Eggnog Cupcakes

Christmas Eve...where has the time gone?!

I knew it had been quite some time since I've written anything...basically since I've been back to work. But, quite frankly, I was shocked that it hasn't been since the middle of July and the last post being the Pina Colada Pops! Oh summer...I miss you!

I also seem to have developed quite the Angry Birds addiction...that's a whole other post on its own - ha!

It's been kind of interesting leading up to Christmas for me this year having an EXTREMELY active 1 year old...into everything, all the time, a mile a minute! The last month was pretty brutal as well as she's been a slow teether...until the last month! From the middle of November until now she has cut her 4th bottom front tooth, her two bottom eye teeth, her two bottom first molars and I have not been able to get a good look at the top. I'm not quite sure how I functioned during the day at work with very little sleep. A few nights, no sleep at all. I did though. Somehow! A few nights there I was starting to think I was crazy for wanting more (kids). But then the next morning when I'd have her in bed with me and she'd roll over and reach her little arms out to hug and cuddle into me, those thoughts quickly disappated! I was beginning to wonder how I was going to get it all done. At least, what I would normally get done for Christmas. I think I was stressing myself out even further with such high expectations with trying to achieve what I used to and I just had to accept reality - I couldn't. So I decided that this year, I would sacrifice my baking. GASP! Really?! Really. So, I bought a flat of Nanaimo Bars...I figured as long as I had my Nanaimo Bars, all would be right in the world. Well, that flat is already half gone. I was like, "GET IN MY BELLY!" And oh...they did!

D is working night shift Christmas Eve night and Christmas night. If he's on night shift at Christmas, they usually do a potluck and I usually make Magic Bars. Well this year, I wasn't planning on anything. I thought maybe he'd just take in some wings or something. But I don't know what got into me the other day...must have been the Christmas Spirit! But I offered to make Eggnog Cupcakes for him to take! Then Little Miss and I were invited for Christmas dinner and I decided I would just make more and bring them for dessert! I was all of a sudden ready to get to it!

When I was pulling out my ingredients this morning, it felt so good! It honestly did! There's a feeling that comes over me when I start to bake. I feel so relaxed. Like I could take on the world! Little Miss had gone down for a nap and D went out for some last minute shopping. So I turned on the monitor (thank god for a visual monitor), put my earbuds in and cranked up my music. IN MY ELEMENT! I was ready to rock these Eggnog Cupcakes!

I've made these before a couple years ago and they are so delicious! You know how sometimes a flavour doesn't quite translate into a baked good - it just doesn't taste exactly like it, or you only have a slight hint of the flavour...this is NOT the case here! When you take a bite, the flavour is so dead on, you may as well be taking a sip of eggnog...with rum! YUM!

So let's get to it!


Eggnog Cupcakes
makes 12

Cupcakes:
1 1/3 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 cup rum (I only had white, but next time I'll try dark!)
1 cup eggnog (I did use light)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp vanilla

Frosting:
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
3 tbsp eggnog (again, I used light)
1 tbsp rum (used white)
pinch nutmeg
3 cups icing sugar, sifted
Cinnamon, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line muffin pan with paper liners.

Combine the wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet and beat on medium until well combined. Fill cupcake liners about 2/3 full.
Bake 22 minutes. Let stand in pan for 5 minutes prior to moving to a cooling rack.

Cream the butter then add the wet ingredients. Slowly add in the icing sugar and beat until combined. Add more icing sugar until desired consistency. Once cupcakes have cooled, frost them. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Serve!

From my family to yours, I'd like to wish you a VERY Merry Christmas and may 2013 bring you much love, happiness, joy, good health and prosperity!