NYE 2015 Champagne Cupcakes

Even though we moved and no longer have our fantastic roof deck, we decided we still wanted to throw a New Years Eve party. I'll do a separate post on the party and decorations, but wanted to share the updated cupcake recipe. Last year I made champagne cupcakes with champagne butter cream, and they were so good, I decided to make them again. However, this year I updated them a bit to improve the butter cream and went with the mini version because it's adorable. These are such fluffy cupcakes and perfect for any celebration. Enjoy!

Sparkly dress from Rent the Runway

Champagne Cupcakes

1 box white cake mix

1 ¼ cups champagne

3 egg whites

1/3 cup vegetable oil

Heat oven to 350. Place foil baking cups in 24 mini muffin cups.

Mix dry cake mix and champagne in mixer. Add oil and egg whites. Mix on medium speed until batter is smooth. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full.

Bake 20-22 minutes. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.

Champagne Butter Cream

½ cup room temperature butter

¼ shortening (Crisco)

4 cups powdered sugar (more if the butter cream seems too liquid)

1/3 cup champagne

1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix room temperature butter, shortening, champagne and vanilla in mixer at low speed. Sift powdered sugar into mixer cup by cup allowing to mix thoroughly in between.

Once the cupcakes have cooled, pipe the butter cream onto the cupcakes and add desired garnish. I used these little pearl candies I got from AC Moore (craft store) because I thought they looked like champagne bubbles! 

Happy New Year!

xo

Alison

Christmas 2014

Christmas was fantastic this year. It was our second year with our little family traditions and everything was so special. 

We spent Christmas eve with Kyle's family, and they were kind enough to let us host! It was great to have them up for Christmas eve dinner and gifts. We started out the evening exchanging gifts with our secret santas. We now do this with both families which is great. You are able to save a bit of money while still getting something meaningful. For dinner I made a slow roasted pork roast with this dry rub, brown sugar and green beans, and smashed potatoes.  Everything turned out really well. The dry rub recipe was more than enough for a single dinner so I will be making this one again. 

After dinner, we took a walk around the city to see the Christmas lights. There is a street a block from our house that goes bananas with the lights. It was a very festive way to end a wonderful night.

Once everyone had headed home, Kyle and I opened our 'Christmas Eve PJs'. A silly tradition probably better suited for people with children, but whatever. We like it. This year we got onesies.

Pierce does not enjoy picture time

Christmas morning we had a Sunday Brunch Casserole, mimosas and coffee while opening our stockings and gifts to one another. Kyle, er Santa was very good to me this year. 

Around lunchtime we headed down to my parents house for Christmas dinner and gifts. Zoe was itching to open her stocking and all of the gifts, but she used all of her 7 year old patience and waited for us. First we opened gifts and stockings. We all watch Zoe open all of hers and then take turns for the rest of us. 

Leveraging our new phone camera remote!

Before dinner we headed over to Longwood Gardens to see their light display. It is always stunning and I highly recommend it if you've never been.

Christmas Dinner was fantastic. My dad is an amazing chef and he always cooks up something fabulous. Everyone decided that a slumber party was in order and we settle in the living room for a family viewing of my dad's favorite movie: Love Actually!

For Zoe this year we gave her tickets to see Frozen on Ice. She LOVED it and we had so much fun taking her.

We didn't have too much time to relax after the hectic Christmas holiday before we were preparing for the next. Up next: New Years Eve!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday!
xo
Alison