[recipe adapted from Aaple Mint]

If you are looking for impressive, easy to make and delicious adult dessert for the Valentine’s Day, you will love those boozy cupcakes!

INGREDIENTS

for the dough

• 2 cups plain flour
• 1½ cups golden caster sugar
• 1 cup soft dark brown sugar
• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• ¾ cup sweet almond oil, or other neutral one that does not have strong taste or scent, like canola or Carotino oil,
• or even yellow olive oil not the extra virgin one
• 1 cup soured cream or double cream mixed with ½ lemon juice
• 1½ cups water
• 2 tbs white vinegar, I used rice vinegar
• 2 eggs

for topping and infusing

• Malibu, reserve port, Grand Marnier, espresso, Kahlua or even some strawberry sauce (for non-alcoholic version) – allow 2 tsp for each cupcake
• 600ml whipping cream
• 1 cup golden caster sugar
• 100g white marzipan and food colouring (I used red),  ready sprinkles or even fresh fruits such as cherries or strawberries

EQUIPMENT

• 2 muffin trays (for 12 muffins each)
• 48 paper muffin cases
• whisk
• icing syringe
• tools and cutter for marzipan

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 170°C (338°F).
2. In meantime combine together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, salt and mix together with the whisk. Add also oil, eggs, water and soured cream, whisk until well blended.
3. Add vinegar last.
4. Pour batter into muffin cases up to the level of the tray, place them in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes.
5. Let them cool down completely before topping with whipped cream and decorations.
6. To prepare marzipan decorations combine white marzipan with colouring. Cool it down before cutting out shapes.
7. When cupcakes are cooled down make a little hole on the top of each and pour inside liquor, coffee or sauce of your choice.
8. In meantime prepare whipped cream in a food processor mixing whipping cream with sugar until stiff.
9. Fill icing syringe with whipped cream and top cupcakes with it. At the end decorate with marzipan, sprinkles or fresh fruits.
10. Place in the fridge, just before serving place each cupcake in extra muffin case, as they can be sticky from the liquor.

This recipe makes 24 cupcakes.

Happy Valentine’s! :)

Please consume spirits responsibly and don’t exceed recommended safe alcohol unit limits.