Blue Moon Cupcakes

With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, many websites are offering fun ways to include everyone’s favorite St. Patty’s drink (beer!) in your favorite dishes. I saw a few recipes for Blue Moon cupcakes and thought I would give them a try since I enjoy citrus desserts and these are made with oranges. They are incredible! The cakes are moist and the frosting has a sweet orange flavor. I started gobbling them up, but I hope to save a few to share at work! 

Cake Ingredients

1 Boxed Cake Mix (Yellow or White)
1 Bottle Blue Moon
1 tsp Orange Zest
Cupcake Liners

Tip: You’re going to prepare the boxed cake mix exactly like the directions on the box, the difference being you are going to substitute the water with beer.

Directions

1. Open a bottle of beer and it sit. It’s best to work with when it’s a little less foamy.
2. Pre-heat the oven per the cake box instructions.
3. Mix the cake batter, replacing the water with beer and add in 1 tsp of orange zest. I also recommend substituting apple sauce for the oil. It makes the cakes moist and fruity! Fill the cupcake liners just under 3/4 full. These cupcakes will rise.
5. Bake to the low end up the box baking instructions.
6. When the cupcakes are done, let them cool before frosting. 

Frosting Ingredients

12 oz cream cheese, cold
6 T butter, at room temperature
1 T freshly squeezed orange juice
1 t orange zest
4 cups powdered sugar

Directions

1. Set out the butter for about an hour so it reaches room temperature.
2. Cream together the cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy, about 2-3 minutes.
3. Add the citrus juice and zest and gradually add the powdered sugar until well-combined. Beat until smooth for about 2 minutes.
4. Load frosting in a piping bag fit with a large star tip and pipe cupcake tops once cooled.

Note: To speed things up, you can skip making homemade frosting and just mix 16 oz of canned vanilla frosting with a tablespoon of orange juice.

Cake from Brittany, Herself
Frosting from Erica’s Sweet Tooth