recipe for many years now and can no longer remember where I found it. I spent 30 minutes on Google trying to find a source and could not.