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Feb 24, 2012

Tipsy Cranberry-Chocolate Cupcakes







Remember that bottle of Jamaican Rum I had to open and use for the Carrot Cocktail? Even after several servings *hic*, there's still plenty left and I'm starting to enjoy using rum in my kitchen adventures.

I was browsing through some recipes and came across Ann's gorgeous Chocolate Cranberry Cupcakes.
With some dried cranberries leftover from all the Christmas baking, I knew I had to make this immediately. (Especially when I read that this had rum in it.)
And get this! For the first time (first time for as far as I can remember anyway), I followed a recipe to the letter and made no changes ... oh, except maybe for the squiggly white chocolate decoration and the recipe title.

One thing I'd do different to this already perfect recipe would be to add more rum (sorry, Ann, I'm a closet alcoholic in denial. Oh, did I just admit to it? Guess I'm not in denial anymore! Yay! Let's drink to that!) and to soak those cranberries longer than I did. I just couldn't wait to make them, I guess. (Ya, right).

There's something seriously wrong with the weather here. The evaporation rate is crazy. Each time I add rum, it seems to evaporate really quickly *sip* and I'd have to add more *sip* and there seem to be never enough *sip* to soak the cranberries in *sip* *hiccup*. (Exshquish me).

For Ann's original, less tipsy and sane post, click here.
Otherwise, continue reading for recipe ....

CUPCAKE
INGREDIENTS

80 g dried cranberries
3 tbs rum (more! more!)
175 g butter, softened
150 g icing sugar
45 g good quality cocoa powder
90 ml hot water
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 large eggs
75 ml whipping cream
175 g plain flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda


METHOD

Preheat oven to 170˚C.
Soak cranberries with the 3 tbs of rum for an hour. (Will try soaking them overnight next time).
Mix sifted cocoa powder with hot water. Set aside.
Mix together flour, baking powder and baking soda.
Beat butter and icing sugar until pale and fluffy.
Add in cocoa mixture and vanilla extract. Mix well.
Add in eggs, one at a time. Beat well after each addition.
Whisk in cream.
Fold in flour and then add in soaked cranberries together with whatever juices it's been soaking in (if there's any left after all the sipping). Mix well.
Spoon batter into lined muffin tins 3/4 full.
Bake for about 20 - 25 mins or until skewer comes out clean when inserted into middle of cupcake.
Remove from tins and cool on racks.
Top with ganache to serve.
Decorate with white chocolate squigglies, sprinkles, sugar shapes, etc.




(Okaaay ... this part I didn't follow 100%)

GANACHE
INGREDIENTS

125 g semi-sweet / bitter chocolate, chopped
100 ml cream
20 g butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract (I didn't add this)
1/2 tbs rum (optional) (what do you think I did?)


METHOD

In a microwave-proof glass container, heat the cream and then mix together with the chopped chocolate.
Stir until smooth and all chocolate have melted. (If you find it to be lumpy, give it a short zap in the microwave and stir. Take care not to burn the chocolate).
Stir in butter. Mix well.











81 comments:

  1. Really funny post. Enjoy your Friday!

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  2. This sounds awesome. Never tried cranberry and dark chocolate and rum. We both made cranberry stuff - great minds think alike, except you went a step further with rum, well, sounds like many steps further!
    Alcohol does evaporate, in all weather conditions. Sometimes having adult supervision increases evaporation rate.

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    1. I think you might enjoy this one seeing you'd made something similar with red wine.
      Naw, not too many steps farther, can't seem to walk properly ... must be the tennis injury in my knees :)
      LOL! Yes, definitely adult supervision is needed here ... quality control!

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  3. BTW, I am surprised you managed to get this post done with just one major error. "juices it's been soaking in" - rum = juice:) Of course its juice, and you should drink it like juice!
    Have a great weekend. I have posted cures for hangovers in my blog, could come in handy tomorrow:) Start the day with some 'juice', that'll fix it:)

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    1. Yes, true. Must drink the juice ... very good for me. Do not waste. Cranberry juice is definitely very good for me.
      Ok, will take your advice and go make some more cranberry "juice" in case I get overcome by cupcake fumes :)

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  4. the cupcake looks so adorable, so perfect!Glad u found a good use for the rum! =P

    thanks for sharing Ping!

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    1. Hi Helene! Thank you ... hehe, many uses ;)

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  5. They looks gorgeous! I will take a dozen please :)

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    1. Thanks! Come and get it! :D
      With your skills, it'll be a cinch for you. Enjoy!

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  6. This looks totally delicious..I would love to try this..Bookmarked.

    Aarthi
    http://www.yummytummyaarthi.com/

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    1. Thanks Aarthi. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

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  7. Ping, I like this post and how I wish you can see the big smile on my face right now ... :D
    I love adding liqueur in my bakes too but when there are kids around, we have to limit it.
    Hope you have a wonderful weekend :)

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    1. Glad you approve, Ann! I'm having a big smile right now too :D
      This went so well with some ice cream too! Thanks again for the recipe!

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  8. Ping, these cupcakes look gorgeous! And rum is my favourite alcohol for sweets and also fruit salads. If you still have some rum left, make my cocktail with kiwi. I have become addicted to it.
    It's funny Mr. Three-Cookies has posted a cake with cranberries today too! It must be either telepathy or cranberry day ;-)

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    1. Thanks, Sissi! I will definitely try out your kiwi cocktail ... gotta use up the rum, right? :)
      It was national banana bread day a couple of days ago ... I never knew that even existed. So maybe we can call yesterday, Cranberry Day!

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  9. SO gorgeous, my friend! Cheers to you and your delicious cupcakes...clink, clink :)

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  10. Ping, you crack me up! I love it it makes me smile and I needed that after this busy day at work. I would love to come home to a plate of these...yummy...enjoying your rum *hic* adventures! ;D

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    1. Happy to make you happy, Lyndsey! Or maybe with a carrot cocktail might make you doubly relaxed after a hard day's work :) Have a good restful weekend.

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  11. Oooh, these are so pretty! Love the decorative elements, and they sound delicious.

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    1. Thanks, Kiri! They are very good with added rum :D and also with ice cream!

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  12. Oh YUM! Ping, did you know that Hungarians love rum in baking so much that there is such a thing as baking rum?

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    1. Hi Zsuzsa. Gosh, really? Interesting. Has it less alcohol in it, more for the rum flavors or more alcohol so that folks like me can enjoy sipping as we add? LOL!!!

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    2. I have no idea Ping, my guess would be that it was cheaper and perhaps less refined?

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  13. Love this! I have a bottle of rum that I use at home for cooking, and it really does enhance flavors in baking. These cupcakes look great!

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    1. Thank you. I've never really liked rum before but I guess I've never had good rum until lately and now, I believe I'm hooked! I'm thinking there'll be a whole lot of "rummy" posts coming :D

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  14. This looks wonderful - I'm loving the glossy ganache with the little chocolate squiggle especially! Bet they wouldn't last long around here :D

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    1. Hi Charles! Didn't last long here either ... all gone! :)

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  15. What a fun way to use some of the rum after your carrot cocktail (which was so pretty). I don't always follow directions either...I like the white squiggly.

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    1. Yeah! Gotta get a new bottle soon! :D
      Thanks!

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  16. Ping-your cupcake is gorgeous. Love the rum addition, the ganache, and the lovely design, which I'm trying to figure out what it is...is it a frog, or turtle? What is that bump on the top connected with the white glaze design?...OK, sounds like I might have enjoyed too much rum, but then again, I would just enjoy the yummy cupcake:DDD

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    1. Oooh ... the rum fumes are more powerful than I thought! Take it easy, my dear, here, have a seat, a glass of carrot cocktail and a rum infused cupcake. You won't care if it's a frog or a turtle after a while :D
      Actually, the very professional culinary name for that is called a "squiggly". Yes, such a fancy name, don't ya think? It's only a very sure and stable hand (unaffected by alcohol) that is able to produce the exact squigglyness of the squiggly. :D

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  17. Ping, your recipe and your humor are wonderful! I'm almost out of rum (blame it on last night's Pina Colada's...) but there should be enough to make a batch of your cupcakes -- or at least a glass of "juice" for tomorrow morning. :) Thanks for the smile for the day!

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    1. Yum! Pina Coladas! Another favorite cocktail of mine .... I have way too many :)
      Happy to help! :D

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  18. P.S. That's such a creative photo, too, using a guitar in the background -- LOVE IT!

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    1. Glad you noticed that. This is the start of my "Unconventional Food Backgrounds" series. Or, you could just say I'm running out of ideas :)

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  19. I really want to try all the recipes that you post :)) gorgeous cupcakes!

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    1. Thanks! Let me know if you do try them. I'd be happy to have some feedback and if you enjoyed them :D

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  20. The cupcake looks gorgeous! That thick layer of ganacha is killing me!

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    1. Thanks, Angie! I love ganache too! The thicker the better. I have cake with my ganache, not the other way around :D

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  21. Ooh! My kinda treat ping! they look divine! :)

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  22. These cupcakes look so nice especially with the white flower top! And the inside with cranberry and rum....just sensational!

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  23. You bring these cupcakes, and you're invited to ALL my parties :)

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    1. Haha! Thanks, Lizzy! That's an easy bribe! ;)

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  24. These cupcakes sound delicious and I love the idea of making them boozy! Cranberries and chocolate are such a wonderful combination, I wish I could enjoy one right now :)!

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    1. Hehe ... the queen of cocktail would like this :) I'm sure you can whip these up easily! You have some super interesting stuff as well!

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  25. I could use one of these tipsy cupcakes right now... oh, and ah, the rum in the icing is SO not optional ;)

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    1. So right you are... definitely NOT optional! Since I could not manage to soak the cranberries with enough rum, I HAD to compensate somewhere :D

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  26. Lol, you sound like me when I add liquor to a recipe. More always disappears than is called for but hey, taste testing right? Someone has to stick their neck on the line for all that quality control and what not ;) These cupcakes sound wonderful. And I love the ganache on top.

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    1. Oh, then we both shouldn't be making boozy stuff in the same kitchen at the same time! No booze will get into any of the food for sure :D
      Yes, definitely have to have some sort of quality control!

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  27. Hahaha, I love your "sip sip sip" ! Ya, I also bookmarked this recipe but don't know when I will try out since still a long list to go^_^

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    1. Hehe ... sip sip and hic hic :)
      Yeah, I also have a long list. This so happened I have all the ingredients at hand.

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  28. I've looked at your post for a few times now... I've FINALLY figured out what that thing is in the picture! It's a guitar right??? or some similar instrument? I was wondering what those strings were. I originally thought they were white chocolate strings or something...

    Amanda

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    1. LOL!! yes, it's a guitar! White chocolate strings? Whoa! The day I can create a guitar cake with white chocolate strings .... I'll open a cake shop :)

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  29. Ping...what rum do you use for the cake. There are so many in the market and which is the best one for cake and ice cream?

    I have an award for you to pick up at my blog, pls do collect it at your free time :) I love your blog!

    http://elinluv.blogspot.com/2012/02/pickled-tofu-cubes-in-herbed-olive-oil_28.html

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    1. I'm not too well versed with my alcohols :) but this bottle of Myers's Rum I'd picked up on one of my travels is pretty good. It says 100% Jamaican Rum. I used to hate rum but after a taste of this one, I'm hooked!
      Hey, thanks for the award! Going over now! :)

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  30. Sounds very interesting and looks fantastic! Would it work fine if I skipped the rum? Love the cranberry-chocolate combo!

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    1. Thanks! Yes, it would work without the rum ... it's just a flavoring after all. You can soak the cranberries in apple juice to plump them up or if you don't mind them as they are, you can do without the juice. Enjoy!

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  31. Hi Ping, your choco cuppies look excellent. Wish I can have a bite now. This is a very good recipe, will give it a try someday. My to do list getting longer than toilet roll now.LOL

    Have a nice day.

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    1. Choco Cuppies! Haha! I've never heard it called that before ... I like it! I have a great long list of to bake and make too! Too many good stuff on the net :D

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  32. It is always fun reading your post with lots of humors!

    I think to eat some of these cupcakes for my weekend partying mood :D

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    1. Hi Zoe! Glad you enjoyed the read.
      Yup, these would be great for a party.... weekend or not :)

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  33. Wow! These looks so heavenly! I need a dozen just for ME! ;)

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    1. Seriously?! Actually, this recipe made about 15 regular sized cupcakes ... so I guess that should be enough :D

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  34. I like sweets, I can eat 3 of these even after heavy meal.

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    1. No kidding! You and @i-lostinausten would make a great team! I'm not a great fan of "sweet", I just enjoy making them. The rest of the family's not complaining tho :)
      Thanks for dropping by!

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  35. I'm so lucky you come to visit my blog. You gave me the biggest giggle this morning with your message to Lambeau...LOL. You are the best!!! xo

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    1. Hehe ... Lambeau is so perfect for my schemes ... I mean her schemes, she's got those innocent baby, sad eyes. How can anyone get angry with that look?!

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  36. Those are... *hic* ... gorgeous! ;) And figures that you'd find a way to make them prettier. And neater. As usual.

    I'm with you regarding the rum in particular, and using alcohol in everything I make in general (sherry in soup is <3), although considering that I have no tolerance, I am fairly sure I can't manage to become an alcoholic. So I just... abuse it in moderation, can you even do that?!

    My favorite poison of choice is recently a new bottle of Jack Daniel's that tall-and-handsome bought me so that I will stop oogling his single malt for a whiskey sauce. But oh it's glorious in cocktails and food!

    And damn it did I just talk myself into making dessert again? Right, too much egg whites for tall-and-handsome in this recipe but the tipsy cranberries can be used in another cake-type recipe just fine...

    - Veronika

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    1. Hi there, V!
      I have low tolerance for alcohol too! I was reeling after 3 of these babies ... but then I guess it didn't help when I drizzled more rum on them before nomming :)
      Hmm... gotta go get me a bottle of Jack Daniels too. There's tons of brandy tho, wonder why I have so much stocked up?
      I'm sorry this blog of mine isn't too helpful for egg white intolerant folks nor gluten free or carb free, fat free ... gosh, I wouldn't know what to eat. Glad I'm allergy-free! Actually I'm not, but that's another story ... nothing to do with food ... thankfully... or not :D

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    2. Hehehe! I never had to watch out for an allergy until I met tall-and-handsome, but eh, he's worth it! I will just have to adjust what I make, and hey, he says he never even hoped to eat like a king with all of his food allergies, so I must be doing things right! I mean, the man never had real cake till he met me, how horrible is that?!

      And please don't try to make your blog anything-free! That'd be just... plain wrong! :D

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  37. Oh that cupcake is so beautiful, Ping especially with the white chocolate topping!

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  38. Seems like the rum worked pretty well for you *wink wink*. Love your little decoration!

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  39. I wonder how Lucy will behave after eating your Tipsy Cranberry-Cupcakes. Maybe walk backwards? hahaha Did you make that white chocolate squigglies before you tasted your cupcake or after?

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  40. PS...I'd make you a cheesecake ANYTIME...just show up here, my friend!!! And no diapers required ;)

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