Valentine’s Cupcakes with Cranberries and Gran Marnier

These Valentine cupcakes with the cranberry filling and the slight orange flavour of Gran Marnier are an extra special dessert.  At our house Valentine’s day is pretty low key, typically I get flowers and Hubs gets an extra special dessert.  These cupcakes are just slightly boozy there is just enough for yummy flavour.
s

a
The new trendy cupcake recipes are a favorite of mine.  For Valentines the cupcakes should be pink, burgundy or red, what should I stuff them with that’s pink?  I recently posted a strawberry ice cream dessert, so lets try something different and use cranberries.

Vanilla Cupcake with Cranberries and Gran Marnier Recipe

This recipe has four parts which appear complicated but are actually very easy.  You can use a cake mix, canned cranberries and purchased premade fondant to make it even simpler.

White Cake Recipe

Here is a real simple one bowl white cake recipe.  I can use a simple white cake mix as well. This recipe makes 12 large cupcakes.

In a large bowl add the butter and sugar, beat until fluffy.

Add the eggs and beat.  Then add the vanilla.

Add all the dry ingredients, mix for a couple of minutes.

Add the milk. Beat until just mixed.

Place in 12 paper-lined cupcake tins.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes let cool.

If you prefer to use a white cake mix, by all means, use one.

Cranberry Filling Recipe

This is so simple I feel guilty calling it a recipe.

1 cup cranberry sauce (homemade or canned)

1/2 tsp of cinnamon

2 tbsp of Gran Marnier

Place everything together in a small bowl and mix thoroughly.

Remove the center of each cupcake using a  cupcake plunger.  If you don’t have one use a teaspoon, spin it around to cut out the circle and then carefully pull out the center.  

Fill each cupcake with a heaping teaspoon of the cranberry.

Gran Marnier Cream Cheese Icing Recipe

Place the cream cheese and butter in a large mixing bowl.  Beat for five minutes or until it is very light and fluffy. Add flour and icing sugar (flour cuts down on the sweetness)  beat starting on low starting on low until the icing sugar is well incorporated.   Add the Gran Marnier a tbsp at a time checking the consistency as you add.  Use more or less depending on the icing.  Whip for 5 minutes on high speed.

Fill an icing bag with the icing and no tip.  Seal the open end of the bag with an elastic to help keep your hands clean.

Place your icing bag at 90 degrees directly above the center of the cupcake, with a gentle consistent pressure squeeze for a count of three and release.  Then squeeze a tiny little dab above that to lean the fondant heart on.

Repeat for the remaining cupcakes.l

Fondant Hearts

To make the fondant heart for Valentines.

You will need purchased fondant,  I use all natural colouring.  Add a few drops at a time kneading the fondant until you get a smooth colour you like.

Roll the fondant out on a lace form.  If you don’t have a fondant form you can skip this step. using the form just adds some texture.   Cut the valentines out with a small heart-shaped cutter.

Lean the heart against the bump of icing on the top of the cupcake.

This is the simplest way I know to ice cupcakes.  I find it faster and easier than the age-old knife and bowl method

You could add some pretty sprinkles to these to give them a little more flare. I have to skip this because of a severe allergy.

I hope you enjoy making these as much as your loved ones enjoy eating them.

Vanilla Cupcakes with Apricot Filling and Raspberry Icing

Valentine's Cupcake Recipe with Cranberries and Gran Marnier

A Valentine' cupcake featuring a fantastic cranberry filling and Gran Marnier. The orange flavour of the Gran Marnier makes this Valentine's cupcake extra special. It doesn't use special ingredients and the batter recipe is simple to put together. Your loved ones are going to love these cupcakes.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:1 hour hr

Cook Time:20 minutes mins

Total Time:1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter
• 2 cups flour
• ½ tsp salt
• 3 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup sugar
• ¾ cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla

Cranberry Cupcake Filling

• 1 cup cranberry sauce canned or homemade
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp Gran Marnier

Gran Marnier Cream Cheese Icing

• 8 oz package cream cheese
• ½ cup butter
• 3 ½ cups icing sugar
• ½ cup flour
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 4 tbsp Gran Marnier

Decorations

• 1 package Premade fondant Purchase pink fondant or add colouring.

Instructions

• Line a cupcake tin with paper liners. Preheat oven to 350 F.
• Add the eggs individually beating well after each addition.
• Add butter and sugar to a large bowl. Beat until fluffy.
• Add the vanilla and mix well.
• Add all the dry ingredients and mix well.
• Add the milk and beat until just blended.
• Place in paper lined cupcake tin and bake for 20 minutes.
• Let cool before adding the icing.

Cupcake Filling

• Remove the center of each cupcake using a  cupcake plunger.  If you don't have one use a teaspoon, spin it around to cut out the circle and then carefully pull out the center.  Save the removed bits of cupcake
• Mix all the cranberry filling ingredients together.
• Place a teaspoon of cranberry filling into each center. Cover with the cupcake top if you have one. If they got messy don't fret just skip it and cover it with icing.

Gran Marnier Cream Cheese Icing

• Place the cream cheese and butter in a large mixing bowl. Beat for five minutes or until light and fluffy.
• Add the flour and icing sugar (the little bit of flour cuts down on the sweetness you can omit if you like). Start on low speed to prevent the icing sugar from flying around.
• Add the Gran Marnier a tbsp at a time, check the consistency as you add it adding more if you need to thin the icing. Whip for five minutes on high speed.

Servings: 12