Manhattan Cupcakes {with Tullamore D.E.W.}

Rich and moist, these Tullamore D.E.W. whiskey-infused cupcakes are topped with buttercream that tastes just like a Manhattan cocktail...A great after dinner treat on these cold, late winter nights.  Whether or not you're a lover of the cocktail, I can guarantee you will love these very "grown up" cupcakes!

The Manhattan cocktail was first introduced in (where else?) Manhattan.  Legend has the cocktail created around 1870, so it really is one of the very first cocktails, and a true American tradition.  It was a cocktail that used the whiskey of its time, Rye (Canadian Whiskey), which is a blended whiskey with a large portion of corn spirits.  

The "classic" Manhattan cocktail is a simple 2:1 ratio of whiskey to Italian vermouth, with a few dashes of Angostura bitters.  These cupcakes are based on that classic ratio of whiskey to vermouth.  Bitters were added as well.   Why fiddle with a good thing...Right?  

I used Tullamore D.E.W. in my cupcakes because it has become my whiskey of choice in all thing baked or "cocktailed."   You will find Tullamore D.E.W. smooth and full of flavor -- a great addition to boozy baked things, with a finish of warm caramel.  I'm not much of a straight up kind of cocktail girl, but I'm learning to enjoy a Manhattan every now and then.  An easy cocktail to order, and very grown up, too! 

Give these cupcakes a try...They are an easy slide into the classic Manhattan cocktail.  And, you just might have found a new and uniquely American cocktail to enjoy at your next happy hour!

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Old-Fashioned Snickerdoodles

Big, moist centers, crispy-cinnamony outside. 

Warms the heart and brings back many happy memories...

These cookies are everything you want your snickerdoodle to be, trust me.  This recipe is based on two sources: The Boozy Baker and From Amish and Mennonite Kitchens.  I tweaked both recipes to develop this one as I wanted a really BIG cookie with lots of flavor, a nice rise and a super soft interior.  Give these a try and you won't be disappointed. 

So, what's in a name...

First, the drink...The Old-Fashioned is a cocktail made by muddling dissolved sugar with bitters, then adding whiskey or bourbon and a twist of citrus rind. It is traditionally served in a short, round, tumbler glass.

Second, the cookie...The snickerdoodle is one of the oldest American cookies known.  Snickerdoodles have a cracked surface and can be crisp or soft depending on your preference. Today, the leavening agent is typically baking powder (a combination of cream of tartar and baking soda).  In the old days, the traditional leavening agents were baking soda and cream of tartar.  I use all three. 

Third, the origin...According to The Joy of Cooking (the culinary bible for most...), it states that snickerdoodles probably are German in origin, and that the name is a variant of the German word Schneckennudeln ("snail noodles"), a German pastry.

Can you see the orange zest?  Can you smell the cinnamon? 

Yeah, trust me, these cookies are THAT good!

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