Today I realized that I totally forgot about my blog birthday….though I guess it’s not one to mark down in the ol’ birthday calendar. Yes, way back in February of 2005 I started this little home o’ mine and four years later, I’m still here. It’s a comfortable space and it’s really brought a lot of joy into my life as strange as it sounds. I’m so appreciative of everyone who leaves comments, sends me emails or says hello to me on the street because they’ve read my blog. It’s really quite an exciting adventure and I’ve met so many wonderful people that I think I’ll stick around for a bit longer.
These cupcakes you see before you weren’t made for my blog birthday but for my friend’s real life birthday. I wanted something pretty and something quick to bake up and these cupcakes fit the bill perfectly. I used the same old, same old chocolate “wacky cake” recipe but decided to throw in a bit of bourbon cuz this was for a lil’ party afterall, and a bit of booze always makes things better.
My original plan was to create a raspberry frosting but somehow the addition of real raspberries to the earth balance margarine (my friend is vegan) for the buttercream created some weirdness. The buttercream kind of “broke” and it went all dotted and no amount of whipping could cure it. I wasn’t happy with it so I just made a decadent bittersweet ganache to top the cupcakes (kissed with more burbon, of course!). It was a good choice.
Cupcakes? Check out my archives:
vegan coconut cupcakes
red velvet cupcakes
limoncello & coconut cupcakes filled with lemon curd
spicy chocolate vegan cupcakes with peanut butter frosting
vegan chocolate cupcakes
pumpkin cupcakes
Or visit Vancouver’s Coco Cake Cupcakes for tons of cupcake prettiness and inspiration!
vegan bittersweet ganache glazed bourbon cupcakes
1 1/2 c unbleached white flour
1/2 c unsweetened cocoa powder
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 c sugar
1/2 c vegetable oil
3/4 c brewed coffee
1/4 c bourbon (Jack Daniels, Wild Turkey)
2 t pure vanilla extract
2 T vinegarfor ganache:
1/4 c almond milk (+ additional)
2 oz bittersweet chocolate (not more than 60% cacao if marked), finely chopped
1 t light corn syrup
2 T bourbon
pinch of kosher salt
sprinkles1. Preheat the oven to 375-degrees. Whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt and sugar into a large bowl. In separate bowl, measure and mix the oil, coffee, bourbon, and vanilla. Slowly pour the liquid ingredients into the bowl and mix the batter with a whisk.
2. When the batter is smooth, add the vinegar and stir quickly. There will be pale swirls (and some bubbling) in the batter where the baking soda and vinegar are reacting. Stir just until the vinegar is evenly distributed throughout the batter (the color becomes more consistent throughout).
3. Pour batter into a lined muffin tin and bake for 25 minutes–testing with a toothpick. Remove and place to cool on a baking rack.
4. In a small sauce pan, heat up the milk and the chocolate. Stir often until melted. Add more milk if needed. Mix in the corn syrup, bourbon and salt and stir until blended and until the ganache reaches an almost spreadable consistency. Let cool. The ganache will thicken up slightly and spread on your cupcakes. Sprinkle with sprinkles.
Print This Recipe
I’m a cupcake fiend! Not sure why but I suspect my love of cupcakes has to do with how dressed up and festive they can get with sprinkles and stuff. So playful, creative and fun! Bittersweet, chocolate ganache with boozey essence rocks!
p.s. happy blog anniversary and thanks for sticking around a bit longer 🙂
Yeah I have to second that. I like the stuff you cook and it fits in nicely with the veggie aspirations I have. I also really like the subtle hand you have for mixing your personal musings/life with the recipes. You have struck a very nice balance.
Happy blogiversary!
Coffee, bourbon and vanilla in a cup cake? I could go for that in a big way 🙂 And of course happy (belated) blog birthday…
Happy (belated) birthday!! 4 years is really impressive. Oh, and bourbon just makes everything better, right? 🙂
LOOOOOOVELY cupcakes!!
vegan huh? wow. I love a touch of bourbon in chocolate. well, let’s hope you’re around for another few years.
Happy blog anniversary! Those cupcakes are super cute. Wishing you many more!
WOW – beautiful cupcakes, and the ganache is gorgeous!! Happy blog birthday to you!
bijoux, they are so festive and pretty, that’s for sure 🙂 and thanks for the blog wishes! i’ll stick around.
fall garlic, aw shucks, thanks for the kind words. it’s lovely to hear.
thanks mama bear!
daily spud, it’s a goodie! thanks for the blog wishes too.
culinary, 4 years is impressive isn’t it?
thanks veggie girl!
dawn, this recipe is from the 1940s when eggs and dairy were scarce…it makes a lovely vegan cake. or any kind of cake for that matter.
thanks gemma!
a snow day? isn’t it supposed to be spring almost, emily? enjoy the day off!
thanks cookiepie, the ganache turned out really well.
I think I’d take ganache any day over frosting. Lovely job and congrats on FOUR years, old timer!
congratulations on your bloggy birthday…I'm a fairly new reader & subscriber…your recipes always look great!
All I can think is the cupcakes look great, but your fridge is soooooo neat.
Sigh. . . good at cooking and organized.
Happy Anniversary and keep up the posts.
vegan cupcakes! vegan coconut cupcakes! oh my! great post and happy blogiversary!
NAOmni
why oh why don’t I have a cupcake tin?
mmmmm- breakfast? Cupcakes perhaps…. It is a snow day, I’ve got time! -e
Sweet Jim Beam, these look amazing! Beautiful photos and a fab-looking recipe.
booze in baked goods = marry me?
happy blog-a-versary, my dear!
Happy Blog Birthday and Happy Real Birthday to your friend! These cupcakes look so decadent. I love finding new vegan cupcake recipes, so I’ll be sure to try these out. Thanks!
Happy anniversary and congratulations on having a well organized fridge! Mine is full of chaos, but yours is so neat that it’s pretty. That is yet another reason why I enjoy your blog.
Count me in for anything with bourbon!
Happy blogiversary, lady!
Aimée, I guess I’m definitely an old timer! Thanks!
Mmmm, Jim Beam! Thanks Julia 🙂
Stacy, thanks for keeping up!
Anon, I think my fridge is more “empty” than organized!
Yup, vegan cupcakes, Naomi! Enjoy.
Flame Thrower, must get one for muffins and cupcakes. Essential!
Celine, I happily accept 😉
Thanks Hayley!
Stephaie, definitely cute AND delicious!
Miss Kate, thank you! I’m blushing.
Thanks Laura, and pass me a drink 🙂
Happy blogiversary! Those cupcakes came out adorably!
mmm these are so cute and look delicious!!
Bourbon and chocolate…YUM! I know some guys in my family that would love to sample those!
Happy Blog Birthday. Love the cupcakes. Good call on the booze.
yowza!! thank you jeanette for giving me a cupcake shout-out!! awesome!! these crazy cupcakes look great… go bourbon!! xo
happy blog-o-versary! and whenever i need a vegan dessert recipe, i fall back on ideas from depression and war-era cookbooks. i think we could all take a lesson from their frugal ways.
of course, the bourbon doesn’t hurt. that seems to be the cherry on top.
thank you for posting this!
wow! I’m not much of a vegan baker, but these look delicious! I haven’t really ever considered adding alcohol to sweets but I may have to try this very soon!
happy blog anniversary!
Those cupcakes look so cute and yummy! I love the sprinkles, and booze make everything better. Happt belated blog-o-versary too!
Hello!
I made these! They were great!
Thank you for your perfectly timed blogiversary post. My friend is visiting…he’s vegan and yesterday was his birthday. I was going to stick with the boring old tofu cheese cake and THEN I saw this post.
I’ll make them again…even though I’m an omnivore.
Happy blogoversary! These cupcakes sound like a delicious way to celebrate. 🙂
Yes, a bit of booze does make things better. These look smashing!! Your blog is great, the writing the recipes, I love it. I mentioned you on my blog today!
What cute little cupcakes! Happy blog birthday!
What a tidy fridge!
Oh Yum!!!
I love your green fridge! And of course, the cupcakes look delicious.
Alisa, thank you!
Definitely, Sareena, these are popular with all bourbon loving folks!
Thanks Lynn!
Kelli, it’s really just an old war time recipe…perfect for these trying economic times when you don’t want to splurge on eggs or dairy.
No problem, Lyndsay, your site is great!
Definitely, Cate! Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks Jodye!
Katastrophik, so glad that you made and loved them! Perfect timing!
Indeed, thanks Hannah!
Ah shucks, thanks so much Mandy!
Thank you, eatme!
Liv Moe, it’s an empty fridge rather than tidy!
Yum, definitely, Sook!
Haha, Kristin, the fridge is white…I’ve got no lighting in the kitchen so hence the green tinge!
these look absolutely delectable! delightful!
thanks sarah!
Killer cupcakes! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
These look crazy delicious.
My question is, do you think I could get away using Scotch instead of Bourbon? I am attending a BB-Q this weekend by a Scotch whiskey society and I could totally dazzle them if I made Scotch ganache cupcakes 🙂
Jessi, they are crazy delicious! I think you could definitely use scotch, but maybe not a real peaty tasting one…but maybe that could be a good thing!
The best!!! Thank you for sharing!