Happy St. Patty’s Day–Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes w/ Irish Cream Buttercream!

I must be on the mend because I woke up this morning with the need to bake.  It’s pretty funny considering we held an impromptu bonfire last night with our neighbours and while I have been known to stay our with the best of them, I went to bed at the crack of 10:30pm (which considering 8pm has been the latest in the last week).  Now I also haven’t been able to get up and eat anything but dry toast or saltines until today.  It’s a little funny because the rest of the group, including my husband were “overserved” and now today, since it’s St. Patty’s Day, I decided I’d make a nice treat for them all.  An apple cinnamon cupcake with an Irish Cream Buttercream.

Is that mean?  LOL

I have to say they are super yummy, a nice light cake with a really fluffy icing.  For fun I added melted chocolate shamrocks to make them complete!  I made some non-adult versions for the kids on the street too!

Recipe: Apple Cinnamon cupcakes

• 2 sticks unsalted butter softened
• 5 egg whites
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 3/4 cup apple sauce
• 3 cups flour

1. Preheat the oven to 350F degrees.
2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
3. Cream the sugar and butter, then add the egg whites. Add the vanilla and mix until fully incorporated. Then, alternating between wet and dry, add the applesauce and flour mixture in two parts.
4. Using an icecream scoop, scoop into muffin tins.  Bake for 25 minutes.  Made about 21 cupcakes.
5. Cool completely before icing.

Irish Cream Vanilla Bean Buttercream:

• 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup crisco
• 3 cups icing sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla bean
• 1 tbsp Irish Cream (or more depending on how thick or thin you want it)

1. Whip all together and ice cupcakes as desired.

Sometimes the best recipes come to me whilst I sleep, this is no different.

Happy St. Patty’s Day everyone!  I hope your year brings you love and wonder and may you find your pot of gold!

Thanks for looking!