champagne Archives - Wood & Spoon

Champagne and Strawberries Cake

I recently saw this quote on Instagram that said “Women don’t want flowers for Valentine’s Day. They want sushi, a fun face mask, control over the tv, and for someone else to put the kids to bed. It’s me. I’m women.” I laughed, because, in a way, it’s totally true.

Most of the women I know (particularly Moms) do in fact want to be on the receiving end of thoughtfulness and recognition on Valentine’s Day, but most of us are starved for things much more valuable (but less expensive!) than a few dozen roses. We want our favorite meal, some personal space, and the ability to do exactly what we want to do when we want to do it. We want to watch our favorite show without flipping back to “the game” or without someone asking them to get them a cup of water. For those of us whose lives are run by school schedules and bedtimes, ever at the mercy of someone else’s fever or teething pain, we just want ~~a day~~ a few minutes that are exclusively ours to do exactly as we please.

Oh, and flowers. We also want flowers. Is this too much to ask?

Because it’s been a while since we did a “favorites” round-up on this site, I thought I’d share a few things that I’ve been loving lately. It’s definitely too late to pass on as a last-minute hint to your special someone, but there’s no time like the present to treat yourself. Take a look at some of my current faves, and who knows! Maybe they’ll be one of your faves soon too!

A Few Favorites:

“Cravings: Hungry for More.”

First up is Chrissy Teigan’s second cookbook. Is the book a few years old already? Yep. But is it currently $12 on Amazon and worth all that and then some? Absolutely. This cookbook is one of my favorites time and time again. Not only is she hysterical, but the food is delicious and rarely that difficult. If you’re a home cook with a hankering for American meets Thai food, this will be your jam.

Tata Harper Skincare.

Does anyone else’s skin freak out in the winter? (Cue everyone raising their hands.) Yep, me too. I’ve been totally digging Tata Harper skincare lately, and because they just started selling discovery kits, you can try it out too! Tata’s products are clean with better-for-you and natural ingredients that actually work. I’m obsessed.

Tonic and Rye Cocktails.

At our most recent trip to Blackberry Farm, my favorite cocktail was their tonic and rye, a citrusy and refreshing spin on this winter bourbon drink. I’ve made an embarrassing amount of these at home since finding the recipe online, and now you can too!

Fun Mom Hat.

Anyone else love that scene in “Mean Girls” where Regina George’s mom says, “I’m not a regular mom. I’m a cool mom!” Well, this hat feels like the updated version of that. My kids can barely read, but you can bet they know what this hat reads because, well… I’ve reminded them like a million times. This hat is comfortable and comes in all sorts of colors too!

Lake PJs.

At the end of last year, I did the very adult thing of investing in pajama sets. Truly, the only person I know that wears matching pjs all the time is my Nana (and she happens to be the coolest!), so I’m considering this a very stylish and put together decision. I love all the Lake pajamas for their thick and soft cotton, and this newest floral print is adorable.

Williams-Sonoma Goldtouch Pro Pans.

Goldtouch pans from WS were one of the first things on my wedding registry, and I’ve been loving them ever since. That is, until now, because now there’s goldtouch PRO, and obviously I need that in my life. I whole-heartedly recommend these (Especially their half-sheet, quarter sheet, cooling racks, and muffin tins!) for all things baking!

Champagne and Strawberries Cake

So true, you may not get any of the above favorites in time for Valentine’s Day, but I do have one additional happy for you today: champagne and strawberries cake! It’s pink, lightly sweetened, and even mini in size for our stay-at-home 2021 Valentine weirdness, and the flavoring feels just right for February 14th, doesn’t it? Champagne and strawberries always feels like a romantic and festive combo in my mind, and in this cake, it works like a dream. Here, champagne-scented cake layers are baked soft and fluffy into two 6″ layers. A champagne simple syrup is added later for extra flavor and moisture.

The frosting here, though, really is the star. Fresh strawberries and pureed, cooked down, and combined with a smidge of powdered sugar and butter. The end-product American buttercream truly tastes like strawberry ice cream, and that is in no way disappointing. The cake layers come together with a thick slather of buttercream, and then you’re free to decorate as desired!

To add words to this champagne and strawberries cake, I printed a text template in a word document that was sized to fit on the 6″ cake. After chilling the cake thoroughly, I gently centered the paper on the cake and used a toothpick to lightly trace the text, indenting in through to the cake. I went back over my light trace with the toothpick a second time and then piped the text on using a number 5 piping tip. Voila! My piping skills are not great, so I was thrilled to figure out a way to get some pretty writing on this pretty little cake.

Happy Friday and happy Valentine’s Day to you! I hope you get EXACTLY what you want this Sunday, and moreso than that, I hope you feel really loved by someone special in your life- a spouse, a child, a friend, a parent, whoever. Enjoy this champagne and strawberries cake and HAPPY BAKING!

If you like this champagne and strawberries cake you should try:

Raspberry Champagne Pop-Tarts
Champagne Elderflower Cupcakes
Champagne Popsicles
Strawberry Rhubarb Cake

Champagne and Strawberries Cake

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.3 from 3 reviews

This champagne and strawberries cake features fluffy champagne cake layers, a champagne syrup soak, and a real strawberry American buttercream!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 30
Cook Time: 30
Total Time: 120
Yield: 4-6 servings
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

For the cake:

2 large eggs, at room temperature
¾ cup (150 gm) granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
½ cup (120 gm) vegetable oil
1–1/2 cups (190 gm) cake flour
1–1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
½ cup (120 gm) champagne or sparkling wine

For the buttercream:

1–1/2 cups (200 gm) fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
1 cup (230 gm) unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

For the syrup:

1 cup (240 gm) champagne or sparkling wine
¼ cup (50 gm) granulated sugar

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Instructions

To make the cake:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease 2- 6” pans. Line the bottom with a round of parchment paper.
In a large bowl or the bowl of the stand mixer, beat to combine the eggs, sugar, and vanilla on medium speed for one minute. Add in the oil and beat to combine again. Add in half of the flour as well as the baking powder and salt. Stir on low to combine and add in half of the champagne. Stir and repeat this process with the remaining flour and champagne. Scrape the sides of the bowl and stir in any unincorporated bits. Divide the batter between the two pans and then bake in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes, or just until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from oven and set aside to cool completely. In the meantime, prep the buttercream and syrup.

To make the buttercream:

Use a blender or food processor to puree the berries. Add them to a small saucepan and cook down on low heat, stirring regularly, until halved down to ¼ cup total mixture. Set aside in a heat-safe container to cool in the fridge. When ready to frost the cake, cream the butter in a stand mixer set to medium speed for 4 minutes until pale. Add the powdered sugar, ¼ cup of the strawberry mixture, the vanilla, and salt. Stir to combine. Add in water, milk or cream 1 tablespoon at a time to get the mixture to the appropriate consistency.

To make the syrup:

Bring the champagne to a boil in small saucepan, reduce heat to low, add in the sugar, and cook for an additional 5 minutes to dissolve the sugar. Set aside in a heat-safe container to cool completely. You won’t use all the syrup.

To assemble the cake:

Trim the domes off of the cakes using a serrated knife. Use a pastry brush to paint the cake tops with the cooled syrup. Spoon a bit of frosting onto a 6” cake board or plate and place your first cake layer on the center. Spread a thick layer of frosting on top of this first layer and place the second layer on top. Spread the frosting all over and decorate as desired. Cake is best eaten within two days of making and should be stored covered at room temperature.

Champagne Cocktail Popsicles

9 Comments / Food and Drink

I think it’s a cruel joke that drinking alcohol is not allowed when you’re pregnant. Imagine being 25 pounds heavier than normal in the dead of summer. Imagine there’s two other kids at home who dominate you day and night because they know your 9 month pregnant self is too tired to chase after them. At that moment, don’t you really deserve a cocktail? Wouldn’t you really want something that would cool down and refresh that tired, center-heavy body of yours? The answer is an obvious and resounding YES, so in my late pregnancy, in the heat of my cocktail craving days, I started working on the recipes for the 3 varieties of champagne cocktail popsicles that you’ll read about today. It’s a summertime treat that everyone, Mamas especially, are deserving of, and I think you’re really going to like them.

Champagne Popsicles

First up is a mimosa popsicle. Made with fresh orange juice, sparkling wine, and just a smidge of simple syrup, this is the push-pop your brunches have been waiting for. I love a classic mimosa as much as anyone, but a mimosa popsicle? That’s something to write home about. The second option is a bellini pop! Fresh peach wedges are pureed and stirred with champagne and a teeny bit of syrup to create a seriously fruity popsicle that is altogether summery. I found I enjoyed this one the most, particularly since peach season is showing out in all it’s glory right now. You can use frozen peaches here, but this is also a great way to use up peaches on the verge of going bad. Finally, we have a strawberry lime champagne popsicle. Pureed berries, simple syrup, a squeeze of lime juice, and bubbles round out the list of ingredients for these pops. They’re a crowd pleaser, and you can easily include a little bit of lime zest for extra citrus flavor.

What You’ll Need

While traditional popsicle molds work fine here, I really encourage you to consider grabbing some of these disposable plastic push-pop bags. They’re super inexpensive (I found mine on Amazon!) and make the perfect portion size for these champagne cocktail popsicles. Keep in mind that alcohol does not freeze; these will melt faster than your average pop! If you opt to not use plastic sleeves, consider serving small popsicles in a glass with a tiny pour of champagne at the bottom. I saw something similar here and think it would make for a cute beach or brunch cocktail to serve.

These champagne cocktail popsicles are indeed boozy; feel free to add a bit more fruit if you prefer a more subtle wine flavor. No need to splurge on any expensive booze here- just something inexpensive that you wouldn’t mind drinking a small bit of. Either way, be sure to stay cool with these grown-up popsicle cocktails (poptails?) and let me know what you think! Happy Monday and Happy Drinking!

Champagne Cocktail Popsicles

Print Recipe

These champagne cocktail popsicles come in three push-pop flavors: Bellini, mimosa, and strawberry lime!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 5
Total Time: 240
Yield: 4
Category: Dessert/ Cocktail

Ingredients

For Mimosa:

1 cup orange juice
½ cup sparkling wine
1 ounce simple syrup, optional

For Bellini:

1–1/3 cups chopped peaches
½ cup sparkling wine
2 ounces simple syrup

For Strawberry Lime:

1–1/3 cups chopped strawberries
½ cup sparkling wine
Juice of one lime
2 ounces simple syrup

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Instructions

For the Mimosa:

Combine the orange juice and sparkling water in a large measuring cup. Taste the mixture and add simple syrup if you desire the pops to be sweeter. Divide the mixture via funnel into 4 disposable plastic push-pop tubes. Freeze until solid!

For the Bellini:

Combine the chopped peaches, sparkling wine, and syrup in a blender and process just until the peaches have been pureed and the mixture is smooth. The mixture will bubble slightly. Allow some of the bubbles to subside, re-stir the mixture, and then divide is among 4 disposable plastic push-pop tubes. Seal and freeze until solid.

For the Strawberry Lime:

Combine the chopped strawberries, sparkling wine, lime juice, and syrup in a blender and process just until the strawberries have been pureed and the mixture is smooth. The mixture will bubble slightly. Allow some of the bubbles to subside, re-stir the mixture, and then divide is among 4 disposable plastic push-pop tubes. Seal and freeze until solid.

Citrus Shortbread Cookies

6 Comments / Cookies and Bars

Happy Almost-New Year’s Eve from one greasy human who has lived in a bathrobe and Ugg slippers for the past few days. I have intentionally unplugged from the interwebs and social media this last week in an effort to fully embrace all that comes with this time of year, and can I just say that it feels kinda good? Although I’ve resolved to dig in hard after the new year to bring you loads of goodies I’m going to keep my online banter on mute for now and simply settle into these last few days of December.

Citrus Shortbread Cookies

To keep your sweet tooth satiated for the next few days, I have these citrus shortbread cookies to share with you. It took a few batches to get the sweet to zesty ratio just right but I kinda love the outcome. These cookies are intensely buttery, yet somehow still refreshing. Coated with a simple sugary glaze and edible glitter sprinkles, these cookies are the perfect accompaniment for your glasses of bubbly and midnight kisses this coming New Year’s Eve.

Making the Cookies

To make these citrus shortbread cookies, cream together butter, citrus zest, and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer until smooth. I prefer lemon here but orange and lime (or a combo of all three!) would work splendidly. Add flour, salt, and vanilla and stir until the mixture comes together into a dry dough. I found that when using a hand mixer that the dough didn’t really pack together the way I wanted, so if you have a stand mixer, use it here. Work the dough into a ball and flatten it into a round disk to chill in the fridge.

Baking the Cookies

Once you’re ready to bake your citrus shortbread cookies, roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface and use round cookie cutters to cut out cookies. Here’s where you have a few options: for intensely buttery, semi-crisp cookies, roll the dough out thin, about ¼” thick. These will bake up golden brown and literally melt in your mouth. Otherwise, stick with the traditional thick shortbread at ½” thick for soft, crumbly butter cookies. Both taste delicious, but while I prefer the look of thicker cookies, I definitely favor the taste and texture of the thin ones. Bake in the oven for a few minutes and allow them to cool before topping with a glaze.

Glazing the Cookies

I used citrus juice (lemon is my choice!) for the glaze on half of these cookies and champagne for the remaining. You don’t really catch the flavor of the champagne, but it definitely adds a little something different as opposed to more tart citrus flavor. I like to keep mini bottles of sparkling wine on hand for projects like this, but if you’d prefer to use up the juice from the citrus you zested that totally works too. Your call.

For color, I used a tiny bit of red and peach food coloring to make a pink glaze, and I topped the whole thing off with edible glitter and stars. Aimee totally flipped when she saw these- maybe her favorite treat of 2018. She thought they were incredibly special, and I have to agree that the edible dust certainly works overtime on these otherwise simply cookies. You can pick some up at a craft store or purchase on Amazon like I did.

I hope you enjoy these citrus shortbread cookies and have the best time celebrating next week. On behalf of my family, this site, and myself, I want you to know what a joy you all have made this space in 2018. I’m so happy to have a home here because of you all and the love we share for butter and sugar. Many blessings, love, and cookies to you in the coming year.

If you like these citrus shortbread cookies you should try:

Lemon Blueberry Bars

Marbled Sugar Cookies

Soft-Frosted Sugar Cookies

Lemon Lavender Cookies

Citrus Shortbread Cookies

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

These citrus shortbread cookies are sweet and buttery cookies with zesty citrus and a lemony/champagne glaze!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 10
Cook Time: 25
Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 20-40
Category: dessert

Ingredients

For the cookies:

1–1/2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons citrus zest (I prefer lemon or lime)
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (vanilla extract will also work)
3–1/2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt

For the glaze:

2 cups powdered sugar
3+ tablespoons lemon juice or champagne

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Instructions

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, and citrus zest just until combined, about 45 seconds. Add the vanilla, flour, and salt and beat on low speed until the dough starts to come together. You may have to get in there with your hands to pack it together into a dough. Work the dough into a flat, round disk and wrap it in plastic wrap. Allow it to chill in the fridge for 30 minutes while you preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
When you’re ready to bake, line two cookie sheets with parchment paper and lightly flour a work surface and rolling pin. Roll the dough out ½” thick (for softer shortbread cookies) or ¼” thick (for crispier cookies). Use 2” round cookie cutters to cut out pieces of dough and place them 2” apart on the cookie sheets. Bake in the oven until the edges turn golden, about 15 minutes for thin cookies or 22-24 minutes for thicker cookies. The browner they get, the crisiper, but don’t let them bake too long! Allow to cool completely while you prepare your glaze. Simply stir together the powdered sugar and champagne or lemon juice. You want it thick enough to where it will stay on the cookie but thin enough so that the icing isn’t glooped on there. Add food coloring and sprinkles as desired! Allow to set prior to serving.

Adapted from Ina Garten

Raspberry Champagne Pop-Tarts

11 Comments / Pies and Tarts

Raspberry Champagne Pop-Tart by Wood and Spoon Blog. These are simple homemade hand pies made with a raspberry champagne jam and a simple champagne glaze icing. Homemade pie dough makes little crimped round tarts that are filled with the simple cornstarch thickened jam. When cool, the desserts are topped with a frosting to sweeten the treats. Find the recipe and how to on thewoodandspoon.com by Kate Wood.

Do you ever wonder how you wound up where you are in life- the events and people and moments that have made you who you are today?

I went to college at Samford University in Birmingham, AL, and the four years I spent there were primarily focused on the tight-knit group of friends that I became apart of. There were best friends, a few who dated, sisters and brothers, and the relationships that formed in the midnights and bags of popcorn we shared somehow became deeply woven into who I was, who I am even today.

In the years that have passed since graduation, some things have changed. There’s been marriage and children, brokenness and death. People have lost touch and moved away. But despite all the change and years that separate us from our 22-year-old selves, there’s still this unmistakable bond, a realness and connection that is so tangible and electrifying that I think you could feel it if you witnessed us together even just for a second. Truly, it’s a remarkable something unlike anything I’ve ever known.

We gathered together, all of us friends with our spouses and children, at the lake this past weekend. During that time, we told the same jokes and played the same games. We shared meals together and held each other’s babies. We talked about how things used to be and made plans for the future, and for a few days, we were entirely different yet somehow exactly the same.

“We were entirely different yet somehow exactly the same.”

In the quieter moments of the weekend, I caught myself wondering what would be the sum of all the math we’ve been doing; the addition, division, and multiplication of our group that shaped who we are individually and together. The humans we’ve grown into are a product, in part, of the lessons we learned and experiences we shared during our time together, and watching my friends laugh and move and play like resurrected versions of the 20-year-olds I grew up with was a reminder that what we have is so rare and special that I’ll likely never replicate it again in my life, not even in a million years.

Something about that togetherness felt almost holy, and the lump in my throat even now as I write this is proof enough that those relationships from my formative years have affected me to my core. They made so much of who I am today.

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” – C.S. Lewis

Have you experienced this before? Do you have a friendship that is so intricately tangled with who you are that you can’t tell what belongs to you or was imprinted on you by them along the way? I’m ending our lake weekend away with friends feeling like the richest girl on earth and so sure of those relationships. I know I could go anywhere, for any length of time, and I’d be carrying those people with me, leaving traces of our story like pins on a map that tell of who we are and what we became together. It’s one of the best feelings I know.

Raspberry Champagne Pop-Tarts

I won’t say much about these raspberry champagne pop-tarts. These mini pies are sweet and special, like a tiny celebration in a bite-sized form. With a simple fruit and booze filling and my favorite pie crust wrapped around it, these raspberry champagne pop-tarts are equal parts simple and delicious. Although the recipe only yields a few, you can easily double it to feed a crowd. It’s the perfect dessert for sharing at your upcoming summer celebrations. Give them a try and let me know what you think! Love to you all and have a great weekend!

If you like these raspberry champagne pop-tarts you should try:

Elderflower Champagne Cupcakes

Strawberry Fig Pop-tarts

Cranberry Pear Pop-tarts

Raspberry Streusel Cake

Berry Rhubarb Tart

Raspberry Lemon Linzer Cookies

Raspberry Champagne Pop-Tarts

Print Recipe

These raspberry champagne pop-tarts have a raspberry champagne jam filling and a tender, flaky pie crust shell. A simple champagne glaze tops each one!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 30
Cook Time: 30
Total Time: 180
Yield: 9

Ingredients

For the pastry:

1–3/4 cups (210 gm) of all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1–1/2 teaspoon sugar
6 tablespoons (85 gm) butter
1/3 cup (70 gm) shortening
5 tablespoons (approximately) of ice water
1 large egg

For the raspberry champagne jam:

1 cup (130 gm) fresh raspberries (or thawed from frozen)
1/3 cup (80 gm) champagne
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
pinch of salt

For the glaze:

1 cup (115 gm) powdered sugar
2–3 tablespoons champagne

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Instructions

To prepare the pastry:

Combine flour, salt and sugar in a medium sized bowl.
Cut in the butter and shortening with a pastry cutter or the back of a fork until it is the consistency of a course meal with small, pea-sized chunks of butter throughout. Add water, 1-2 tablespoons at a time, tossing gently until pastry comes together in moist clumps. Pat the dough into a round, flat disk. Wrap with Saran wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.

To prepare the jam:

Combine all of the ingredients in a small saucepan. Place the pan over medium heat and stir regularly to break up the raspberries until the mixture is thick and bubbly, about 8 minutes. Spoon into a heat-safe bowl and place a sheet of plastic wrap directly on top of the jam. Allow to cool at least to room temperature.

To prepare the pop-tarts:

Whisk an egg in a small bowl for the egg wash and set aside.
Roll out the disk of pastry to 1/8” thickness on a floured surface. Using a 2-1/2″ biscuit cutter, gently cut rounds of dough. Each Pop-Tart will require two rounds (one for top and one for bottom). Use a pastry brush to paint the egg wash around the perimeter of half of the circles. Place one teaspoon of cooled filling in the center of the rounds with the egg wash. Top the filled rounds with a second circle of crust and use a fork to crimp the edges. Freeze the pop tarts on the baking sheet for 2 hours. Refrigerate the whisked egg in the meantime.
When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Vent the top of each rectangle by poking the top of the pastry with a fork 1-2 times and brush with the remaining egg wash, if desired. Bake the tarts, uncovered, for almost 25 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool before topping with glaze.

To prepare the glaze:

Whisk together the powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of champagne until smooth. You can add an additional tablespoon of champagne if desired, but be sure to keep the glaze thick enough to stay on the pop-tart. You can test how it spreads on the back of a large spoon or try it out on a single pop-tart before you glaze all of them.

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Sparkling Margaritas

15 Comments / Food and Drink

These sparkling margaritas are so festive, so perfectly tart and bubbly, that I decided to write a little short story about them. I’ll let you read it if you promise not to laugh. You’ll catch on soon enough that I spend a lot of hours of my life reading children’s stories to my babies, and if you’re in the same boat as me, I bet you’ll be able to identify which story this little tidbit is inspired by.

If You Give a Girl a Sparkling Margarita

If you give a girl a sparkling margarita, she’s going to want some chips and queso. She’ll go to the store to pick up some cheese, and while she’s there, she’ll see some rainbow sprinkles. It will remind her of her favorite confetti ice cream cake, and she will end up wanting to make it. She’ll buy her queso and sprinkles and then head home to begin baking.

While she’s waiting for the cake to bake, she will call a friend to come over for a visit. They’ll sit and chat, laughing over toasty mugs of coffee and cream. And because a cup of coffee isn’t the same without treats to enjoy it with, she will pull a few confetti scones out of the freezer for them to enjoy together. Of course, seeing the sprinkles will remind her of the cake in the oven, which by now has baked a few minutes too long. The girl will curse her oven and dump out the cake, saving a few crumbs to munch on (because even burnt cake is better than none at all, right?) A

ll of those sweet bites will make her crave something salty so she will heat up some tacos from the night before. She’ll need lettuce, tomatoes, and maybe even a sprinkle of cheese, which will remind her of her chips and queso. And chances are, once she starts eating her chips and queso… she’s going to want a sparkling margarita. The end.

Sparkling Margaritas

“Mercy, someone get this girl out of the house.” I can hear you all now. Yes, it’s probably a bad sign that children’s literature has infiltrated so deep into my thought processes, but the truth remains that if you give this girl some Mexican food, she’s absolutely going to require a marg. So let’s cut to the chase and chat about these sparkling margaritas.

This recipe was inspired by a menu item on one of my favorite local Mexican restaurants. Their cocktail menu spans an entire page, but there’s always a few standouts for me, namely their “St. Rita.” A blend of sour mix, St. Germaine, tequila, and cava, the St. Rita is indeed heavenly. Wanting to enjoy a sweet and fizzy beverage from the comfort of my own home, I started testing recipes and I am thrilled with the outcome.

Making the Margaritas

These sparkling margaritas start similarly to your average marg. Fresh squeezed lime juice, tequila, ice… you know the drill. We add elderflower liquor for a sweet and floral punch. Finally, the whole thing gets shaken to oblivion in a cocktail shaker. Once everything is icy and suspended together in that frosty shaker, it gets poured into a salt-rimmed glass and topped with a few ounces of sparkling wine. At first taste, these sparkling margaritas are perfectly sweet and sour, with effervescent little bubbles that make each sip feel like a tastebud fiesta in your mouth. Pure magic.

I’m one of many bloggers who will be sharing margarita and tequila-filled recipes over the next few days for Margarita Week. Kate from ¡HOLA! JALAPEÑO has organized this boozy round-up of recipes to ensure that your Cinco de Mayo party is nothing short of delicious, so I hope you’ll check out the other sites involved.

If you’re looking for an extra bougie (in case you’re wondering, Mom, that means bourgeoisie), South-of-the-border beverage, these sparkling margaritas are the way to go. Pinkies out and enjoy! I’ll be sharing an additional recipe this week on Friday along with a round-up of Mother’s Day breakfast menus, so love your mama and check that out! As always, you can sign up to receive blog posts straight to your email, so if you haven’t done that already, now is the perfect time to do so. Have a great week and Happy Cinco de Mayo!

If you like these sparkling margaritas, you may also like:

Honey Basil Margaritas

Grapefruit Tejitos

Grapefruit Moscow Mules

Vegan Coconut Lime Ice Cream Pie

Sparkling Margaritas

Print Recipe

Sparkling margaritas are a sweet and bubbling version of the classic cocktail, flavored with elderflower liquor and champagne.

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 5
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 1

Ingredients

1 ounce lime juice (about 1 lime)
1–1/2 ounce elderflower liquor (like St. Germaine)
1 ounce tequila blanco
1/2 ounce simple syrup (optional-see notes)
2 ounces sparkling wine ( or cava/champagne)

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Instructions

Combine the lime juice, elderflower liquor, tequila, and simple syrup (optional)in a shaker and fill with ice. Shake vigorously for about 30 seconds. Pour the contents of the shaker in a tall glass and top with the cava. Stir gently and enjoy!

Notes

Serve with a salted and sugared glass rim, if desired.
I prefer a dry sparkling wine for this recipe.
If you prefer a sweeter cocktail, add the 1/2 ounce of simple syrup. This is optional and should be used according to your taste.

Nutrition

Calories: 152
Sugar: 4
Sodium: 19
Fat: 0
Saturated Fat: 0
Unsaturated Fat: 0
Trans Fat: 0
Carbohydrates: 12
Protein: 0
Cholesterol: 0

Champagne Elderflower Cupcakes

15 Comments / Cakes

So what are your plans for New Year’s Eve? Do you have the champagne iced down? Is your sequined dress polished and ready for dancing? Did you buy a new lipstick to ready your pucker for a midnight kiss?

New Year’s Eve

Something about New Year’s Eve makes me jittery with excitement. The parties and bubbles and noisemakers and confetti make the world so shiny and glamorous for a brief moment. For a few hours, regardless of the year you’ve had, there’s laughter and excitement and so much hope for the coming year. I love an excuse for a party, but one that gives you the opportunity to celebrate time and the promises of tomorrow is beautiful, if you ask me. This year, Brett and I celebrating with some friends in a more relaxed fashion, and I can’t wait to tell you all about it soon. In the meantime, I’m excited to share these champagne elderflower cupcakes with you, as I’m sure your NYE party is looking for a little extra sugar, booze, and sparkle.

Champagne Elderflower Cupcakes

These champagne elderflower cupcakes are lightly flavored with champagne and elderflower liqueur. Filled with a champagne custard and topped with a zesty lemon elderflower whipped cream frosting, the cupcakes taste like a cocktail in cake form. What better time to try them out than New Year’s Eve?! These champagne elderflower cupcakes are best eaten the day they’re prepared. Still, they keep well in the fridge, so feel free to make them the morning of your party. If you’re feeling extra festive, serve them alongside an elderflower and champagne cocktail- with only 2 ingredients and zero prep time, this cocktail is a cinch to throw together and will make your cupcakes shine.

All of my hopes, blessings, and love to you and yours this coming year. I wish you all of the best that life has to offer and pray that 2017 is your most delicious year yet. I can’t wait to share more with you in the coming year. Happy New Year and cheers to you!

Champagne Elderflower Cupcakes

Print Recipe

Scented with elderflower liqueur, lemon zest, and bubbly champagne, these champagne elderflower cupcakes are a festive dessert to include in your holiday and New Year’s Eve celebrations!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 45
Cook Time: 45
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Yield: 24
Category: Cupcakes

Ingredients

For the cupcakes

3 cups cake flour
2–1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 eggs, room temperature
1–3/4 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup canola oil
1 cup dry champagne or sparkling white wine
2 tablespoons of elderflower liquor (St. Germain)

For the custard

1–1/2 cups half and half
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
pinch of sea salt
1/3 cup dry champagne or sparkling white wine
2–1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon vanilla

For the frosting

2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup sugar
2–1/2 tablespoons elderflower liquor
2 teaspoons lemon zest

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Instructions

To prepare the cupcakes

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line 24 cupcake tins with papers.
In a medium sized bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt and set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the eggs, sugar, and vanilla and beat on medium speed for 1 minute. Turn the speed down to low and slowly add in the oil.
Add half of the dry ingredients and stir on low speed to combine. Add the wine and liquor, stirring briefly to combine, and then add the remaining dry ingredients. Mix just until combined- do not overmix. Scrape the sides of the bowl and fold the batter to ensure it is thoroughly mixed.
Put approximately 1/4 cup of batter in each cupcake liner (I use a large cookie scoop to fill mine), and then place the prepared pans in the oven. I typically bake one pan at a time to ensure even baking, but you can prepare them how you prefer. Rotate in the oven if you notice on side of the pan getting darker than the other. Bake in the oven for 22-25 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely on a cooling rack while you prepare the remaining elements.

To prepare the custard

Heat the half and half in a medium sized saucepan on the stove over medium-low heat until it is hot (but not boiling). In a separate medium sized bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, and salt. Add the wine and cornstarch, whisking until combined. Slowly add 1/3 of the hot half and half, whisking the whole time to ensure the eggs don’t get cooked. Pour the entirety of the mixture back in the saucepan and continue to cook it all on the stove over medium-low heat. You’ll notice that the mixture will begin to thicken and perhaps even bubble slightly. Remove from the heat when the custard is a thick pudding consistency. Whisk in the butter and vanilla and place the custard into a small bowl. Place a sheet of plastic directly on top of the custard, to prevent a skin from forming on the top, and place the bowl in the fridge to cool.

To prepare the frosting

Beat the cream until soft peaks form. Add the sugar, elderflower liquor, and zest and continue beating just until stiff peaks form. Fold in 1/2 cup of the chilled custard into the whipped cream.

To assemble the cupcakes

Using a paring knife, cut a small, tablespoon sized whole in the top of each cupcake. This is where the custard filling will go, so feel free to make the hole somewhat deep but not wider than half the width of the cupcake.
Spoon or pipe the custard into the holes in the cupcakes. About 1 tablespoon of custard should go in each cupcake.
Pipe or dollop the whipping cream frosting on each cupcake. I used a piping bag fitted with a Wilton 1M tip to pipe my frosting.
Store the cupcakes in the fridge. They are best eaten on the day they are assembled.

Recipe Adapted From: Julie Richardson

Elderflower Champagne

Print Recipe

A sparkling cocktail to pair with your cupcakes!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 5
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 1

Ingredients

1/2 ounces elderflower liqueur
3 ounces chilled champagne or dry sparkling wine

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Instructions

Pour the elderflower liqueur in the bottom of a champagne flute. Top with the champagne. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 71
Sugar: 1
Sodium: 4
Fat: 0
Saturated Fat: 0
Unsaturated Fat: 0
Trans Fat: 0
Carbohydrates: 2
Protein: 0
Cholesterol: 0

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New Year’s Eve

Champagne Elderflower Cupcakes

Champagne Elderflower Cupcakes

Ingredients

For the cupcakes

For the custard

For the frosting

Instructions

To prepare the cupcakes

To prepare the custard

To prepare the frosting

To assemble the cupcakes

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