Honey Toasted Hazelnut Chocolate Chunk Cupcakes with Boozy Honey Buttercream Frosting
It’s about that time….
Another boozy dessert.
What? It’s been a whole month since I did those Oatmeal Cookie Banana Crisp with Chocolate Kahlua Sauce.
I have discovered the awesomeness of hazelnut liquor.
And I am not talking about adding it to drinks. Drinks are not my thing, but desserts??
Heck. Yes.
Hazelnut liquor is just, wow.
Is it weird that I feel like I could sit and sniff the bottle for hours and hours. I like to do the same thing with vanilla, they both remind me of chocolate cake and Christmas.
I love it.
Yesterday, was just one of those days.
Things were crazy, the brothers were bored, the house was one giant mess and these cupcakes were much needed.
Since I went to the store the other day and practically forgot everything on my list, I used what I had in my cupboard for these.
Which was honey, hazelnuts, chocolate chunks (always, always, chocolate) and hazelnut liquor.
Lucky for me the flavors just worked….
But, they still took me three batches to get photo ready.
Ugh.
If I was not going to be taking photos and trying to make these look all cute, the first batch would have been a winner, but of course I over-filled my cupcake tins and ended up with giant muffin tops that just did not look pretty. Then for the second batch I totally LOST MY MIND and left out all the baking powder. Yeah, still edible, but totally dense and flat.
Finally, after like four hours working on the same cupcakes I got it right. I am now buried in hazelnut cupcakes.
Not complaining.
Unlike me though, if you are smart and use your head these guys are just as easy as any other cupcake recipe. Make the batter, bake, make the frosting (oh my gosh, so good), toast the hazel nuts and frost.
Done!
Oh and don’t forget the extra drizzle of honey.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Honey Toasted Hazelnut Chocolate Chunk Cupcakes with Boozy Honey Buttercream Frosting
By halfbakedharvest
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cupcakes, hazelnuts, honey
Cute sweet and oh so tasty cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 1/2 cup butter at room temperature
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon hazelnut liquor
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/4 cup warm coffee may sub more milk if desired
- 8 ounces high quility chocolate chopped
Frosting
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 1/2 - 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1-2 tablespoons hazelnut liquor can sub vanilla if desired
Honey Toasted Hazelnuts
- 1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts
- 1 tablespoon honey plus more for drizzinling
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
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Line a muffin tin with 16-18 liners or grease with cooking spray.
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In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, and the salt. Set aside.
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In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the brown sugar, honey, hazelnut liquor and vanilla and beat until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
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Add the milk and coffee into a glass measuring cup or small bowl.
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Then alternately add flour mixture and milk/coffee to the butter mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until mixture is combined. Fold in the chocolate chunks.
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Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each about three-fourths full.
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Bake for 20 to 15 minutes or until the center of the cupcakes does not jiggle and the tops are puffed and lightly browned. Cool cupcakes in muffin cups for 10 minutes. Remove cupcakes from muffin cups. Cool completely.
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While the cupcakes bake toast hazelnuts. Heat a small non-stick skillet over medium heat, add the hazelnuts and honey to the pan. Toast over medium for about 5 minutes, just be careful and watch that they don not burn. Remove and allow to cool.
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To make the frosting, In large mixing bowl beat the butter, honey, and hazelnut liquor the with mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Gradually add 1 cup of the powdered sugar, beating well. Taste and if desired add more powdered sugar to your liking.
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To assemble, pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes and sprinkle with the honey toasted hazelnuts. Drizzle with honey if desired.
Because it is totally necessary. No, really it is!
Looks yummy!!! A little confused wether to use baking soda or baking powder. Ingredients say soda but directions say powder and where you said you left it out of your second batch says powder.
Hi Charlotte! I fizzed the recipe to say baking powder! So sorry about and thanks for letting me know! Hope you love these!
oh my lordy…I love hazelnut liquor! I can only imagine how heavenly these taste! Im drooling at the honey alone….wowsers
Thanks so much, Alaina!
These cupcakes look and sound so good! Love all those dripping and drizzling shots!
Uhhh.. WHAT?! I’ve never heard of hazelnut liquor, but I need to find that. Awesome pics and such a creative flavor combination. Awesome job, girl!
PS. Totally know the frustration of not having “photo ready” food, haha.
OOOOh, honey-toasted hazelnuts sound amazing to me! I’d put them on that delicious cupcake or carry them around in my purse and munch on them. This is quite a sightly treat!!
Thank Julie!! I love the idea of sticking the hazelnuts in my purse!! Sounds like a genius idea to me!
Ohhh these look awesome. Great job putting these together. The photos are beautiful.
Thank you so much, Norma!
I need cupcakes. and booze. together. now.
haha! Thanks Steph!
So cute! The cupcakes look like beehives with bees on it! So perfect.
Haha! Now that I look at them they kind of do!! Thanks so much, Cathy!
Hazelnuts and honey! Love that combination, and I’m so glad you stuck with it and shared these gorgeous treats with us!
Thanks so much, Maria!
These look absolutely incredible! Love that crunch from the hazelnuts. Yum!
Thank you so much, Kelly!! The crunchy hazelnuts are so good!
These cupcakes look so GREAT – and that mile high frosting! YUM!
Thanks Shashi! I love mile high frosting!
The Boozy Honey Buttercream Frosting. I want to eat that on everything. How about toast? Lol
And the filling/center of these cupcakes that are just bursting with chocolate, LOVE it!
Pinned!
Toast seems like a good vessel to me or maybe just grab a spoons?!? LOL!
Thanks so much, Averie!
P.S your Aruba photos are gorgeous! Next time can you just pack me in your suitcase? I am pretty small! LOL! Have fun and enjoy your time!
Giiiiiiiirl! Will you make my birthday cake?
Ah heck yes!! That would make my week! Lol!
Thanks Jackie!!
P.S I would honestly totally get my but out to LA and make you the best cake I could think of. Any yes, it would most definitely contain beer! Think a stout would be amazing!
Boozy dessert…hehe…love that phrase!
These cupcakes look delicious and gorgeous! I always enjoy looking at your pictures. They are amazing.
Ah the life of a food blogger…I can totally relate. 🙂
Thank you so much, Tina!
We have it so hard, don’t we? Lol!
I could eat this boozy frosting with a spoon and be set for life. Oh Tieghan, your desserts are just the best! Especially your creative cupcakes. 🙂
Thank you, Sally! That means the world coming from you!! I still need to master cheesecakes. I need you to teach me!
Oh and a spoon is a good idea!
I LOVE this! Could eat those honey toasted hazelnuts and boozy frosting any time of the day! So creative and so glad that this is what was in your cupboard!!! Yum!!!
Thank Robyn!
Our cupboards will always contain baking supplies! We never run out of those! Lol!
Those cupcakes are spectacular! You are a genius !!!!!
I love the flavor combination in these… absolutely love it.
Thank you so very much!!
Oh ghosh, the name itself wasn’t teaser enough that the pictures completely made my mouth water. I could eat 4 of these at one shot.
Thank you so much!
These cupcakes look scrumptious! The honeyed nuts on top make them look so elegant. Love it. (they remind me of these awesome maple glazed hazelnuts I get from the co-op. paaarrfect.)
Awesome, stunning, beautiful pictures as always! 🙂
Thank you so much, Abbie!
Those cupcakes looks absolutely incredible…delicious!
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Thanks So much, Eric!
How can it be a month since the oatmeal crisps!?!? I swear it was last week! Haha what have I been doing with my time? These look delish!
I know, I know! Time is flying! Thanks Meg!
You had me at hazelnuts and chocolate (my absolute favorite combo!) And that boozy buttercream.. over-the-top delish! Yum! I’m gonna have to make these!
Thanks so much, Grace! Let me know of you give them a try!
Gorgeous cupcakes lady!
Thanks Des!
Holy poot! Im quickly realizing it’s impossible to stop by your blog and not come across something delicious to pin. These look absolutely amazing. When I start making some of these, they won’t look nearly as pretty, but no doubt they’ll disappear so fast it won’t even matter!! 🙂
*Krystina
Awe, thank you!! I hope you love these Krystina!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who forgets everything on their grocery list (plz tell me you leave with a cart full of junk you didn’t intend on buying either;)
Gotta get my hands on some hazelnut liquor!
Oh yes, I surely do! LOL!
Thanks Gwen! Oh and yes, I the hazelnut liquor is amazing. You have to get some!
For the love of all things holy… a dessert like this should be illegal! I mean, geez. They look sinful!
Hehe! Thanks Kim!
I am super not into drinking alcohol but eating it…yes please!! I can’t say that I’ve ever had hazelnut liqueur though…SHAME.ON.ME. Need to get it, and these cupcakes, into my belly!
Finally! Someone who likes to eat their booze and not drink it! LOL!
Thanks Joanne!
I bet all 3 batches were gone in no time at all! Lovely cupcakes and that buttercream sounds so good!!
Thank you, Julie!!
Suddenly, I have the inexplicable desire to bake cupcakes. And drown myself in boozy honey buttercream frosting…
Boozy buttercream rules!! It is totally drown worthy. LOL! Thanks so much, Hayley!
oooh i love the idea of a drizzle of honey on top … these look gorgeous. And yes, somedays you have to have one of these to get through the day.
Thank you!! The honey on top is awesome!
I love hazelnuts and that finish of honey drizzle is perfection!
Thank you!! The honey drizzle is awesome!
Gorgeous!! These cupcakes would brighten up any day! 🙂 I feel you on numerous baking attempts – I hate when my first version of a recipe doesn’t come out exactly as I want!
Ugh. I know! It can be so annoying!!
Thanks Jennifer!
I just love our boozy desserts!! I would love to face plant right into one of these. Seriously.
Haha! Thanks Jocelyn!
These look delicious! We’d love for you to come over to our newest link party over at The Inspiration Network: DELISH- a desserts only link party. Bring your desserts and let’s party!!
http://theinspiration-network.com/delish-dessert-link-party-no-1/
Smiles,
Melanie and Diana
The Inspiration Network
Save two for me….love your photography! It’s just amazing! We’d love for you to come over to our newest link party over at The Inspiration Network: DELISH- a desserts only link party. Bring your desserts and let’s party!!
http://theinspiration-network.com/delish-dessert-link-party-no-1/
Smiles,
Melanie and Diana
The Inspiration Network
Thank you so much!
You made such flavorful combo in these cupcakes, it seem really mouthwatering.I’ve featured this recipe on my blog, hoping that you don’t mind, but if you do, please contact me and I’ll remove it. All the best.
Thanks Vera! It’s no problem!
They look amazing, but I’m just a little confused about the ingredients for the cupcake batter. You mention two different quantities of honey (1/4 cup and 1 tbsp), but you do not mention when to use the two different quantities.
Hey Elizabeth! I am so sorry about that, the 1 teaspoon of honey should actually be 1 teaspoon vanilla. I fixed the recipe so it reads correctly now. Thanks for pointing that out. Hope you love the cupcakes!
Hey there!
This recipe looks amazing!!
Im so gonna try it!
What could be substituted if I’d like it without coffee?
Thank you!!
Hi! You can swap the coffee with water. Thanks!
Could I swap the coffee with espresso powder? Mix that with the milk instead of making a cup of coffee.
Hey Arleen, yes that will fine. I would use 1 teaspoon coffee powder. Let me know if you gave questions. Thanks!
Hi there! Could you tell me how stiff this Honey buttercream is? I ask because I’ve made some honey frostings before, and they all end up super loose. I need a nice stiff one! Thanks a bunch!
Hi Amanda! It holds up pretty well, light and fluffy, but it will hold it’s shape. 🙂
Is the amount of flour correct? Haven’t finished them and they baked up okay. But I only got 10 cupcakes not 16?
Hey Rachel,
Yes the measurements are correct. Did you adjust the recipe at all? Maybe you filled the muffin tins too much? Let me know! xTieghan
Could we make this into a cake?
Hey Gauri,
Sure you could do that, you will just need to increase your baking time. I hope you enjoy the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan