Margarita Cupcakes: Boxed Cake Mix Hack
My margarita cupcakes, like most of my cupcakes, have 3 components: cupcake, glaze, and buttercream. The cupcakes are made using a white cake mix, but we’re elevating it with a few secret hacks to make it taste more like homemade. We’ll be making a margarita glaze and some homemade buttercream to really take these up a notch!
You should all know by now that I love margaritas. It’s such an easy drink to like, so it’s no surprise that it’s loved by so many. That’s why I’ve decided to make August 2022 Margarita Month here on my blog! Make sure you’re subscribed and follow me on socials so you don’t miss anything.
Boxed Cake Mix Hack
Okay, I know a lot of people find it extremely intimidating to measure out the dry ingredients for a cake. I’ll admit, even as someone who has ample baking tools and ingredients, I do too sometimes! Years ago I found a few hacks to make a boxed cake mix taste more homemade and I use it nearly every time I make a large batch of cupcakes. You make the mix according to the box directions, except you do a few key hacks with ingredients.
Here are the key hacks I use:
Add one additional egg
Swap water for milk*
Add one small box pudding mix, flavor that compliments cake
Use melted butter instead of oil
Add 2t vanilla extract (the real stuff, skip if you only have artificial)
* For these margarita cupcakes, instead of doing the full amount it calls for in milk, I use tequila for part of it. Make sure you keep the same amount of liquid if you decide to tweak this!
Margarita Month
This is a recipe for my self-proclaimed Margarita Month and I have some fun ideas in store for us like margarita chia drink, margarita lime bars, and of course popcorn. It’s going to be a fun month and I’m so excited to share these recipes with you!
Margarita Cupcakes: Boxed Cake Mix Hack
Boost your cupcake game with this cake box hack! This recipe uses white cake mix and elevates it into margarita cupcakes with a homemade buttercream.
Ingredients
Cupcakes
1 box Pillsbury white cake mix
3 eggs
1 small box lemon pudding mix (lime if you can find it)
1 cup melted unsalted butter
¾ cup milk
¼ cup tequila
2 tsp vanilla extract
Zest from 1 lime, finely chopped
Margarita Glaze
1 Tbsp tequila
½ Tbsp triple sec
1 Tbsp lime juice
1 Tbsp powdered sugar
Margarita Buttercream
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
3 cup powdered sugar
1 ½ tsp lime zest, finely chopped
1 tsp orange zest, finely chopped
1 Tbsp tequila
½ tsp triple sec
Coarse sugar or salt, for garnish
Lime slices, for garnish
Method
Cupcakes
Preheat the oven to 350F. Line 2 cupcake pans with paper baking cups.
Mix cupcake ingredients in a mixer on medium for 5 minutes.
Divide batter into cupcake pans, filling to about ¾ full.
Bake according to package instructions, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out dry.
While your cupcakes cool, let’s whip up the rest!
Margarita Glaze
Mix ingredients together in a small cup or bowl. Brush or gently spoon over cupcakes while they’re cooling.
Margarita Buttercream
Whip butter for 2 minutes, until color lightens.
Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing between. Add remaining ingredients.
Whip on medium for 3 minutes, until well combined and fluffy.
Pipe onto cupcakes once they’ve cooled.
Garnish with lime slices and coarse/flake salt or sugar.
Bonus: if you have cupcake pipettes (little droppers that hold liquid you have guests squeeze the contents into the cupcake themselves; you can find them on Amazon), mix up a margarita and fill some up to add to these! You could also do straight tequila. I’ve noticed roughly half of people just take them as shots anyways!
