Kentucky Derby Cupcakes

This weekend is the Kentucky Derby!  I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a huge follower of horse racing but I do love all of the pomp and circumstance that's associated with the Kentucky Derby.  I just love the big, fancy hats and the beautifully decorated mint julep drinks. 

Who knows, maybe one year, I'll just find myself sitting at the Kentucky Derby in my giant floppy hat, sipping my ice cold mint julep and eating a piece of Kentucky Derby Pie.  I normally prefer pie to cake, but for those of you who are attending the Derby this year, I think it might just be a tiny bit easier to hold a cupcake in your hand while you cheer on your favorite horse instead of trying to balance a plate of pie. 

It just so happens that browneyedbaker.com has reinvented the classic Kentucky Derby Pie into a cupcake.  Genius idea if you ask me.  All of the traditional flavors in a Kentucky Derby Pie - bourbon, vanilla, chocolate, walnuts - in a hand held - cupcake form. 

Kentucky Derby Cupcakes
1½ cups cake flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¾ cup chopped walnuts
½ cup semisweet mini chocolate chips
½ cup buttermilk, at room temperature
2 tablespoons bourbon
½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup light brown sugar
2 eggs, at room temperature

Buttercream
6 egg whites
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
Pinch salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract or bourbon

Cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy.

Beat in eggs, one at a time.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Stir in nuts and mini chocolate chips.

Combine bourbon and buttermilk.

Add dry ingredients to butter mixture, alternating with bourbon buttermilk.

Scoop batter into paper lined jumbo cupcake pans. 

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Bake 24 minutes at 350. Cool completely on wire racks.

Pipe buttercream on top and garnish with chopped walnuts and mini chocolate chips. 

All I need now is my big, fancy hat and my mint julep.  Derby anyone?

Ciao! 

Click here for a printable version of the recipe