The mint and bourbon flavor of these Mint Julep Cupcakes make them perfect for the Kentucky Derby.
There’s bourbon and mint flavoring in both the cupcake batter and the frosting, making these cupcakes taste just like the cocktail. But I say go ahead and make a Mint Julep Cocktail too. They pair perfectly together.
The cupcakes are wonderfully light and fluffy and topped with a rich buttercream frosting tinted with green food coloring. To make them even prettier, place a small mint sprig on each one.
Mint Julep Cupcakes Recipe Tips:
To make these cupcakes look professional, use a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip for piping on the frosting. If you want to pile the frosting on high like I did, you may want to make a double batch of frosting to make sure you have enough for all 18 cupcakes.
These cupcakes can be stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
If using salted butter, use a tiny bitless salt in the recipe.
Try These Other Derby Day Recipes:
- Sweet Tea Mint Juleps– A blend of 2 favorite southern drinks. Perfect for warm weather.
- Kentucky Bourbon Butter Cake– wonderfully moist and buttery.
- Mint Julep Cake– Another great dessert with mint and bourbon flavor.
- Mint Julep Jello Shots– who can resist a jello shot?
- Mint Julep Fruit Salad
- Bourbon Graham Cracker Candy
- Mini Hot Brown Tarts
- Kentucky Chocolate Walnut Pie
- Mint Julep Brownies
Mint Julep Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcake Batter
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter,, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon mint extract
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup bourbon
Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter,, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon mint extract
- 1 tablespoon bourbon
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 3 to 4 drops green food coloring
Instructions
- Line 18 muffin cups with liners and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt and set aside.
- Use an electric mixer to beat butter, sugar, vanilla extract, and mint extract until creamy.
- Beat in eggs one at a time.
- Combine milk and bourbon in a large liquid measuring cup.Add flour mixture to butter mixture in 3 additions, alternating with milk mixture in 2 additions.
- Fill each muffin cup 3/4 of the way full.Bake for 22 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- To make frosting, beat butter, vanilla extract, mint extract, and bourbon until creamy.
- Beat in the powdered sugar, heavy cream, and green food coloring.
- Fill piping bag with frosting and pipe it on the cupcakes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Great flavor!