Eggnog

The cupcake version of a holiday favorite
Makes 24 cupcakes
High Altitude Adjustment:
 
Cake Ingredients
0.75 cup all-purpose flour
1.25 cup cake flour
1.333 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
0.5 tsp nutmeg
0.25 tsp salt
0.667 cup unsalted butter
3 eggs
1.25 cup eggnog
1.5 tsp vanilla extract
1 T spiced rum
Frosting Ingredients
1.5 cup unsalted butter
0.25 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
0.5 tsp nutmeg
5.25 cup powdered sugar
1.5 T eggnog
1 tsp spiced rum
Finish Ingredients
nutmeg
cinnamon stick
Egg Nog Cake Directions
1) Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line cupcake pans with paper liners. Set aside.
2) In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine flours, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Mix on low speed until combined. Add butter, mixing until just coated with flour.
3) In a large glass measuring cup, whisk together eggs, egg nog, vanilla, and spiced rum. With mixer on medium speed, add wet ingredients in 3 parts, scraping down sides of bowl before each addition. Beat 1-2 minutes, until ingredients are incorporated.

4) Fill the liners with batter, until about 1/2 full. Bake for 16-20 minutes, until the center of the cupcakes spring back when lightly touched and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

5) Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove cupcakes and place on a cooling rack. Allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
Egg Nog Buttercream Frosting Directions
6) Combine butter, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg with the paddle attachment. Beat until blended. Add powdered sugar and mix until well blended, 2-3 minutes.
7) Add egg nog and spiced rum and mix until smooth and creamy. The texture should be like ice cream.

Finish
8) Insert a cake decorating tip of choice into a pastry bag. Place the bag into a tall glass and fold the open end of the bag over the sides. Fill bag with frosting.

Pipe frosting onto cupcakes, beginning on the outside and working to the center.

9) Top with ground nutmeg and garnish with a cinnamon stick.