What is a Tequila Sunrise cocktail?

A Tequila Sunrise is a classic cocktail made with tequila, fresh orange juice, and grenadine. The grenadine, which is heavier than the orange juice, sinks to the bottom of the glass and creates a beautiful gradient from deep red at the bottom through orange to pale orange at the top that resembles a sunrise. These cupcakes recreate that exact flavor combination and visual gradient in frosting form.

Can I make the frosting without shortening and use all butter?

Yes. Using all butter produces a slightly softer and less stable frosting that may not hold its piped swirl shape at room temperature as well as the butter-shortening combination. If using all butter, keep the frosted cupcakes refrigerated until just before serving to maintain the most beautiful and distinct swirled shape.

Can I make these cupcakes without any alcohol?

Yes. Replace the 2 tablespoons of tequila in the batter with an equal quantity of additional orange juice. Replace the 1 tablespoon of tequila in the frosting with an additional teaspoon of orange juice. The cupcakes retain all the orange and grenadine flavors of the Tequila Sunrise cocktail inspiration without any alcohol content.

Tequila Sunrise Cupcakes Easy Fruity Cocktail Dessert Recipe

Name: Tequila Sunrise Cupcakes The Most Festive Fruity Cocktail Cupcake You Will Ever Bake
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: PT-497458H18M44S
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6 tbsp Unsalted Butter room temperature; 3/4 cup Granulated Sugar; 6 tbsp Full-Fat Sour Cream; 1/4 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract; 1/2 tbsp Fresh Orange Zest finely grated; 3 large Egg Whites; 1 1/4 cups All-Purpose Flour; 2 tsp Baking Powder; 1/2 tsp Salt; 1/4 cup Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice; 2 tbsp Tequila; 2 tbsp Whole Milk; 3/4 cup Salted Butter room temperature for frosting; 1/2 cup Vegetable Shortening; 5 cups Powdered Sugar; 1 tbsp Tequila for frosting; 1 tsp Fresh Orange Zest for frosting; 2 tsp Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice for frosting; 5 tsp Grenadine; Orange gel food coloring optional; 12 to 14 Maraschino Cherries and Orange Slices for garnish

Description

The most festive and fruity Tequila Sunrise Cupcakes made with a tender sour cream cupcake batter with fresh orange zest orange juice and tequila topped with an orange and grenadine swirled buttercream that recreates the iconic cocktail gradient in the most beautiful and individual celebration cupcake format. A completely extraordinary adult cocktail-inspired Cinco de Mayo cupcake recipe.

Ingredients

Scale

6 tbsp Unsalted Butter room temperature

3/4 cup Granulated Sugar

6 tbsp Full-Fat Sour Cream

1/4 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

1/2 tbsp Fresh Orange Zest finely grated

3 large Egg Whites

1 1/4 cups All-Purpose Flour

2 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Salt

1/4 cup Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

2 tbsp Tequila

2 tbsp Whole Milk

3/4 cup Salted Butter room temperature for frosting

1/2 cup Vegetable Shortening

5 cups Powdered Sugar

1 tbsp Tequila for frosting

1 tsp Fresh Orange Zest for frosting

2 tsp Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice for frosting

5 tsp Grenadine

Orange gel food coloring optional

12 to 14 Maraschino Cherries and Orange Slices for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line muffin pan with cupcake liners.

2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Add sour cream, vanilla, and orange zest. Beat until combined.

4. Add egg whites one at a time beating after each.

5. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. Combine orange juice, tequila, and milk in separate bowl.

6. Alternate adding dry and orange juice mixture to batter beginning and ending with dry.

7. Fill liners 2/3 full. Bake 14 to 15 minutes until toothpick clean.

8. Cool in pan 5 minutes. Transfer to rack. Cool completely.

9. Beat butter and shortening smooth for frosting. Add powdered sugar, tequila, orange zest, and orange juice. Beat medium until fluffy.

10. Tint majority of frosting with orange food coloring.

11. Fill piping bag with orange frosting. Add grenadine to bag tip just before piping.

12. Pipe swirl onto each cooled cupcake. Grenadine creates sunrise gradient from base.

13. Garnish each with a maraschino cherry and orange slice quarter.

Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Dessert, Cupcakes
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cupcake
Calories: 446
Sugar: 47g
Sodium: 183mg
Fat: 23g
Saturated Fat: 12g
Unsaturated Fat: 9g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 59g
Fiber: 0g
Protein: 3g
Cholesterol: 41mg

Keywords: tequila sunrise cupcakes, cocktail cupcakes recipe, tequila sunrise cupcake recipe with grenadine frosting, Cinco de Mayo adult cupcakes