Ultimate Gin and Tonic Cupcakes Recipe
These sophisticated Gin and Tonic Cupcakes capture the crisp, botanical essence of the classic highball in a light and airy dessert form. Each lime-scented sponge is soaked in a signature gin reduction and crowned with a velvet-smooth lime and tonic buttercream.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Bake
- 20 min
- Serves
- 12
- Level
- Intermediate
- Per serving
- 385 kcal
Method
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper liners.
In a large bowl, cream together 170g of butter and the caster sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, adding a tablespoon of flour with the last egg to prevent curdling.
Gently fold in the remaining self-raising flour and half of the lime zest. Stir in 2 tablespoons of gin and 2 tablespoons of tonic water until just combined.
Divide the batter evenly between the liners and bake for 18-20 minutes until the sponges are springy to the touch and a skewer comes out clean.
While the cupcakes bake, prepare the syrup by mixing 2 tablespoons of gin with 1 tablespoon of caster sugar and 1 tablespoon of tonic water in a small bowl.
Once the cupcakes are removed from the oven, prick the tops several times with a toothpick and brush the gin syrup over the warm cakes. Let them cool completely on a wire rack.
For the frosting, beat the remaining butter until smooth, then gradually sift in the icing sugar. Add the lime juice, the rest of the lime zest, and 1 tablespoon of gin. Beat on high until the frosting is stiff and aerated.
Pipe the buttercream onto the cooled cupcakes and garnish with a thin slice of lime or a dusting of zest.
Notes from the kitchen
Use a high-quality London Dry Gin with strong botanical notes to ensure the flavor carries through the baking process.
Ensure your butter and eggs are at room temperature to prevent the batter from splitting.
Don't over-soak the cupcakes; brush the syrup on lightly to maintain the structure of the sponge.
Add a drop of green food coloring to the frosting for a more vibrant, citrusy appearance.
