Kentucky Derby Mint Julep Cupcake Recipe – Cupcake Wars

My Display at the Kentucky Derby on the Red Carpet w/Mint Julep Cupcakes

Hello!

I have had a lot of requests for the recipes on my Food Network’s Cupcake Wars episode, especially the Mint Julep Cupcake!  I am honored by all of your requests and I am truly sorry it has taken a bit to post some.  As most of you know, I have been a busy girl opening my first store front location in Glendale, Ca.  Actually I think I saw a lot of you there!!  That night was incredibly magical and I owe it to each and every one of you who have supported me and indulged in my hand crafted cupcakes!  It has been a real dream come true to be able to open my store front and bake for all of you.  It has definitely been quite a challenge.  Who knew about all these things – schedules, what time to be open, what days to be open, delivery or not, etc…there has definitely been a lot of learning going on over here on owning your own cupcakery but I am intrigued and I have been blessed to have amazing fans such as yourself who have given advice or even just been patient with us through our growing process.  THANK YOU!

Without further ado… here is the Mint Julep recipe from our Cupcake Wars episode!  This gives you plenty of time before the next Kentucky Derby on the May 5th, 2012 – 131 days to be exact!  Happy Baking and please let me know if you have any questions or even share some of your experience with the recipe and pictures!!

Xxoo…Annette

Winning Cupcake from Cupcake Wars - Mint Julep

Mint Julep Cupcakes

Cupcake Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon mint extract
• 4 eggs
• 2 3/4 cups flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 3/4 cup bourbon (or whiskey)
• 1/4 cup clear Crème de Menthe

Bourbon and Mint Frosting Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Butter – Room Temperature
• 1/3 cup Bourbon (or whiskey)
• ¼ cup Green Crème de Menthe
• Dash of Salt
• 4 cups Powdered Sugar

Extra Ingredients:

• A little extra Bourbon for Soaking
• Fresh Mint for Garnish (or a chocolate mint)

Directions:

Cupcakes:

Pre-heat oven to 350 Degrees (F).  Place 36 liners in a cupcake pans.  Whisk salt, baking powder, and 1 3/4 cups of the flour.  Cream butter, sugar, eggs, and extracts in a large mixing bowl until creamy (make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl).  Gradually beat in the flour mixture.  Add the milk and liquors to the batter, then the rest of the flour (1 cup).  Mix as little as possible until the batter comes together.  Fill paper lined cupcake pan with large ice cream scoop.  Bake at 350 degrees (F) for 18 to 20 minutes.  Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans.  Place on wire rack and cool completely before frosting.

When cooled and before frosting, brush extra bourbon over the tops of all cupcakes to give a little added kick of bourbon.

Bourbon and Mint Frosting:

With paddle attachment, cream butter until smooth.  Add salt and 2 cups powdered sugar.  Slowly beat in until smooth, add Bourbon and Crème de Menthe and mix on low speed.  Add remaining sugar until smooth.  Adjust sugar for consistency variances depending on desired outcome of frosting.  Frost.  Garnish with fresh mint leaf or chocolate mint mold.  I also like to add a little green disco dust to make it glitter!

Here are a few photos from my experience…. Hope you enjoy!

My Display for Kentucky Derby on Cupcake Wars that took the win!

Bonnie Jill Laflin and me at the 137th Kentucky Derby!

Maria Menounos enjoying one of our Cupcakes at the Kentucky Derby 2011

Cake-Ups and new things

Hello all!!

I know it has been quite some time since I have written.  Shame on me!!  Although I have to admit we have had a lot going on over the past few months so we have been diligently working hard at our test kitchen for new recipes, new ideas…oh and did I mention we are opening A NEW STORE??  That’s right!  Now you can come into the comfort of our Cupcakery (well soon) and have our delicious cupcakes in style!  We are hoping to open in Mid to Late May.  The store is the cutest brick building (below to the right) that reminds me of a french bistro or something of that nature and I just LOVE the bay window!  It is in the city of Glendale, CA about 3 blocks from the famous Americana shopping center!  So when you are in town, please stop by!  We will release the Grand Opening date and address soon!  On top of that, we have had a few radio interviews (to the left is the one we did at 92.5 KYHY Burbank Radio), we did a huge bake sale to raise money for Japan in which we raised over $120,000 nationally, and we have been gearing up for our next events!

Another new item we have been crafting is our new addition to our line which we named the “Cake-Ups”.  These have got to be the best invention ever!  We have been testing them now for quite some time and they have become such a tremendous hit that they have officially made it to our menu!  I have to say, I am definitely into cupcakes bringing back childhood memories.  So why not take an old fashioned Push up (from the ice cream days) and fill it with cake and frosting instead?  BRILLIANT!  Plus I wanted to find something that we could ship nationally.  I have seen plenty of other cupcakery’s ship cupcakes made in mason jars, but who really wants to pay $40 for shipping.  Cake-Ups eliminate such a heavy package in transit, thus reducing the cost dramatically!  So who is going to be the first on YOUR block to have them??  Better hurry as the trend is definitely setting in!

And then we get to new flavors.  Again bringing in the childhood theme, I sat around and wondered what reminded me of my childhood.  Macaroni and Cheese was the first thing that popped in my head…but in a cupcake…not so much.   And then it came to me…Blueberry Pancakes and Peanut Butter & Jelly!  And the funny thing is I actually am still in love with these foods.  For any of you who know me personally, I would eat blueberry pancakes anytime it is served up on a menu and Peanut Butter & Jelly is my midnight snack!  So of course those two had to go in!!!  I decided to make the blueberry pancakes with a buttermilk cake, fresh blueberry filling, and a maple French Buttercream.  Although these have to be my most loved cupcake I make, they are also VERY temperamental because of the French Buttercream.  For any of you who have worked with it, it MELTS very easy!!  So they have to be eaten on the spot or kept very cool.  But oh boy!  When that maple buttercream hits your lips and melts…it is so yummy!  For the PB&J I did a vanilla cake, grape jelly, and a divine peanut butter buttercream.  It tastes like an elegant uncrustable!   Again…YUMMY!

Ok, now that I have overloaded you on information that has been going on…I will leave you on that note!  Please make sure to check out our website at http://www.thegoodiegirls.com.  We have a lot of upcoming events around Southern California in a variety of categories!  We hope to see you either at one or at our Grand opening!!!

❤ GG