Get Into the Holiday Spirit with Cupcake Vodkas!

Between the office parties, happy hours, and familial gatherings, planning a great drink menu is essential to get everyone into the holiday spirit! Cupcake-inspired liquors are a great way to express your cupcake love while celebrating the season.  Check out these cupcake-inspired drink recipes to put your guests in the holiday mood and satisfy holiday cupcake-cravings!

Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Cupcake Blog

The emerging Cupcake Vineyards brand, known more for their wines, has crossed over the aisle to vodkas. With flavors ranging from Red Velvet, Devil's Food, Vanilla, and Lemon Chiffon, adding these sweet liquors to your baked goods or holiday menu is a good move. Here's a recipe for a Ginger Frost Cake Cocktail!

Ginger Frost Cake with Cupcake Vodka Frosting

Ingredients
1.5 oz. Frosting Vodka
.5 oz. Cointreau
.5 oz. Lime Juice
.5 oz. Simple Syrup
.25 oz. Domaine de Canton

Preparation
Shake above ingredients and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with candied ginger.

Photo courtesy of Desiree Vodka

Desiree Vodka is a new contender for cupcake-flavored spirits supremacy. Their flavors range from Red Velvet, Brownie Batter, Creme Brulee and Straight Cake. Here is a red velvet recipe that puts a holiday twist on a classic martini. 

Desiree Red Velvet Martini

Ingredients

• 2 parts Desiree Red Velvet flavored vodka
• 1 part half and half cream

Preparation

Shake or stir well until chilled. Can be served 'up' in a martini glass (top whipped cream & red sugar crystals for the gourmet touch), or simply over ice in a rock glass. 

Pinnacle Vodka has made their mark as the flavorful go-to vodka. With flavors like vanilla cake, whipped cream, and Swedish fish vodka there's something there for everyone. Here's a recipe for a gooey butter cake martini; a southern cake classic in drink form. 

Pinnacle Gooey Butter Cake Martini

Ingredients

1 oz Cake flavored vodka

1 oz Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur

1/2 oz Frangelico

1/2 oz Amaretto

1/2 oz Butterscotch Schnapps

Preparation

In a shaker add ice and all of the ingredients above. Shake and strain your cocktail into a powder sugar rimmed martini glass.

Smirnoff Iced Cake by Smirnoff Vodka 

The recognizable Smirnoff brand has expanded their product line to include flavored vodkas. With flavors ranging from pumpkin pie to iced cake, the liquor   is reminiscent of vanilla cake with notes of sugar and vanilla. Below is a recipe for Iced Orange Cake. Add a pinch of cinnamon or ginger to spice it up and make it festive. Smirnoff Iced Orange Cake

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz Smirnoff Iced Cake 
• 0.5 oz Lemon Juice
• 0.5 oz Simple Syrup
• 1 Tablespoon Orange Marmalade

Preparation 
Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with slice of orange. 

The Cupcake Lover's Holiday Gift Guide (2012)

Season's Greetings Cupcake Lovers! I've compiled a gift-guide for the Cupcake Lovers in your life! 

1. Frosted Cupcake 3-Wick Candle $24.99

2. "I Love You More Than Cake" Letterpress Boxed Cards  $18.95

3.  Season 1 of TLC's Cake Boss $11.99

4. Sweet Celebrations Cook Book $14.95

5. 24-K Packaging Custom Cupcake Containers $36

          

1. Diamond Cupcake Necklace $149.99

2. Season 1 of TLC's DC Cupcakes $49.99

3. Sticky Fingers Sweets: 100 Super-Secret Vegan Recipes $18.99

4. Georgetown Cupcake's Holiday Dozen $29

1. DC Cupcakes Kids Apron Set Retailing $12.97

2. Little Tykes Cupcake Kitchen $40.77

3. The Cupcake Club: Peace, Love, and Cupcakes $6.99

1. Cupcake Vodka $16.95
2. Ferragamo Niccolo Cupcake Tie $180
3. Cakelove: How to Bake Cakes from Scratch $18.95

The Cupcake Weekly #8

News Bites

Sprinkles' Cupcake ATM Coming to DC?!

I never disappoint my Cupcake Lovers and after posting to Facebook on Tuesday, March 12, 2012 that ‘the word on the street was…’ DC is getting a cupcake ATM, both the Washington Business Journal and The Washington Post confirmed the scuttlebutt rumor with Sprinkles’ spokespeople. Cupcake automats are slated to be in Gallery Place, Columbia Heights and U Street to name a few. But what say you Cupcake Lovers?

Happy Poultry Day!!

Photo courtesy of MyFoodLooksFunny.com

Today is 'Poultry Day' and although no one recognizes these ubiquitous food  holidays other than restaurants, food bloggers and foodies, I must thank the person who decided to top a cupcake with a chicken wing! What else would I have shown you all to celebrate? Ordinarily I would chock this off as a blatant case of cupcake abuse but c'mon, lighten up and eat the cake Anna Mae...it's poultry day!!  

*Disclaimer: In no way does the Critic approve , condone or endorse spousal or 80's rock star abuse. Despite referencing Mr. Turner, we side with Tina, not Ike. Just thought I'd clarify.*

New Additions to the Cupcake Vodka Family 

                                                        

Cupcake Vodka introduces two new flavors to their roster: Ginger Snap and Very Berry. Ginger snap is to have hints of cinnamon and clove while Very Berry denotes hints of raspberry and blueberry but both are described as clean, indulgent and velvety smooth. These flavors will be in addition to the existing four flavors: frosting, devil’s food, chiffon and original. I'm still getting word on which bars carry these flavors however, you can find the vodkas at your local liquor store. 

London Bus Stop Billboard Dispenses Cupcakes

Photo Courtesy of Advertising Age/ StarCom Ad Agency 

British baking icon, Kipling’s cakes, placed cake-dispensingbillboards in bus stops and train stations to promote their new ‘snack pack: cupcakes on the go’ with commuters.  The billboard is cupcake scented with a special cupcake spray to entice travelers to touch the billboard whereby a cupcake comes out.

Events

March 24th: Cocktails & Cupcakes

Inspired cocktails, decadent sweets, festive 

entertainment and the chance to win fabulous prizes. Individual tickets $40 each or $75 per couple. 

Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm 

Location: 1025 F. Street, NW, 10th Floor 

Click here for more info

March 24th: Makes Me Wanna Shout! Baking Contest

You and Celebrity Judges decide which Chocolate Layer Cakes go to the Final Five Round for a chance to win $500 for Best Chocolate Layer Cake $250 Gift Card to the King Arthur Flour Catalog  and the winning dessert on the Eatonville Restaurant menu and support the good work of Martha's Table. Tickets are $20

Time: 2:00PM-4:00 PM

Location: Martha's Table

2114 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20009

Click here for more info

Contests & Giveaways

Slatkin & Co. Frosted Cupcake Candle Giveaway

Photo courtesy of Bath & Body Works/ Limited Brands

 

This week’s March Madness giveaway is sponsored by Bath& Body Works! Four of my Facebook and Twitter friends will receive their very own Slatkin & Co. three-wick ‘Frosted Cupcake’ candle. Stay tuned for contest rules and Tuesday's product review. 

 

Got cupcake news, pics or event? Interested in advertising on the blog? Contact me! 

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Cupcake Vodka

Cupcake Vodka Anyone?

There’s a new vodka in town and it’s flavor infused with CUPCAKES! Complete with four sumptuous flavors: lemon chiffon, frosting, original and devils food! Check out the recipe below for a’Cupcake Cabana’ featuring the Lemon Chiffon vodka.

Ingredients2 oz Cupcake Chiffon Vodka
1 Med Sized Chunk of Pineapple
1.5 oz Passion Fruit Nectar
1 Small Chunk of Banana
Perrier® or Soda Water

Preparation
Muddle the banana and the pineapple in a mixing glass with the Cupcake Chiffon vodka. Add ice and the passion fruit nectar and shake vigorously. Strain into a Collins glass filled with ice. Top with Perrier® or soda water.

For more info visit: http://www.cupcakevodka.com/

*Originally Published September 2011