Adele Downs ~ Looking for a new treat to bake? Try Cupcakes with Zing!

CUPCAKES WITH ZING!

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Are you looking for a holiday baked goods recipe that’s different from the rest? Jamey Tucker and Heather Longhurst, the hero and heroine of SANTA TO THE RESCUE, decided to kick off the holidays with Margarita Cupcakes for the Appleton Fire Station firefighters. These decidedly untraditional, but delicious, cakes were such a holiday hit that Jamey and Heather decided to make them every year.

You and your family might enjoy these fun confections too. Here’s the recipe, courtesy of Sauza® Tequila. Posted with permission.



Margarita Cupcakes: 
Ingredients:
 2 sticks butter, softened
 2 cups granulated sugar
 4 large eggs, plus 1 large egg white as room temperature
 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
 2 ¾ cups all purpose flour
 2 ½ tsp. baking powder
 ½ tsp. baking soda
 1 tsp. salt
 ¾ cup plus 2 tbsp. whole milk
 2 tbsp. fresh lime juice
 ½ tsp. vanilla
 Zest of 3 limes

Ingredients for the frosting:
 1 stick butter, softened
 1 tsp. vanilla extract
 2 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
 2 tbsp. Sauza® Blue Reposado 100% Agave Tequila*
 1 tsp. salt
 2 tbsp. fresh lime juice AND zest of 2 limes

To Make:  Preheat your oven to 350° degrees. Line 2 cupcake pans with baking liners. Using an electric mixer, beat 2 sticks butter and the granulated sugar until creamy. Gradually beat in the eggs, egg white and oil. 

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a glass measuring cup, stir together the milk, 2 tbsp. lime juice and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract. Mix in one-third of the wet mixture to the butter mixture, then one-third of the dry mixture. Repeat until it is all combined, but do not over mix. Mix in the lime zest.

Fill each cupcake liner about three-quarters full with batter. (I like to use an ice cream scoop to fill the cups). Bake 25 minutes or until the cupcakes spring back when gently poked. Let cool completely before icing.

While the cupcakes cool, make the icing. With an electric mixer, beat the remaining 1 stick butter until creamy. Beat in 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, 2 tbsp. Sauza® Blue Reposado, 2 tbsp. lime juice, ½ teaspoon vanilla, and lime peel and 1 teaspoon salt until smooth and creamy. Beat in the remaining 1 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar one-third at a time until just soft enough to spread. 
Spread the frosting on the cooled cupcakes. Be creative: top each cupcake with a piece of lime zest or sprinkle with sanding sugar, or put a wedge or round of lime or a lime wedge candy on top. If you want you can add a drop of green food coloring to the frosting, too. For more Sauza® Tequila recipes, visit http://us.sauzatequila.com/

SANTA TO THE RESCUE by Adele Downs

A sweet firefighter contemporary romance novella

New Release! From Entangled Publishing

Summary: Firefighter Jamey Tucker knows three things in life to be true: An honorable man doesn’t go back on his word, a real man never hurts a woman, and lasting love isn’t a myth. He keeps that last part to himself, because he’d rather cut his heart out than admit he’ll be alone at Christmas.
When Jamey meets beautiful pediatric nurse Heather Longhurst after hearing her sing Santa Baby in a supermarket aisle, he makes her a promise he later discovers he can’t keep. Determined to find a way to make amends, Jamey uses firefighter engine-uity and Heather’s favorite song to prove he’s got Christmas spirit she can believe in all year.

Only .99! Amazon Kindle Buy Link:  http://www.amazon.com/Santa-Rescue-Entangled-Flirts-ebook/dp/B00G1IM260

Only .99! B&N Nook Buy Link:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/santa-to-the-rescue-adele-downs/1117194515?ean=9781622663811

About Adele Downs: Adele Downs writes contemporary romance inside the office of her rural Pennsylvania home. She is a former journalist, published in newspapers and magazines inside the USA, UK, and Caribbean.

Adele is an active member of Romance Writers of America and her local RWA chapter where she serves as past-president. She has written several articles for RWR magazine (Romance Writers Report), the trade journal of Romance Writers of America, and has presented workshops for writers. When she isn’t working on her current project, she can be found riding in her convertible or reading a book on the nearest beach. 

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