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White Russian Cupcakes inspired by the classic cocktail – Baileys whipped cream sponge, topped with a White Russian buttercream and a hidden dark chocolate and vodka ganache centre.
I love creamy cocktails and the White Russian is one of my absolute favourites (really anything with Baileys is a winner in my eyes), so when I was contacted by thebar.com a few weeks ago and invited to create a recipe based on one of their cocktails, it was the obvious choice.
If you’re unfamiliar with the White Russian, it’s made from a mix of Baileys Coffee, Vodka and Cream, topped with a sprinkling of chocolate (you can find the full recipe here). If you’ve not tried one before, then you really should!
In making these cakes I’ve tried to stay as true to the original cocktail as possible. This means there’s a fair amount of alcohol in them so all the normal alcohol rules apply, don’t eat one if you’re driving!
The cake recipe is a little unusual, in that instead of using butter it uses whipped cream (to which I’ve added some Baileys 🙂 ), they’re then topped with a White Russian buttercream (buttercream flavoured with baileys and vodka). As much as I love creamy cocktails, I also love hidden centres in cupcakes (I struggle to make one without it) so given that White Russians are usually topped with a little grated chocolate, I didn’t think I was straying too far away by adding a dark chocolate and vodka ganache centre.
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White Russian Cupcakes
Equipment
- 8 cupcake cases
- Muffin tin
- Weighing scales
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring jug
- Electric mixer + bowl
- Hand whisk (for the egg) + bowl
- Sieve
- Large spoon or spatula (for folding)
- Wire cooling rack
- Small saucepan + bowl
- Piping bag with star nozzle attached
- Teaspoon
INGREDIENTS
For the cakes
- 1 medium egg
- 120 ml double cream
- 50 ml Baileys Coffee - or Baileys Original
- 100 g caster sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 120 g plain flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- Pinch of salt
For the White Russian buttercream
- 135 g unsalted butter - at room temperature
- 270 g icing sugar
- 2 tbsp Baileys Coffee - or Baileys Original
- ½ tbsp Smirnoff no. 21 Vodka
For the Vodka Ganache
- 50 g dark chocolate
- 50 ml double cream
- 2 tsp Smirnoff no. 21 Vodka
INSTRUCTIONS
Make the cakes
- Pre-heat the oven to 180ºC/160ºC fan
- Line a muffin tin with 8 cupcake cases
- Using an electric mixer, whisk the double cream (120ml) to stiff peaks. Once stiff, add the vanilla extract (½ tsp) and gradually add the Baileys (50ml) thoroughly mixing each addition before adding more.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the egg (1 medium egg) until just frothy.
- Add the egg to the whipped cream and whisk for a couple of minutes.
- Gradually add the caster sugar (100g), whisk in each addition before adding more. Once all of the sugar is added whisk on a high speed for a couple of minutes.
- Sift the remaining dry ingredients (120g plain flour, 1 tsp baking powder, pinch of salt) into the cream mixture and carefully fold them together until thoroughly combined.
- Spoon the cake batter into the cupcakes cases, ensuring it's evenly distributed.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
- Once baked, transfer to a wire rack to cool.
- While the cakes are cooling, make the buttercream and ganache.
Make the buttercream
- Cut the butter (135g) into cubes and beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
- Gradually add the icing sugar (270g) and beat in each addition before adding more.
- Once combined add the Baileys (2 tbsp) and vodka (½ tbsp) and beat thoroughly to combine.
Make the ganache
- Place the dark chocolate (50g) in a small saucepan and heat very gently until melted.
- Remove from the heat immediately and pour the chocolate into a bowl. Add the double cream (50ml) and mix vigourously until combined.
- Add the vodka (2 tsp) and mix thoroughly until combined.
Construct the cupcakes
- Use a teaspoon to scoop out the centre of each cupcake.
- Fill the centre with a spoon of ganache.
- Pipe the buttercream onto the top.
- Serve.
NOTES
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
Any nutritional information provided is the estimated nutritional information per serving. Please refer to my guide to Charlotte’s Lively Kitchen nutritional information if you would like to learn more about how this is calculated.
Other White Russian inspired recipes
If these cupcakes have whet your appetite for some white russian inspired baking then you might also want to take a look at these other recipes…
- White Russian Eclairs by Patisserie Makes Perfect
- White Russian Pannacotta by Baking Obsession
- White Russian Jelly Shots by The Daily Meal
- White Russian Macarons by OMG, Sammiches
And if you fancy a change from the White Russian, thebar.com have a great selection of other edible cocktails here.
* This is a commissioned post for Diageo’s thebar.com
Heather says
I’m not sure what caster sugar and double cream are. Are there any substitutions for these two ingredients?
Charlotte Oates says
Which country are you in?
Mimi says
Oooooo… These sound amazing and I will definitely be trying them out real soon.
But I have to say, a White Russian cocktail does not contain Bailey’s at all. A true White Russian is equal parts vodka, kahlua, and cream.
Cheers!
Charlotte Oates says
Thanks Mimi, I hope you enjoy them when you give them a try. I suspect it’s one of those recipes that people have tweaked and adapted over time, I’ve never tried one with Kahlua so I’ll have to give it a try sometime.
Ann Simmons says
I’ve made these cupcakes three times now, they are definitely a family favourite. The sponge is super light and totally delicious.
Charlotte Oates says
Thanks Ann, I’m so glad you all enjoyed them. The whipped cream definitely makes the sponge lighter than sponge made using butter.
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins says
Oh my!!! These sound soooo good!!! I love Baileys and I bet these cakes are such a special treat! Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Charlotte Oates says
Thanks Kirsty. If you like Baileys the you’ll like these 🙂
Toni @ Gym Bunny Mummy says
Oh my gosh these look amazing, the flavours are perfect! I’ve never baked with cream instead of butter, I bet it tastes so indulgent. Thanks so much for linking up to #SundaySweets hope you’ve got something to add today too x
Charlotte Oates says
Thanks Toni. You should try cream sometime, it makes the sponge quite light.
Honest mum says
These are just stunning! Thanks for linking up to #tastytuesdays
Charlotte Oates says
Thanks Vicki xx
Mummy Tries says
This might just be the ultimate treat for Andy – his fave cocktail in a cupcake…might have to break all the food rules and give these a go over Xmas (although using my home made coffee liqueur instead of Baileys)! Pinned xx
Charlotte Oates says
Thanks Renee. I like the sound of homemade coffee liqueur, is the recipe on your site?
Mummy Tries says
Hey lovely, it’s on my other blog https://mummytriesgaps.wordpress.com/2013/01/01/choc-coffee-flavoured-liqueur/
Charlotte Oates says
I have all those ingredients 🙂
I was about to make something for the boys but I think I’ll make this instead
Babes about Town says
Ooh you saucy blogger! This is one of the most decadent posts I’ve read in a while. I felt naughty just looking at the pictures 😉 Will have to give these a try but definitely not one to make with the kiddies. Love Baileys!
Charlotte Oates says
Not as naughty as I felt eating them all 🙂 (worth it though, they were yummy!)
Louise Fairweather says
Oh these look fantastic!
Charlotte Oates says
Thanks Louise xx
Alison says
These look lovely. Love the little box
Charlotte Oates says
Thanks Alison. The box was a car boot sale bargain a couple of weeks ago, I was so pleased when I spotted it.
sarah says
These look yummy but slightly dangerous…I’m guessing that’s why the recipe only makes 8!
Charlotte Oates says
Given I couldn’t share them with the children I thought it would have been greedy to make a bigger batch! You can easily double everything if you want more though 🙂
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain says
These sound delicious Charlotte. I’m not much of a drinker at all, but I think the wee bit of alcohol in these would give just a nice note against the chocolate. And I love the little stand you’ve perched your cupcake on.
Angela x
Charlotte Oates says
Thanks Angela. I spotted the little silver box at a car boot sale at the weekend. It was an absolute bargain and I love it!
Hannah Hossack-Lodge says
I do love an edible cocktail! I’ve come across recipes for whipped cream sponge before but have never tried it, yours look beautifully light and fluffy so I’m going to have to give it a go, especially if you can add Baileys! x
Charlotte Oates says
You should definitely give the whipped cream sponge a go sometime. It’s lovely and light and less greasy than sponge made with butter. It goes nicely with the Baileys too 🙂
Eb Gargano says
These look awesome! But very, very naughty!!
Charlotte Oates says
Oh yes, very naughty but totally worth it!
Angela - Patisserie Makes Perfect says
These look great Charlotte! Thank you for including my recipe, I love white russians too! It’s one of my favourite cocktails along with brandy alexanders and grasshoppers!
Charlotte Oates says
I’ve not tried either of them (just had to google them to check what was in them!) they sound like just my sort of thing.