Champagne Cupcakes with Raspberry Frosting

Gorgeous Champagne Cupcakes with raspberry frosting are made with a fresh berry puree, and sweet pink champagne for a classy and sophisticated cupcake that is perfect for a variety of events. These bubbly champagne cupcakes infuse the alcohol right into the delicate vanilla cake, as well as the raspberry buttercream for true champagne cupcakes with champagne buttercream.

Do champagne cupcakes have alcohol? Yes, these cupcakes are made with alcohol in both the cake batter, and the raspberry buttercream.

Champagne and other alcohols do more than add a bit of buzz and flavor into your baked goods. Champagne adds a subtle sweetness and effervescence to the finished product, but it is more of an accent ingredient rather than a noticeable player. Including champagne in baked goods also creates a light, airy texture in the final baked product.

What does champagne cake taste like?

Champagne cake has a light and delicate flavor perfectly suited for celebrations and special occasions.

The flavor of champagne cakes can vary depending on the recipe and the type of champagne or sparkling white wine used. Some champagne cakes have a more pronounced champagne flavor, while others have a more subtle flavor.

Our pink champagne cupcakes from scratch have a light, delicate flavor making these perfect for bridal showers, birthdays, girls nights, or mother’s day gifts.

Can kids eat champagne cupcakes?

The alcohol, while subtle, will not be completely baked out of these easy champagne cupcakes; so we recommend not serving these to kids. It would also be best to disclose that these cupcakes contain champagne so that those who wish to avoid alcohol are made aware and can pass if they choose.

You can always make a non alcoholic assortment of cupcakes that have a similar flavor profile by using a non-alcoholic champagne or sparkling wine.

What champagne should I choose to make the best champagne cupcakes?

In general, dry Brut champagnes or sparkling white wines are best to use when cooking or baking. The flavor of these beverages will be more pronounced, and they won’t add extra sweetness to the recipe. However, the choice is always yours, and in our original recipe you will see that we chose a pink Moscato which is higher in sugar than others.

Here is a round up of alcohols that would be excellent to use in any champagne cupcakes.

• Brut champagne is a dry champagne with a crisp and dry flavor. It is a good choice for adding depth and complexity to your baked goods.
• Extra brut champagne which is a very dry champagne with a minimal amount of sugar. It has a bold and complex flavor that can add depth and richness to your baked goods.
• Prosecco is an Italian sparkling white wine that is dry and fruity. It has a crisp and refreshing flavor that can work well in baked goods.
• Cava which is a Spanish sparkling white wine that is dry and fruity. It has a crisp and refreshing flavor that pairs well with a variety of baked goods.
• Sparkling white wine ranges from dry to sweet. Choose a dry sparkling white wine with a crisp and refreshing flavor to add depth and complexity to your baked goods.

Champagne Cupcakes with Raspberry Frosting Recipe Notes

There is often concern about the consistency of the cupcakes being negatively affected by the extra liquid. Some are concerned about the flavor of the champagne coming through too strong and producing bitter cupcakes, we have not found this to be case.

These cupcakes came out of the oven with a beautiful cake consistency and a perfect flat top. As it turns out, alcohol is a fantastic addition to cupcakes. The texture and flavor are light and fluffy, and the added moisture helps the cupcakes stay fresh for longer.

The frosting is arguably one of the best frostings we have ever made or tasted. The fresh raspberries intensify the flavor and give it a pure raspberry flavor extract cannot touch.

NOTE: The acidity in the fresh berries does breakdown the frosting a bit. As our pictures show the frosting is not quite as well defined as our other buttercream frostings for this reason. But, you can’t beat the flavor and they still look really cute!

How do I bake moist cupcakes?

Fluffy, airy, and moist cupcakes are always the goal when baking these adorable mini cakes. Here are our best tips for how to bake the perfect cakes every time.

• Always use fresh, high quality ingredients. This is especially important for eggs, milk or cream, butters, and any rising agents. Fresh ingredients will give the cupcakes a richer flavor and better rise.
• Warm all ingredients to room temperature. This will help everything combine better and require less mixing time.
• Be careful not to over mix the batter. Over mixing will cause the air bubbles to collapse resulting in flat, dense cakes.
• Cook at the proper temperature to prevent uneven baking. Over baked cupcakes will be dry and dense.
• Never overfill the cupcakes tins. Fill the tins to 2/3 full to allow for even baking every time.

Recipe for champagne cupcakes

These delicious champagne cupcakes are completely scratch made and packed with fresh, robust flavors. The texture is light and fluffy, and the addition of pink bubbly brings a wonderful sweetness and fun flair.

The recipe for pink champagne cupcakes is a basic vanilla cake infused with your favorite champagne, and topped with a fresh champagne buttercream.

How to make pink champagne cupcakes

• Preheat oven to 350F degrees
• In a medium bowl, combine champagne, eggs, and vanilla
• In a second medium bowl, mix together flour and salt
• Using a stand mixer, beat together 2 sticks of softened butter, shortening and granulated sugar
• Beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes
• With the mixer on low speed, add about 1/3 of the flour mixture, followed by 1/3 of the champagne mixture
• Alternate the flour and champagne, mixing until just combined
• Put cupcake liners in tins
• Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full
• Bake at 350F degrees for 20-25 minutes or until light golden brown on the top

Making the raspberry champagne buttercream

This frosting has the most amazing flavor. It is made with real raspberry sauce and champagne which is the reason it tastes so amazing! The frosting consistency is a bit difficult to control with a fresh sauce, so be careful to follow the directions and go less liquid, not more, when straining the sauce.

Also, feel free to add more powdered sugar if needed to get the stiffness you need.

How to prepare the raspberry sauce

The fresh raspberries will need to be processed and reduced before adding to the American buttercream. It does take some extra time, but it’s very worth the extra labor. You can always make the sauce ahead of time and keep it in the fridge until you are ready to build your buttercream.

Wash the berries and make a reduction sauce in a small saucepan. The cooked sauce will be strained until there are no seeds, and the texture is loose and creamy. The sauce will need to be chilled completely before adding to the buttercream, otherwise the heat will cause the frosting to melt.

Watch this video tutorial for tips and tricks on making a buttercream frosting

Preparing your raspberry champagne buttercream

• Beat softened butter alone for 2 minutes in an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
• Make the raspberry sauce on the stove.
  • Place 3/4 cup of raspberries in a saucepan on medium heat.
  • Use a fork to mash the raspberries and get the sauce out.
  • Once the raspberries have been completely mashed and look liquid, remove from the stove and place in a strainer over a bowl. Strain out 3 tablespoons of fresh raspberry sauce.
  • Make sure there are no seeds in the strained sauce.
  • CHILL the strained berries to room temp.
• Beat together butter, vanilla, and raspberries sauce until thoroughly mixed.
• Next alternate mixing small amounts of powdered sugar and champagne until the frosting is the desired consistency.

The frosting should be light and fluffy and easy to decorate with. We use a Wilton 2D tip and just make a simple swirl, but you can get more creative with the presentation if you wish. Garnish the cupcakes with a fresh raspberry on top and large sugar sprinkles.

How can I garnish and serve the cupcakes?

These delicate pink cakes make a beautiful presentation that can be kept simple, or used to create an elaborate centerpiece or focal point for your event. Here are some ideas for how you can garnish, decorate, and serve these cupcakes.

• Use large gold or white pearl sprinkles for a sophisticated flair
• Top with paper cut out garnishes that fit your theme
• Use decorative and elaborate cupcake liners
• Serve alongside delicate finger foods, mimosas, or a beautiful tea set display
• Top with meringues, macarons, or wafer cookies
• Sprinkle edible luster dust over the raspberry buttercream

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Recipes inspired by: Thecakeblog.com and easy baked.net