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Delicious Blue Moon Cupcakes

Light and fluffy, our Blue Moon Cupcakes are always a hit. Make these awesome cupcakes for your next tailgate party or autumn event.

These are vanilla cupcakes made with Blue Moon beer for a light fluffy and flavorful cake. The cupcakes are zested with fresh orange, and topped with an orange infused vanilla cream cheese frosting. The sweet flavors of the cupcake mixes with the delicious blue moon taste and the tangy orange zest. 

Blue Moon Cupcakes with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting
blue moon infused vanilla cupcakes with orange cream cheese frosting

How do you add beer into cupcakes?

Beer can be added into cupcakes or cakes directly into the batter. During the mixing process, mix tighter the wet and dry ingredients. Once they are thoroughly mixed together, add in 1/2-1 cup of beer. Adjust the amount of beer in the batter if the consistency is thick or runny. Beer will then bake into the cupcake or cake and help the batter rise while adding in a hint of flavor.

Beer cupcakes usually call for 1 beer in the batter. A typical beer has 5% alcohol in it. The beer is spread out between 12 or more cupcakes leaving a small amount per cupcake. In addition to the small amount of beer, most of the alcohol will evaporate during the cooking process.

The exception to this would be using beer in the frosting. Since frosting does not get baked, any alcohol added into it will remain and not evaporate.

blue moon cupcakes 1
These cupcakes can be made with a variety of themes or decor to fit your event

What makes a moist Cupcake?

Cupcakes are moist and airy when they have lots of air bubbles in the batter. The key to light and moist cupcakes is not over mixing the batter. Over mixing will collapse the tiny air bubbles causing the batter to bake into a flat dense cake.

Alcohol will add extra flavor, air, and moisture into the cupcake too! The beer in these cupcakes keep the light and fluffy. Just make sure not to over mix them.

Boxed cake mix can also be used if you prefer, and no one will be able to tell the difference. Follow the directions for mixing ingredients on the box. Add 3-4 eggs, replace the water with whole milk, and replace with oil with buttered and double the amount.

Pour 1/2 beer in after mixing together the above ingredients. For this recipe we recommend using a vanilla boxed cake mix. Make sure you zest in fresh orange zest to add in extra flavor.

Blue Moon Cupcakes are light and fluffy. http://homemadeFoodJunkie.com
Light and fluffy blue moon cupcakes

Here are some of our favorite ideas for variations and decor ideas

These cupcakes are very simple at their core which makes them wonderful for decorating and serving however you like. Here are some ideas to get your going.

  • Make blue moon and corona cupcakes for added flavor depth
  • Serve for a summer bash and make them blue moon ice cream cupcakes
  • Garnish with a candied orange, or even an orange candy slice for extra sparkle and sweet
  • Color half of the frosting orange, and the other half blue to match the theme of ‘blue moon beer’
  • Top with any fall or halloween candies and serve for a fun halloween or autumn party
blue moon cupcakes 2

How do I know my cupcakes are done baking?

Cupcakes are done baking when the top is lightly browned. A great way to tell if the cupcake is ready to come out is with a toothpick. Use a clean toothpick and insert it into the center of the cupcake. The toothpick should come out clean with no excess batter on it.

If you don’t have a toothpick to check a cupcake, you can use your finger. Gently press on the top of the cupcake. The top should bounce back when you remove your finger. If the cupcake stays flat and indented, it is not quite finished baking.

Homemade Blue Moon Cupcakes
Yield: 12 Frosted Cupcakes

Homemade Blue Moon Cupcakes

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

Light and fluffy Blue Moon infused cupcakes. Make these awesome cupcakes for your next tailgate party or autumn event. They are topped with a delicious orange cream cheese frosting and simple to decorate for your occasion.

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes:

  • 1/2 cup 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 2/3 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 orange, zested
  • 2/3 cup Blue Moon beer
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk

For the Frosting:

  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1 Tablespoon Orange zest for garnish-to taste

Instructions

For the Cupcakes:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Line 12 Muffin tins with liners
  3. In a mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  4. With a hand mixer, cream butter for 1 minute.
  5. Add sugar and cream together with butter for about 3 to 4 minutes.
  6. Beat in eggs, one at a time, scraping down after each addition.
  7. Mix in vanilla and orange zest and stir until just combined.
  8. In a mixing bowl whisk together beer and milk.
  9. Alternatively add beer mixture and flour mixture to butter mixture until fully incorporated.
  10. Fill cupcake liners to 2/3 full.
  11. Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown

For the Frosting:

  1. Mix butter in a mixer for at least 1 minute, make sure the butter turns a pale color and has a fluffy consistency.
  2. Add the cream cheese, mix for an additional minute and make sure that the butter and cream cheese are fully mixed together.
  3. Add in the powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time.
  4. Mix completely for at least 2 minutes.
  5. Stir in the orange juice and vanilla extract until fully mixed
  6. Pipe frosting onto cupcakes and top with fresh orange zest. (I used a Wilton 2D tip for my swirl pattern)
  7. Note: for easier piping simply place frosting in the fridge for a few minutes to harden up

Nutrition Information


Amount Per Serving Calories 366

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blue moon cupcakes 3
blue moon cupcakes can be kept simple and chic for any occasion

Recipe adapted from: www.spoonforkbacon.com

Kendall Moses

Wednesday 11th of November 2020

Hi, just found these delicious cupcakes and I do agree making cupcakes and cakes from scratch are the best! Do you think I can substitute buttermilk for regular milk when making your Blue Moon Cupcakes?

Diane

Wednesday 11th of November 2020

Certainly! It will impact the flavor but the richness of buttermilk should be a nice complement.

Melissa

Sunday 29th of July 2018

These were delicious cupcakes, however, a few of ours didn't rise properly. All ingredients were fresh. Did anyone else have this problem?

Diane

Monday 30th of July 2018

Hi Melissa! Is it possible you opened the oven door before they were completely done baking? If cupcakes get a rush of cooler air in the oven before they are completely baked, the middle of them will fall. I'm glad you enjoyed the flavor!

Christina

Thursday 15th of March 2018

Is it possible to bake this in a 13x9in pan instead of in cupcake form? If so, would the baking time be longer? Thanks for the great recipe!

Kayti Lavergne

Thursday 15th of March 2018

Hi Christina!

I've never tried baking it in a 13x9, but I'm sure you could! What I would do, is grease the pan before adding the batter to it. I would start with the 20 minute bake time, but definitely insert a toothpick in the middle to make sure it is all done baking. Just keep a close eye on it! Happy Baking!

Amanda

Thursday 28th of January 2016

I can't eat these because I'm gluten-free, but I am making these for my dad's birthday. He is going to love them!

homemadefoodjunkie

Thursday 28th of January 2016

Wonderful Amanda! How sweet of you to make this yummy treat for your dad! He will feel pretty special! Let us know how he enjoys them!

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Monday 11th of January 2016

[…] recipe as this one just substitute the wine for champagne), I have also made guinness cupcakes and blue moon cupcakes. So needless to say I have become very triumphant in my alcohol and cupcake endeavors. So […]

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