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We need to have a talk.  THE talk.

You see, when a man and a woman love each other and are in a caring, committed relationship.

Sometimes…they do things.  For each other.  With each other.  To each other.

Special things.

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For instance…they might pick a day.  A random day.  A day that means nothing.

(Usually somewhere around, oh say, February 14th.)

And they’ll mutually agree that on that day, the man will buy the woman flowers.  And chocolate.  And she’ll giggle and throw things at him and accuse him of trying to make her fat.

And then they’ll take to the streets and pervade our restaurants with their cooing and their googly eyes and their hand holding.

Finally, when all the cooing and hand holding and weird eye stuff is over.  They’ll go home and do more stuff.  More special stuff.

Maybe.  If the man is lucky.

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And us single ladies?

We are also going to be doing special things.

We are going to be pounding tequila shots like it’s our job.  Getting tattoos that say “LOVE SUCKS” across our lower backs.  Putting all of our cookbooks into bed with us so that it seems like, maybe, for just one uncomfortable hard-covered-book-edge-in-our-back night, we are not quite so alone.

Or not.

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Maybe we’ll just celebrate our single-lady-ness.

Toast to ourselves on a champagne cupcake.

Make a wish on a sparkling wine star.

Or just be grateful that, not only can we make ourselves happy, but we can also whip up a pretty damn fine cupcake.  We are serious catches.  And anyone would be lucky to have us.

Amen.

The best thing about these cupcakes is that they can be enjoyed on just about any occasion, by single and non-single ladies and gentlemen alike.  I know because I tested them amongst my family on New Year’s Day, when we had a single lady, a single man, a married couple, and a 15-year-old-who-thinks-she’s-28-and-spent-the-whole-evening-texting-her-boyfriend present.
They were dubious of this whole champagne cupcake filled with champagne pastry cream and topped with champagne buttercream business.  But they were pleasantly surprised.
I used a pink champagne for my cupcakes and I really liked the fruity notes it added to the buttercream.  You can use whatever champagne you want, but just make sure it’s something that tastes good because the flavor will come across in the pastry cream and buttercream.
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For more addictively delicious baked goods, check out my guest post on Pham Fatale!  If you’re looking to wean yourself off of a lemon poppyseed Costco muffin addiction…or even if you’re not…these are the cookies for you!

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Sparkling Champagne Cupcakes
Makes 17, adapted from SprinkleBakes

Ingredients

Cake

    • 1/2 cup butter, softened
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 tsp vanilla
    • 1 3/4 cups AP flour
    • 1/2 tsp baking soda
    • 1/4 tsp baking powder
    • 1/4 tsp salt
    • 1/2 cup non-fat Greek yogurt
    • 1/2 cup champagne, prosecco, or any sparkling wine

Champagne Pastry Cream Filling

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream, divided
  • 1/2 cup champagne or prosecco
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 5 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 whole egg
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla

 

Champagne Frosting

  • 1 cup plus 1 tbsp champagne or prosecco, divided
  • 2 sticks butter, softened
  • 2 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar

 

Instructions

For the cake:

    1. Preheat oven to 350.
    2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 3-5 minutes.  Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and mix. Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt, set aside.  In a medium sized bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup champagne and 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (mixture will fizz and bubble a little).  Add flour and champagne mixture alternately, beginning and ending with flour.  Batter will be thick.
    3. Fill cupcake papers with 1/4 cup level measures of batter.  Bake for 17-22 minutes.  Set aside to cool completely.

For the filling:

  • In a medium bowl, whisk cornstarch in 1/4 cup of heavy cream. Combine the remaining heavy cream, sugar and 1/2 cup champagne in a saucepan; bring to a boil then remove from heat.
  • Beat the whole egg and egg yolks into the cornstarch/heavy cream mixture in the stand mixer.  With the stand mixer on, slowly pour 1/3 of boiling champagne mixture into the egg mixture, whisking constantly so the eggs do not cook.  Return the remaining champagne/heavy cream mixture to a boil.  Pour in the hot egg mixture in a stream, whisking constantly until the mixture thickens.  Remove from heat and beat in the butter and vanilla.
  • Cut a divot into the top of each cupcake and fill with pastry cream.  Trim the cut-out cake pieces flat to make a “lid” and place on top of the filled divot.

 

For the frosting:

  • Place 1 cup of champagne in a small saucepan.  Simmer over medium-high heat until reduced to 2 tablespoons.  Transfer to a small bowl or condiment cup and allow to cool.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, cream softened butter and powdered sugar together.  Once the frosting is thick and fluffy, pour in the reduced 2 tbsp. champagne plus  1 tbsp. champagne from the bottle and mix well.
  • Frost the cream-filled cupcakes and decorate.

 

 

I am submitting these to Bake with Bizzy!
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You are reading this post on Eats Well With Others at https://joanne-eatswellwithothers.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and or owner of Eats Well With Others. All rights reserved by Joanne Bruno.
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104 Responses to Sparkling Champagne Cupcakes

  1. Oh man, champagne in cupcakes? Awesome! I’m thinking that it’s okay to sample a fair amount of both the filling and the frosting while making these, right?? And it’s also probably a good idea to taste test the champagne, just to make sure it’s quality enough to go in a cupcake…

  2. OohLookBel says:

    Give me a bubbly cupcake over a regretful tattoo any day. Gone all gooey over the prettiness of that delightfully iced cupcake of yours!

  3. Simply Life says:

    This sounds perfect for my upcoming ladies night (no, not one of those wild and crazy nights- it’s really a book club…but a pot luck nonetheless)! 🙂

  4. bellini says:

    We single ladies deserve the best!!!!

  5. Foodycat says:

    They look absolutely sublime! I love the idea of the champagne buttercream.

  6. My icing always looks like I gave a spatula to a demented three year old.

    I used to love/ hate spin just because it made me sweat when I couldn’t run but right now, I’ll all about elliptical and kickboxing for cross training.

  7. Anyone would be insanely lucky to have you! Love these cupcakes for any occasion!

  8. These are beautiful, Joanne! I’ve been wanting to do some baking with Champagne lately…and this sounds like a wonderful place to start.

  9. OMG! Those cupcakes would make any gentleman worth his … worth your time sit up and take notice! Baking with champagne? Sounds like a bodice-ripper novel title! Sooo romantic!

  10. Katerina says:

    Mmm, I can see we are getting funcy here! Although I don’t drink I love the addition of alcohol in cooking and baking. These cupcakes are superb and I would gladly keep them for myself!

  11. Gosh, I can’t believe you are already talking about V-Day! You are one serious catch, Joanne! 🙂

  12. Cara says:

    love love love your pics here. I can tell you are doing something a little different…?

    And these cupcakes. Oh my. Probably better than anything my husband would think to get me on that day. I’d rather celebrate with you!

  13. Claudia says:

    This is perfect for “Single Awareness Day” or “It’s Snowing, Let’s Bake” day. Champagne in the batter? You know I’m going to make it.

  14. Beth says:

    I was anti-Valentine’s Day for many years. I was so opposed to it that even after we got married, it took me a few years to actually enjoy celebrating it. If I’d had these champagne cupcakes in those many single years, I might actually have looked forward to it!

  15. Danielle says:

    I want one – seriously I am so curious about the flavors. I need to hold on to this recipe. And please no lower back tattoos.

  16. Hi Joanne!

    we dont realy celebrate valentines day, its more of an american commercial festivity. But the cupcakes look awesome and if we were celebrating calentines day then I d tell me husband to get me those! Pretty photos by the way. thx for sharing!

  17. You are so funny! Be happy your single! The worse part about being married is when days like V-day come, your HUsband says it’s a commercial holiday and you know what you get? Nothing! You spend the day making choclate treats, special dinners and plastering hearts everywhere, just to be disapointed because he forgot. At least beiing single won’t put you through that disapointment!

    Now these cupcakes look so dam good! Your photos are gorgeous as always!

  18. Maureen says:

    My husband (and most men in Australi) think Valentine’s Day is silly.

    “It’s an American holiday, Maureen.”

    “I’m an American, John.”

    “I’m not. and Valentine’s day is silly. I love you 365 days a year, not just one day. You want just one day?”

    “uhhh, no.”

    So I don’t get flowers or candy or even a mention. Not to say he doesn’t love me but I might as well be single on that day. I could join you.

    These cupcakes are brilliant!

  19. MM says:

    Oh, wow. These are some serious cupcakes. So beautiful!
    Blah to V day. I’d rather pound tequila shots than try to look sexy making weird, goofy eyes.

  20. that pastry cream i could eat up in one sitting.
    valentines day is soooo overrated

  21. Perfect cupcakes with yummy filling!

  22. Jenna says:

    I love the champagne in cupcakes! What an awesome idea. I’m glad you’re not restricting these to single ladies . . . because that may have forced my hand to do something drastic. =)

  23. Pierce says:

    Ok…where do I start?! First, after reading this….I want to hang out with you. I love my husband and he’s my moon and stars but you just made it all sound like a sweet time, hanging out together, enjoying some cupcakes!

    Those are righteous looking cupcakes by the way.
    And, thank you for your nice comment at my place and thanks for sticking with me even though I am a dedicated meat eater (bacon in particular 🙂
    I think the tofu crumbles we talked about are made by Morningstar and I used to get them in the fresh produce section at my grocery store. I used them in chili and lots of times in Shepherds pie.

  24. Well these certainly sound delicious… maybe I should ditch Jake and hang out with you on VDay… you bring the cupcakes, I’ll bring the flowers and chocolate!

  25. MS2 says:

    Omg, I love this post. As a newly single lady, I totally agree. I am excited to celebrate Vday by loving my life and loving my friends and family! And I LOVE champagne, so I will probably be making these cupcakes. Thank you.

  26. Mary says:

    I made a champagne and chocolate dessert a couple weeks ago and could hardly believe how much it tasted like champagne. I bet I would LOVE these. They look beautiful as well. Definitely make plans and go toast to singleness. Although, personally, I’d skip that particular tattoo. ha.

  27. Miriam says:

    What beautiful cupcakes! Thanks for “the talk,” *wink*
    Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

  28. Oooh, pretty! These sound so delicious 😀

  29. What a wonderful post! And these cupcakes are absolutely divine!

  30. Elizabeth says:

    I would love to curl up with a plate of these. I’m so curious how it all tastes.

  31. Mo 'Betta says:

    You, the cookies, and the cupcakes…all fabulous!!

  32. Glad we had this little talk and glad you shared these yummy cupcakes

  33. If it makes you feel better, actually celebrating Valentine’s day like a proper couple is horrible. Unless you like waxy chocolate hearts, overcrowded, overpriced restaurants serving uninspired special menus, and ridiculously high pressure to make everything perfect. We’re staying home and playing video games this year, and maybe heading to the gym if we get home from work early enough. Who needs to add bad chocolate and flowers for the cats to eat (and then throw up on the carpet) to a perfectly good night?

  34. Single or not, there’s always got to be enough wiggle room for cupcakes with a champagne cream filling!

  35. I’m with you on the single-ness. I’m getting depressed already from the mushiness that’s happening EVERYWHERE! Also, wh does everything you make look so. freaking. amazing? I mean, I want to make all of it!

  36. OMG, be still my heart. Gorgeous Joanne. Love this celebratory idea!

  37. Hannah says:

    You are such a gem, my dear. I always loathe V-day for the same reason that all single people do, but it sounds like so much more fun to celebrate our single-ness instead. Any excuse to drink/eat champagne is a good one, really. 😉

  38. Amy says:

    I don’t need a reason to want or eat one of these cupcakes. Have mercy! And until the federal government declares Valentine’s Day a national holiday, then I’m not celebrating it.

  39. How beautiful! And these cupcakes don’t snore or accidentally hit you in the face with their arm at night either. What a wonderful list of ingredients. I love to see how the champagne tastes in these!

  40. Veronica says:

    Very classy and pretty! Love the idea, and the little sugar pearls on top–makes them look like…champagne bubbles! 🙂

  41. Megan says:

    That filling sounds amazing! And they look so pretty. I recently made some mini cupcakes and decorated them with pearls, but I’ve been taking a while to get a post up about them.

  42. Catherine says:

    Dear Joanne, What a lovely cupcake!! What a great post! Valentine’s Day is one of those holiday’s that I buy my kids and my little dog a present and celebrate that I am not sad anymore!! Blessings my dear, Catherine xoxo

  43. Catherine says:

    Dear Joanne, What a lovely cupcake!! What a great post! Valentine’s Day is one of those holiday’s that I buy my kids and my little dog a present and celebrate that I am not sad anymore!! Blessings my dear, Catherine xoxo

  44. Kristen says:

    Those cupcakes are adorable. I need some of those little candy ball decoration thingies. Can you tell that “fancy” and “food” don’t often get together in my conversation?

  45. Raina says:

    Yum! These look great! The champagne pastry cream must really put these over the top in the delish department:)

  46. Julie says:

    Beautiful cupcakes!Love the decorations! Valentines Day is overrated! I do remember though when I was single, it didn’t seem that way 🙂

  47. The thing I hate most about being busy…missing all of your absolutely fantastic blog posts. Seriously Joanne your blog=what I aspire to be someday.

    Your pictures, your writing skills, and your recipes amaze me!

  48. You are completely HILARIOUS. I love your sense of humor. And those cupcakes? Well. So dainty and cute, made for savoring while flipping through that pile of cookbooks in bed. Food mags have less pointy edges…

  49. Those cupcakes look amazing – a quite a “lady” cupcake – beautiful! I think these cupcakes win over the “love sucks” tattoo!

  50. Christine says:

    Oh sure, never noticed the Costco muffins and I have to go there next week…dang! Now I’ll be looking for them even though I won’t buy any (thank goodness) because of the budget. But there may be some serious sniffing through the cellophane going on. 🙂 The cupcakes are totally gorgeous! Such decadence!

  51. That Girl says:

    It’s funny how “the talk” changes meaning based on where you on in life. Right now everyone I know who is having “the talk” is so far removed from Valentine’s Day. It involves telling your husband he better pitch in around the house and with the baby OR ELSE. Not especially romantic.

  52. ?peachkins? says:

    Oh I love the sound of that: Sparkling Champagne Cupcake!

  53. Barbara says:

    I am loving these cupcakes, Joanne. Of course, who doesn’t adore champagne?? In any form! Perfect for an afternoon tea, which is the only way I can make cupcakes and not eat them all myself.

  54. Norma Chang says:

    Sitting down for breakfast and looking at and reading about your cupcakes, thinking: those would make great breakfast fare, I am drooling!

  55. Lora says:

    These are so pretty. Love them!

  56. Lori says:

    These look amazing! There is something so elegant about champagne in anything. I do have a Valentine, but we are more on the other end of the spectrum. But maybe bourbon shots instead of tequila and no tattoos.

  57. They are so pretty! I’d love them to celebrate my love of cupcakes!

  58. Danielle says:

    Hey Joanne – I posted this in “My Bookmarks” today – come see!

  59. Chris says:

    You rock at baking, these are beautiful!

    And I always get a pass on Valentine’s day since our anniversary is just a few days later, we celebrate then! Bwahahaha.

  60. Karly says:

    You’re the coolest single chick I know. If you’d ever like to borrow a few of my cookbooks to sleep with you are more than welcome. Or, if you bake me these cupcakes, I’d be happy to stay over. But no funny stuff.

  61. sally says:

    I think I could eat a big old bowl of the champagne pastry cream filling by itself! These cupcakes look fantastic!

  62. Hotly Spiced says:

    What a great story. I love it when the writing draws you in and you have to keep reading right through to the end. And of course, from the very title, I wanted to know more about these cupcakes. I’ve never heard of cooking with champagne. The cupcakes look so perfect and inviting. I will have to try these and learn how to swirl the frosting so it looks like yours. And yes, 15 year old girls can be very trying and they always want to be twice their age, that is, until they get there.

  63. Gloria says:

    Joanne Those cupcakes are adorables and lovely!!!!!! love them!! beautiful!!

  64. BEAUTIFUL! Frosting tutorial please!

  65. Claudia says:

    Oh girl, you are too funny. This is an excellent use for the odd 1/2 bottle of champagne left from New Years. I made a reduction sauce for fish out of mine.

  66. Velva says:

    The cupcakes rock! here is a toast to all the ladies single or not…We rock.

  67. I am so wishing I had one of these right now.

  68. grace says:

    filled cupcakes are my obsession right now, so bravo on these! the little pearls on top are a lovely touch.

  69. This is bad. Very bad. I’ve kinda been addicted to “Cupcake Wars” lately. So much that we’ve been going to the local cupcake shop on Saturdays (our Cupcake lady was on the show 3 times…and came in second 3 times…)

  70. Reeni says:

    Valentines Day is so over-rated. Something these cupcakes are definitely not. I’ll take these over flowers from a man any day. These are way more gorgeous. And champagne in a cupcake? Elevates them into something very elegant.

  71. Monet says:

    Oh sweet girl, you know how to make me swoon. I adore champagne. But in a cupcake? I’m in heaven. This is far better than ANY valentine treat. Each time I’m here, I feel admiration…and my stomach rumbles. Thank you so much for sharing tonight. These look delicious (as always!)

  72. Mary says:

    These really are lovely. The champagne makes them truly special. Have a wonderful weekend. Blessings…Mary

  73. Johanna GGG says:

    I really want that recipe – not because I want cupcakes with champas but because we never make it through a bottle and it hangs around! (Well that is my excuse). As for Valentines Day – I thought it was punishment for men who didn’t bother for the rest of the year 🙂

  74. Gorgeous pictures Joanne! And that cupcake looks pretty darn amazing as well. You got some skillzzz…you should toast to that, too!

  75. CHAMPAGNE CUPCAKES! I would happily sleep with a pile of cookbooks beside me if I could have these. Am most definitely going to be trying these, they sound just gorgeous.

  76. Wow, so much champagne concentrated into these. It should come with a warning “don’t eat and drive”!. Sounds absolutely delicious though

  77. Carolyn Jung says:

    I felt that way about Valentine’s Day when I was single, too. And now that I’m an old married woman — LOL — I feel even more emphatic that the holiday is a lot of hooey. My hubby and I don’t celebrate it, neither do any of our other close, married friends. Why manufacture a holiday to express emotions you should share every single day of the year — not just on one commercialized one? 😉

  78. teresa says:

    pretty name and pretty cupcake. even as a married girl, i’ve never been much a fan of v-day. just too much hype for me, not near as good as these cupcakes!

  79. I pinned Heather’s champagne cupcake photo long ago, because it’s so exquisite. I’m so glad that you made them, so you could satisfy my curiosity that not only were hers gorgeous, but they are good! Now, I want to try them for myself. For as long as I’ve faithfully read your blog, I’ve come to the conclusion that– even if I don’t make your recipe– my appetite for needed a laugh or two, at your life’s musings fills me up just right. You are funny, no doubt. You are the new Erma Bomback. For reals.

  80. Kerstin says:

    So pretty! I’ve always liked valentine’s day because it’s an excuse to eat a bit more chocolate than usual – single or in a relationship! Might have to eat more cupcakes instead this year 🙂

  81. They look heavenly with that fantastic frosting!

  82. Those are some elegant and delicious-looking cupcakes. I could happily drown a few Valentines Day sorrows in some. 😉

  83. Geni says:

    These are gorgeous and would be a great celebratory cupcake on any day!

  84. I hope you had a great weekend!

  85. The perfect Valentine’s Day treat! We do giggle and coo, but rarely take to the streets. 😉

  86. and now i am wishing i hadn’t drank all the champagne. One more reason to go to the store and get more right? Love these cupcakes! Amazing

  87. elly says:

    You had me at pastry cream. These look incredible.

  88. I love the sound of these and those little dragees (is that the right word?) are SO pretty on the frosting!

  89. Shannon says:

    delicious cupcakes!! i am of the hating of that certain date in feb, and i’m sure that won’t change even when i’m not single 🙂

  90. I *almost* made champagne cupcakes a few weeks back. Barefoot sent me a bottle of $10 bubbly – it would be perfect to make these. You know, whether married, committed, or single, I always loved Valentine’s Day. A day that celebrates love? All kinds? Count me in! And you can just hop a train and celebrate with us. 🙂

  91. Eliana says:

    I kind just want to make the pastry cream and enjoy it by its lonesome, with a big spoon, which wearing my PJs, wrapped in a blanket, on the couch, watching Dirt Dancing. Wanna join me Joanne?

  92. The cupcakes DO sparkle!
    The pastry cream surprise on the inside would be addictive, I am sure.
    Nice.
    🙂
    V

  93. I’m going to be a rebel here and say that I love Valentine’s day, always have. I love it now as a day to proclaim my love with public displays of desk flowers that are unacceptable for a man 364 other days of the year, and I loved it before when it meant exchanging cards across the Atlantic ocean with my best friend.
    But I need something clarified. In the ingredients for the cake, you call for 1/2 cup of low-fat greek yogurt, but then in the directions you call for 1/2 cup sour cream. This may be a common baking substitution that I am unaware of in my ignorance of all things healthy-chic, but I don’t want to waste this beautiful bottle of pink sparkly champagne so I want to get it right. Which one?

    • Joanne says:

      Hey Sarah! Thanks for your comment! Hopefully I will NOT be spending my V-Day pounding tequila shots, but instead spending it with the friends and fam who I love…but you never know. 😛 Thanks for that catch! The originally recipe called for sour cream, which I detest with the fiery passion of 1,000 sun, so I switched in nonfat greek yogurt instead, since I always have it on hand. The two have very similar texture and flavor so I always use Greek yogurt instead. I just forgot to change the instructions in the recipe when I posted it. You can use either, though!

  94. Bonita W. says:

    These look lovely and I can’t wait to try them. One commenter asked substituting sour cream for the Greek yogurt. Can you use plain yogurt as well?

  95. klief says:

    this looks like it will be what I bake for my girlfriend’s birthday! thanks for the great photos and delicious (i hope) recipe! :o) and happy cupcake day to everyone!

  96. Honestly, I wish you could send baked goods through the mail.
    Every time you post new pictures, I’m ready to lick my computer screen, too.
    Those cupcakes look so delicious and champagne takes it up a notch! I wish I lived closer, too. If I ever make it to you home town, could you bake me some sweet treats for the trip home? 🙂

  97. Anonymous says:

    Used these to impress friends last night at our annual Cupcake Bowl! They were so delicious, having trouble not eating them for my meals today 🙂

  98. Kim says:

    Great recipe! I’ve made them before and got rave reviews. Making again soon for a celebration and can’t remember what I did before. Chill the champagne or room temp??

    Thanks!

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