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White Russian Cupcakes with Vodka Buttercream Icing

White Russian cupcakes with vodka buttercream icing are not something to serve at your 5th grader’s birthday party! These are strictly for adults only!

White Russian Cupcakes in a Row

I first saw this white Russian cupcake recipe after we’d visited Cambridge University in England. I was surprised to find it in one of the university’s booklets we had picked up and brought home.

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text box with quote: Favourite "This is my new favourite cupcake. Amazing texture and flavour!"-Chin

White Russian Cupcakes with Vodka buttercream frosting

Since I had pulled the page out and kept it in my recipe book, I have no idea who to credit for the original recipe since there are hundreds of similar recipes online. However, I didn’t like the cake recipe so I changed it completely, and it’s now my own version.

You may like to look at this buttermilk chocolate cupcake recipe before making these cupcakes as I give a tutorial on decorating/piping.

Chocolate Buttermilk Cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

I hope that it is obvious, but I am still going to say: these are not a good idea for children, or any child’s birthday party, or event.

My sticky toffee pudding has a nice kick to the sticky toffee sauce, too!

sticky toffee pudding in a bowl with cream

There is alcohol in the icing and it is not cooked out, so these are perfect for a 21st birthday party, or any other occasion where adults are celebrating.

White Russian Cupcakes with Vodka Buttercream Icing

White Russian cupcakes with vodka buttercream icing won’t taste nearly as good if you use lower quality ingredients! Thanks to Heilala Vanilla for sending me a sample of their lovely vanilla bean powder. 

White Russian Cupcakes with
Vodka Buttercream Icing

makes 24 cupcakes

Make the White Russian Cupcakes

Prepare cupcake tins with paper liners. Preheat oven to 350º F (175º C)

Place the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl; set aside.

In a large bowl (preferably in a stand mixer), cream the butter and sugar, slowly for 2 minutes. Increase to high and beat for another 4 minutes, or until light and fluffy, scraping the bowl occasionally. Add the 2 of the eggs, one at a time, clearing after each addition, then add half of the flour mixture, scraping the sides with a spatula if needed.

mixing White Russian cupcakes

Add half of the buttermilk and mix well, then add another egg. Continue to mix; then add the remaining milk, egg, vanilla, vodka, Kahlua and flour. Scrape the bowl with a spatula at least once, and turn off once combined.

Fill the cupcake liners half full with the batter and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean when placed in the center of a cupcake. Place on cooling rack and allow to cool completely.

Kerrygold butter icing

Make the Vodka Buttercream Icing

Beat all the ingredients until smooth.

When the cupcakes are cool, cut the tops off if they are too tall. (Optional: sprinkle a little Kahlua over each cupcake for an added kick!) You can pipe the icing on the cupcakes or just spread it on, either way tastes just as delicious!

White Russian cupcakes with Vodka buttercream icing

I gave some of these white Russian cupcakes with vodka buttercream icing to a friend. They were packaged in a pretty box, which makes a beautiful presentation. Just tie some ribbon to add some detail and it’s a marvelous way to brighten someone’s day (and/or give them a good night’s sleep)!

White Russian Cupcakes with Vodka buttercream in a box

White Russian Cupcake with Rose

Who knows when I would have discovered these lovely White Russian cupcakes, if it wasn’t for the lovely city of Cambridge?

Photo courtesy of Denisa Wartinbee CAMBRIDGE

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White Russian Cupcakes with Vodka Buttercream Icing

White Russian Cupcakes with Vodka Buttercream Icing

Servings: 24 cupcakes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
A boozy cupcake version of the famous White Russian cocktail!
4.7 from 137 votes

Ingredients

  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 ¾ cups sugar
  • 3 cups flour (good quality)
  • ½ cup buttermilk at room temperature
  • ¼ cup vodka
  • ¼ cup Kahlua or coffee liqueur
  • 1 Tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp vanilla powder like Heilala or 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup unsalted butter good quality at room temperature
  • 4 large eggs (range-free, preferably) at room temperature

ICING:

  • 4 oz butter good quality, at room temperature
  • 4 cups confectioner’s sugar (powdered sugar)
  • ¼ cup vodka (good quality vodka makes a difference)
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp milk if too stiff, to make a smoother consistency

Instructions

  • Prepare cupcake tins with paper liners. Preheat oven to 350º F (175º C)
  • Place the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl; set aside.
  • In a large bowl (preferably in a stand mixer), cream the butter and sugar, slowly for 2 minutes. Increase to high and beat for another 4 minutes, or until light and fluffy, scraping the bowl occasionally. Add the 2 of the eggs, one at a time, clearing after each addition, then add half of the flour mixture, scraping the sides with a spatula if needed.
  • Add half of the buttermilk and mix well, then add another egg. Continue to mix; then add the remaining milk, egg, vanilla, vodka, Kahlua and flour. Scrape the bowl with a spatula at least once, and turn off once combined.
  • Fill the cupcake liners half full with the batter and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean when placed in the center of a cupcake. Place on cooling rack and allow to cool completely.
  • Meanwhile, make the icing, by beating all the ingredients until smooth. When the cupcakes are cool, cut the tops off if they are too tall.

Notes

  • Optional: sprinkle a little Kahlua over each cupcake for an added kick!)
  • You can pipe the icing on the cupcakes or just spread it on, either way tastes just as delicious!

Nutrition

Serving: 1 cupcake | Calories: 328kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 151mg | Potassium: 40mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 408IU | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 1mg

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4.74 from 137 votes (137 ratings without comment)

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108 Comments

  1. I just made these for my husbands birthday The recipe went against all I know about baking, taking specific baking classes by expert bakers, even a cupcake class. Beating the mixture for 2 minutes as the final step specifically seemed like it would make for a tough cupcake as it would be over mixed, but I followed the directions as stated. They are just out of the over and low and behold, it’s a tough, chewy, slightly dry cupcake. The flavor is good though. Just might try changing the way you add ingredients and the last mixing step.

    Thanks for the recipe though. I am making the icing in the morning. I plan on using pinnacle whipped vodka.

    1. Hi Shay, thanks for the feedback. I haven’t made these in awhile, so I wonder if the baking time is off to make them a bit dry as clearly, these should not be dry. I made a couple of edits in the meantime, but will make them soon and update as needed. Thank you and happy birthday to your husband!

    2. I was also wondering about the resulting texture as I was reading and coping the recipe. Thanks for sharing, so others won’t fail! I will adjust the procedure. Thanks again, so much!

    3. I didn’t see tat you mixed the batter tor two minutes after adding the dry ingredients and milk, but rather beating it two minutes when creaming the butter and sugar. Could you have misread the recipe?