Jack Daniels Honey Whiskey Cupcakes
These Jack Daniels Honey Whiskey Cupcakes with a Boozy Drizzle are filled with boozy goodness. In the cupcake, in the frosting and in the drizzle!
If you think this is a stretch for my Friday Cocktails, then you didn’t see just how much booze I’ve put into these Jack Daniels Honey Whiskey Cupcakes! It’s everywhere I tell ya!
Booze in the cake, even more in the frosting and then because I wasn’t sure that was quite enough I thought an extra touch with a drizzle would be necessary.
I think I had the idea to do this but I’m not sure…Jessica posted these Bacon Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting + a Bourbon Drizzle (were those a homage to Elvis or what?) last week. But it was sort of an over the top addition that we all loved.
I made these Jack Daniels Honey Whiskey Cupcakes for my daughter Lauren. Her birthday is tomorrow. Thirty years!!! How on earth does a 39 year old woman have a child who is 30? Talk about a miracle huh? But the real miracle is my girl. My sweet girl who was just living her life like so many of us when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
The same girl who was so afraid of strangers that I used customer service at grocery stores to get her used to them. I would have her go to the Customer Service desk and ask them a question about where we could find something, always urging her to remember that the WORST thing that could ever happen is they would not know. I know it seemed a silly task but it helped.
As she got a bit older those days were a thing of the past and my adolescent girl would take off on her own; shopping with mom was embarrassing. I guess I showed her…if she got too far awry and was nowhere to be seen when I was ready to leave a store; I would have the checkout person call her on the intercom.
As much as she hated that; she obviously hated walking the aisles with me more because I remember doing that on several occasions! ‘Would Lauren Mays please come to the checkout; your mom is waiting!’
There were fun times too; funny I never stopped to think until just now if she had a clue how nervous I was when I agreed to be the coach of her girls soccer team when she was in elementary school. I did not have a CLUE how the game was played but they needed an assistant coach and I volunteered.
I remember thinking how brave she was then too; she volunteered to be the goalie and she was so good at that…that height business really helped!
She has weathered her share of heartache over the years too; her best friend dying three years after a lightning bolt rendered her physically and mentally incapacitated, the pain of a distant father; going through high school a bit too tall and with a bit less social life than she would have liked.
But those things have made her stronger too and I love this photo a friend of hers took. I see this great warrior princess; unashamed that her hair is gone and still looking fierce.
There is no doubt that it was that reservoir of strength that has helped see her through this with a strength of purpose that has not gone un-noticed. She has risen to the challenge of showing cancer who is boss!
She was determined to not give in or give up and has found herself in a role where others now see her so admirably for her abject determination to fight this fight with humor and determination and a positive spirit.
And the best part. She won! Chemo worked, the lump is gone. Surgery to scrape the area around the lump, remove a couple of lymph nodes and remove her port (what she called ‘her creature’) is complete and she has been declared cancer free!! Is there a way I can add sound to those two words? Maybe this would say it better?
CANCER FREE!!
Just as parents aren’t supposed to lose their children, we also aren’t supposed to see them go through something like this. But she did and it has changed her. When just months ago losing her luxurious long hair was heart breaking she now thinks she just might keep it shorter (which I LOVE!).
She is unsure of her job future since losing her job (can you believe cancer was a pain for her boss to deal with?) but she’s working on plans and I just know something positive will come of that too. She was meant for greater things and we’re just not sure yet exactly what that is…but I can’t wait to see! In the meantime? We have a pretty important birthday to celebrate don’t we?
Update: Good things do happen to deserving people. While working in a temporary position for E-bags she gained some priceless experience and was recruited from her LinkedIn profile for a job with Zappos in Las Vegas. After 18 months there another offer came from Ebay in San Jose, CA and she is living the dream…she loved Zappos but Vegas is no place to live and the San Francisco area was a dream destination.
HURRAH!! Another update? As of late 2018 she has joined Facebook in San Jose, CA. We may curse at FB sometimes but wow is it a fantastic place for her to work!
It’s not like cupcakes with whiskey could be called Lauren’s favorite for her birthday. I’m not sure she has ever indicated a true favorite cake; most birthdays were a relatively basic cake, it was all about the frosting and the decorating.
I remember years of shapes and frostings and making anything from a bubble gum machine to a Care Bears cake to ballet shoes so these are definitely a treat for a woman.
She may be my girl but she is not a girl…and this woman deserves this amazing cupcake! So these pups have honey whiskey in the cake, frosting with more…and well, they are decorated with drizzled honey whiskey; I mean how perfect is that?
By the way…I have not tried using this for a cocktail; it’s just SO perfect for something like this and that’s why I bought it. It’s not a whiskey infused with honey; instead it’s whiskey with honey liqueur and it’s simply delicious!
Guess I’ll have to give a cocktail shout out one day soon but in the meantime…won’t you join me in wishing Lauren a VERY Happy Birthday? Love you sweetie and have a wonderful week with your girlfriends up in Summit County!!
PIN IT! ‘Jack Daniels Honey Whiskey Cupcakes with a Boozy Drizzle’
Jack Daniels Honey Whiskey Cupcakes with a Boozy Drizzle
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
- ¾ cup butter softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
- 3 Tablespoons Jack Daniels Honey Whiskey
- 3 Tablespoons Milk
For the Boozy Drizzle
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup Jack Daniels Honey Whiskey
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
For the Buttercream Frosting
- 1 cup butter room temperature
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons Jack Daniels Honey Whiskey
- ¼ cup heavy cream as much as needed to get correct consistency
Instructions
To Make the Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs and vanilla and mix just to incorporate.
- Whisk together flour, salt and baking powder. Add to the wet mixture and beat until just combined.
- Add the whiskey and milk until just combined.
- Line 12 muffin cups with cupcake liners and divide batter evenly into cups; approximately 2/3 full for each cup.
- Bake for 16 to 20 minutes; test with a toothpick; the top will be firm so make sure the inside is cooked through.
- Cool completely on a wire cake cooling rack before frosting.
To Make the Boozy Drizzle
- Add all ingredients together in a small pan, bring to a boil and boil for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool before drizzling on cupcakes.
To Make the Buttercream Frosting
- Cream butter until light and fluffy. Slowly add the powdered sugar.
- Add the vanilla and Jack Daniels Honey and combine thoroughly.
- Add the cream a Tbsp at a time until your frosting is very light and fluffy and the correct consistency.
- Using a large serrated icing tip, pipe the frosting onto cupcakes.
- Garnish with the Boozy Drizzle.
These cupcakes are a game changer! I love the combination of JD and honey, it’s a match made in heaven. The whiskey flavor is so subtle and balanced, it’s not overpowering at all. I’ll definitely be making these again soon!
My drizzle is very liquid. I would like it slightly thicker. What can I do to accomplish that?
Great story. So happy for your daughter.
Thanks for the wonderful share.
Hi Cyndi,
Make that simple, I think if you just slowly simmer it for a while it will evaporate some of the liquid and you can get it to the thickness that you want. Remember it’s probably going to thicken up even more from what you see in your saucepan as it cools so don’t go too thick!
And thank you for your kind words. There are days I think I should revise this and remove that story but no it was a difficult time for us and it’s a good reminder of first of all that she conquered cancer and for me a memory of just how strong-willed and determined she was to not let it beat her. She was determined to keep a positive spirit and she lifted the spirits of people around her even me sometimes!
Thank you so much.
Wishing your daughter continued good health.
Amazing post. Thanks for sharing your daughters story. One of strength and courage 💕. Blessings to you both- and oh yeah thanks for the recipe can’t wait to try these out!
Thank you Michelle. It was a really difficult thing to go through when it’s your baby but she’s strong and healthy and has a great job in San Francisco so seems to have come out of it without repercussions, thank goodness.
Canyon use regular Jack Daniels in place of the honey Jack?
It’s really not the same thing and you will have a much higher alcohol content in your finished dessert. The honey liqueur is just that it is a honey liqueur with some Jack Daniels in it. Since I haven’t made it any other way it’s difficult for me to say exactly how you should but I would probably combine some honey with some Jack Daniels before I would use straight Jack daniels.
I’m making these cupcakes and was wondering what the consistency of the batter is suppose to be it’s seeming alittle to thick but I don’t know how to fix that without putting to much heavy cream in it?
This dough is a bit stiffer than a normal batter but it’s very hard for me to tell if you should actually be changing the recipe. If you really think it needs to be thinner, add a small amount of water in increments until you develop a batter that works better for you.
Would I double the recipe to make a 2 layer 8in round cake? Looking to do something awesome for my boyfriend’s 30th!
I attempted these because I had little bottles of the whiskey in the house left over from Christmas. They were amazing! They did take all day to make because of the cooling steps but they were worth it. They looked bakery proffesional according to my friends who thought I bought them. Very delish recipe thank you!
I’m so glad you love them too!
I made this recipe using Jim Bean whiskey and they turned out delicious
OMG these are delicious. I don’t understand where some people taste the whiskey in the cupcakes. None of us did. We just tasted the goodness. In fact, I sprinkled powdered sugar on one and gave one to my granddaughter. Now the icing and the drizzle, those are different. Just plain yummy. I will definitely make these for our next Red Hat dinner. ?
Some people are just nuts aren’t they? 🙂
We love them too and a great idea for making a couple of kids, thanks!
I enjoyed the cake and the drizzle…but not the frosting. It didn’t turn out crazy and fluffy…it was an odd combo of creamy and gritty. How do you get 4 cups of powdered sugar to blend into 1 cup of butter, the cream and whiskey?
It’s always difficult to tell what you might have done differently than I did Stacy but if your frosting was gritty I’m thinking the powdered sugar was not beaten into the butter well enough; that might have created a gritty mouthfeel but it sounds more typical of not combining butter and granulated sugar…powdered sugar does not typically feel gritty.
That ratio is pretty standard; that’s why the cream is added last; to insure that you only add enough that’s warranted for the right consistency.
Thanks for the reply. It was definitely powdered sugar. Maybe it just needed to be combined longer than I di, because we kept adding cream hoping to smooth it out. Guess I’ll have to try again!
That is my guess…I’ve never had an issue with it so good luck to you too!
A trick i found with frosting is To get it going and then walk away After longer than stated test a bit If still a git gritty Leave again Go have a cuppa and enjoy the sun while it does its magic
Good trick Pearl. Eventually the sugar will melt!
I know this comment was posted a year ago but I just wanted to add…always sift your powdered sugar before using in your frosting (or anything for that matter! It really does make a difference, especially if you didn’t cream the sugar & butter long enough. I was the pastry chef at a private golf club & trust me I’ve made that mistake many times trying to rush & it’s never worked out lol…I hope you’ve remedied the situation & have enjoyed these luscious cupcakes since then Stacy! Happy New Year & thank you Barb for a wonderful recipe ? continued love & good health to your daughter…?
So excited to try this recipe for a special guy’s birthday! I want to use peanut butter whiskey, do you think that needs to be toned down like the other liquors? I have never tried the Honey Jack so I don’t know how sweet it is but I think the PB whiskey is pretty sweet.
There’s no way I can say for sure since I’m not familiar with it but the Jack honey is sweet, it is a liquor with some Jack Daniels in it so I think you could substitute one for the other, but taste is your friend.
Start off with less than the recipe calls for and taste as you go. If you find the taste doesn’t need as much of your particular product, you can always add a bit more milk to get equal volume.
I am happy to hear about how to substitute! I can’t find honey JD in my small town, but I do have some salted caramel Crown. I think I will try this recipe with this, and pick up some JD the next time I hit a bigger town.
Such a beautiful story capped off by some beautiful desserts! Whiskey was never in short supply in our household, but there are so many things to do with it besides drinking. My mom learned some of the best ways to infuse our family’s love of whiskey into her food from her classes with the Culinary Lab School. From barbecue sauces to spicy desserts, they showed her how to combine food and drink into incredible concoctions. I absolutely adore her whiskey noodle sauce. I ask her to make it for every year on my birthday!
I’m the same as your mom Lily; I use way more whisky and bourbon in foods than I do in cocktails! Would love it if you shared your recipe and would let me try it. One of my favorites that is not a dessert is this one for a Maple Bourbon Chicken; it is SO good!
/maple-bourbon-chicken-bacon/
Thanks so much for this recipe. I made them with Apple Crown and these are the best cupcakes I’ve had in awhile. I kept the measurements the same.
Lovely hearing from you Veronica; thanks so much for sharing. We LOVE them and I’m always happy when others do too…Barb
Hi there,
Fabulous recipe… I got here from a pin – thank you!!
FYI – on this page, a ton of pop-ups opened up on top of each other and I had to close them all out to read the content. I’d be happy to share my screen with you if you want to take a peek. I blog and it looked funny to me and I think if you see it – it’s not by design:)
Thanks again for the great recipe… Nikki
I do love that you love the cupcakes but I’m having a little bit of a Yikes! at the idea that there’s that many pop-ups because there shouldn’t be. If you want to send me a screenshot that would be great and then verify what platform. Is it phone tablet or desktop? You can send that to [email protected]. Thanks a bunch.
This is the BEST cupcake I’ve ever had!!! They were even better the next day. I don’t drink because I don’t like the taste of alcohol but I really LOVE the flavor combinations. I made french toast and used the remaining drizzle and it was delicious! Thank you for sharing.
I agree! I do love a great cocktail but even with those nothing heavy handed yet I think bourbon and sweets were meant to be married. Glad you enjoyed them; they are definitely a family favorite!
Thank you so much for sharing your story (as the spouse of a two-time testicular cancer survivor an active American Cancer Society Relay for Life team capatain/participant, survival stories always warm my heart) and this recipe! I’m now onto my third time making them in three months. Everyone has absolutely loved them, saying they are the best cupcakes they’ve ever eaten in their lives. I’ve made many a yummy cupcake in my life and I agree whole-heartedly.
I love them too Angela and will go read the story myself just because I need to be reminded. She just had her last 6 month checkup and is now on a annual checkup schedule; I can start to breathe a bit more knowing she’s made it this far without signs of recurrence. So glad you love them too…they turned out to be a great little cupcake!
First, beautiful story about your daughter. Second, do you think this could be modified to make a cake instead? My hubby is a huge JD Honey fan and I am wanting to bake a cake for a surprise birthday party but after seeing this recipe I really want to use it.
Thanks Jess; and she is doing so well. Leaving tomorrow for a trip to Europe even!
I haven’t done it but I don’t see why not; whenever I’ve made cupcakes I’ve just used a cake recipe and simply put them into cupcake liners. Since I haven’t done a cake the only unknown is the quantity of the mixture; just be sure to not overfill your cake rounds even if you have too much of the mixture (chances are it will be really close). Otherwise have at it! You’ll have to let me know how it turns out.
I made this as a 6” round cake. I used two 6” round cake pans and cut the cakes so that I had four thin layers. I brushed each layer with the drizzle then frosted and layered, just a thin layer of frosting around the outside (almost like a naked cake), frosted the top, and then drizzled. I have to say ….. it was amazing! Maybe the best cake I’ve ever had.
Thanks for taking the time to let me know Becky; would you think me too forward if I said I LOVE YOU!! This is a great idea…I’ll have to try it too!
Good Lord, I think I died and went to heaven. These were off the charts! Every single one was eaten & people were looking for more. Definitely a keeper. The drizzle puts them over the top! Well done!
Yay…and thank you; I do love hearing from people that made them and loved them too!
Can the drizzle be kept fir one day in container as baking these as a gift for a 50th party then the host xan pour on the drizzle at the time of party or do you suggest I do this a day before?
Sure, no problem at all. If it thickens a bit when cooled you might have to warm slightly so it drizzles easily. Enjoy!
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Getting ready to make these for the 3rd time. LOVE LOVE LOVE these cupcakes. Not a boozy person either. Will be heading out this weekend with friends for a taste of bourbon weekend. I know I said I am not a boozy person…. ya gotta go with the flow. So I am going to bring these tasty cupcakes with to keep up with the theme of the weekend. The recipe is perfect. Have not had a problem with it. Actually it is the only cupcakes I have made since I discovered this recipe. It is better than any bakery cupcakes I have had!!!!!
So glad to hear you love them too Virginia…they are one of our favorites. I use bourbon a lot in cooking and baking…it’s brings a great flavor to a lot of things but sweets in particular. Have fun!
My cousin love Hennessey……and I want to make her some of these cupcakes. Your recipe is the best so far that I have found. Can I replace this with Hennessey or no?
You can replace it but maybe scale back a bit? The Jack Honey is a Honey liqueur with Jack Daniel’s so replacing it with all Whiskey might be too much. Taste and add a bit extra liquid too. Wish I could tell you how much but without having done it myself I really have no idea.
I would add the Hennessy a little bit at a time until you get the right flavor that you want and then subtract the amount you’ve added from the amount of Jack honey called for in the recipe. Whatever that result is, add it back in with either water or milk to make sure the cake doesn’t get dry. Hope that makes sense!
It does make sense and she loved them!
Your recipe was amazing. I just messed up the drizzle a little bit but other than that it was a real hit. I have made 4 dozen of them since the dozen for my cousin.
Thank you so much for your recipe!
Yay! Nothing makes me happier than having the work I do bring joy to a reader; thanks so much for letting me know!
How much of the Hennessy did you substitute?
I’m new at the baking life and trying something new
Hello, I’m actually looking to make Hennessy cupcakes for my birthday this recipe looks amazing but I want to substitute the jack for henessy also. Could you let me know exactly how you did it? How did you do with substiting ???
So how much did u cut back. I want to make with jack daniels whiskey not honey.
I’ve not made it with just straight whiskey so I can’t make that determination for you. The whiskey will have a much higher proof so go by taste, I would start with half and work up from there. If you do not end up using the same amount, you should supplement the remainder of the liquid called for with another one; either milk or water.
My fiance is not coming home til Christmas week but he wont tell me what day of the week so if i make the cupcakes early would they go bad and what about the frosting should i wait to put it on or would the frosting go bad?
How beautiful! I do have a cupcake question…I would like to cut this in half as I really only need 6 cupcakes. Do you think it would split evenly?
I took a look at the ingredient list and it seems pretty straightforward. Maybe the only ones you’ll have to measure differently are those for 3/4 cup; there is no half of that in a measuring utensils. But there are 4 Tablespoons in a quarter cup so half of that would be 6 Tablespoons. The leavening is another one; you’ll need to measure half of a teaspoon and then 1/8th of one. I have a 1/8th measure but if you don’t? Just try to fill a 1/4 tsp measure halfway!
Hope that helps…they are worth the extra effort! 🙂
Do you have a recipe similar only with the Tennessee fire?
No put go ahead and just substitute; remembering that the Jack Honey is more liqueur than liquor so it’s sweet too. I would just add the Tennessee Fire to taste in all of the different forms to make sure it works for you.
I plan on making these for a party because of cooking the liquor do you feel that children or teens could eat these
I do Marissa. First the Jack Honey is a liqueur so it’s got a lot less alcohol volume and then everything is either baked or cooked which pretty much cooks off what is there. If you wanted to be safe? I would warm the liqueur going into the cake and frosting which will burn if off (the drizzle gets heated so that’s not an issue). It’s like when someone flambe’s something? You don’t have to light it up… but it is the fumes that allows that to happen so just warm up what you’re using for a minute or two; the alcohol will burn off and then let it cool down and use it as specified.
These were so good !!! , I was wondering if I was to make Hennessy cupcakes can I use the same exact recipe But I would replace Jack Daniels with Hennessy?
You can certainly make them with Hennessey but it’s not probably a good idea to substitute equal amounts. The Jack Honey is actually a honey liqueur with whiskey, not straight whiskey and I think using the same amount of Hennessey ‘might’ make them more potent…which might be OK with you! I would test them and/or if you want to use less, make sure to make the total liquid amount the same, even if adding additional milk or water to compensate.
I am planning on making these for a family party that is about three hours’ driving distance. Do you think I can put the drizzle on before I leave, or will that get the cupcakes soggy? Should I just wait to add it until I get there?
I finished them completely and my daughter drove them to the mountains without a problem. Let the frosting dry a bit to get a little crust before you drizzle and they should be fine. Enjoy!
How long can these stay out of the frig or can they be left out until gone even if is a day or two?
Thx
They don’t have to be refrigerated Paula; they’ll be gone too soon! I wanted to save a couple for a friend who is not close by so I froze those; icing and all!
This is the most delicious thing I have ever made. Thank you for the wonderful recipe! It makes me feel like a chef. I will use this again and again! Truly. .. thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them too Cathie!
I made these for a leaving party that had a bunch of truckers there. They all loved it! I don’t like whiskey so I made a second batch and used Madori instead! Def A++ recipe 🙂
So glad everyone loved them Jo. Madori sounds SO different but betting it was good too!
I hardly ever comment on recipes, but I just feel compelled. I needed a special one to make for my husband’s 39th birthday. He is suffering from depression and I wanted to really make him feel extra special. I made this recipe, but doubled it and made it into 2 round cakes. I LOVE how sturdy they turned out! I could maneuver and roost them without any crumbling. I made the frosting but I discovered I was out of vanilla so I used almond. Still delish!! I made 1/4 into chocolate and used it to stick the 2 cakes together, then used the rest to frost the top and outside. My hubby loves Bacon, so I stuck crispy Bacon strips (I baked them with Jack Daniels and brown sugar) around the sides of the cake. Needless to say he totally loved it!! Thanks for sharing!
I’m so glad you let me know Soosie and hope this one little thing gave him a boost on his special day. I can only IMAGINE how good the salty bacon was with everything else; now I want to try that!
glad they liked them but you never say what temp you set the oven at 350 or 375 or 400 ??????????????????
1st item under instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Hi there, is this with plain flour or self raising (cake flour) thanks
I used all-purpose flour. One note…self-rising and cake flour are two different types. Self rising includes leavening and cake flour is a lighter flour with less gluten which results in a cake with a lighter structure.
Yummmmy! I Love Jack and I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Is there any way to make chocolate ones with this recipe
You could add some cocoa to the mix Natalia but it’s very hard for me to give absolute amounts on how to modify the recipe if I’m not testing it. I would guess 1/4 cup and you might have to eliminate some of the flour to keep them from being dry. You might be better off to find a great chocolate cupcake and sub some of the liquid with the Honey Jack and then just top them with the frosting.
What I would suggest is to specify what kind of flour is used for these cupcakes. Most at-home-bakers only have all-purpose flour in their pantry. From what I’ve found this recipe should call for either a blend of bread flour and cake flour or cake flour alone. All-purpose is too weak in protein to support the cake, resulting in sinking, which, any baker knows is a stressful situation. Also,I feel that recipes that measure dry ingredients by volume throw off the results. Great concept for a cupcake. Really loved the flavors and the mess ups were enjoyed by my family all the same, however, I felt it required too many trial-and error batches. Perhaps differences in elevation could be a factor as well. Thankfully, I am a skilled baker and fixing its flaws was simply a matter of time…
Oh Anne it’s always the skilled bakers who feel such a strong need to come and give their two cents; no matter that several people have made these without an issue. I can only stand by what I and others have found when testing these cupcakes and many have had great results with the directions as written. Better luck next time; thanks for stopping by.
I just made these, followed the recipe to the letter and they turned out perfectly. I will be making them again for sure!!!!!
YAY! Love hearing that you had the same success I did! They are just a bit addictive huh? 🙂
So good to hear; thanks for taking the time to let me know. Now I wish I had a couple!
My dad is a huge fan of his Jack, making them now for Father’s Day tomorrow. Unfortunately I think I may have over-mixed the batter, it was stiffer than cupcakes usually are, so I really hope I didn’t ruin them! Side note the batter is delicious!
I hope they turned out. The batter and resulting cupcake are sturdy; I thought they needed to be so I could mound a ton of frosting and more booze on them. 🙂
hi i am in looooove with this recipe but my brother had gotten the wrong whisky he just got the regular jack and its to late to go back to return it I need these cupcakes done by today! 🙁 Do you think it will still go together and taste well if i just use the regular jack?
So sorry I missed this…and yes probably? Did you try it?
I just made these for a girlfriends birthday party. She loves her Jack. They were disappearing in no time so she hid a tray for herself. Best cupcakes! Thanks for sharing!
She sounds like me! Go glad both of our efforts were rewarded with her being happy; thanks for sharing!
Made these for my Fiance who is turning 28 on Sunday. I made them as cupcakes in a jar so they could be sealed and mailed to him Mechanicsburg where he is currently finishing up his Masters degree and he said it was the best cupcakes hes ever eaten and let me say he hate cakes of all kinds hes a pie and muffin person but he does like his tennessee whiskey so i took a chance and it came out perfectly. This were soooo good. Defintely making more of these soon. Thanks so much for a delicious recipe. 🙂
Thank you for taking the time to let me know Crystal; warms my heart when I read stories like yours and makes the reason why I do this so real and worthwhile…my best to both of you!
This recipe is great, my daughter and I bond over baking. Your story of your daughter was so heart felt. My daughter was just diagnosed with epilepsy at 37 with two teenagers that I now have to be g mama and MaMa. This was our project for this weekend. They are great.
So sorry to hear that Alison; I hope she can manage her illness and remain productive in all aspects of her life. I’m glad you enjoyed these; they are a great reminder to me of the joy we felt at that time plus they are just such good cupcakes to boot! Take good care…Barb
The flavor is fabulous but the recipe needs work. A LOT of work, the batter is too dry making it too done when it’s barely done and the frosting…well let’s just say yuck, I opted for a Swiss buttercream and made this into a cake my second time around.
Funny Elaine but you are the only person who has complained so I can assume you must have overbaked the cupcakes and as for the frosting? Yuck? Different strokes obviously as everyone has just loved it. But gotta love someone who will take the time to come to my home and leave rude comments; here’s hoping your day improves!
Did you have a baby at age 9?? wow! How is that possible?
I love you.
Did you mean for the bourbon drizzle to have 1/2 cup of bourbon instead of the honey whiskey? Or is there bourbon in addition? I don’t see the bourbon on the ingredients list. Thanks!
Just saw the other comments below, so I will just use the honey whiskey. Thanks for the recipe! Will be making them this weekend!
I did mean the honey whiskey…I’ll go clarify that content asap.
Just an note…..bourbon can be whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. Jack Daniels is not a bourbon. That aside, as a huge fan of Jack Daniels Honey Whiskey…..I am so looking forward to trying your recipe and loved reading your story about you and your daughter. Hooray for your daughter and I hope she continues to improve. You’re a great mom to keep things in perspective. Kudos to you both!
Yeah I knew that;; guess I should have called it a whiskey drizzle! After the year we had it’s only amazing I didn’t call it gin! 🙂
Just wanted to respond to some of the misconceptions in these comments and this post. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey is actually bourbon. They call it Tennessee Whiskey because they believe that it’s higher quality and in its own class due to stricter but still compliant processing methods from what legally is classified as bourbon . But it does, however, meet bourbon requirements. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey is NOT actually bourbon or whiskey. It is a Liqueur. Legally, you cannot add any flavoring to the product if you want to call it whiskey. Fun fact: a number of major Tennessee Whiskey makers are working with the Master Distiller Jeff at Jack Daniel’s to create a legal classification for “Tennessee Whiskey”; ask about it next time you visit! Just wanted to educate, I used to work for Jack Daniel’s and love teaching people about their products 🙂 Nonetheless, I can’t wait to try this recipe! Thanks for sharing it!
I clicked on the Pinterest post for a delicious-looking cupcake recipe and ended up completely wrapped up in your lovely story about your beautiful daughter. So, so, so happy that you both have a happy ending! Wishing you the best (and looking forward to trying these cupcakes at my next Ladies’ Night)…
I know how blesses we were to have a happy ending Evelyn; during the process she lost her job and while no one wants that, it was also a blessing…she didn’t much care for it so just sublet her apartment, moved in with family to lessen her economic load and once she was done with all treatment started looking for a job. She found her dream job at Zappos. It meant a move to Las Vegas but she is having the time of her life and deserves it! Thank you for you kind comment…and yes, make the cupcakes. They are in Lauren’s words…the BOMB! 🙂
I am very late to this post, but these cupcakes sound amazing! I can’t wait to make them! As for the Honey Whiskey, I have a bunch of it because it is a STAPLE for camping. I heat water and add the honey whiskey and then squeeze a slice of lemon and drop it into the mug. HOT TODDIE! It is perfect for around the campfire, warms you up from the inside and also its healthy ( the water and lemon is at least). This is also a great cocktail if you have a cold!
OK, now I have to try that Laura, I have NEVER used that whiskey for anything but these cupcakes!
I made these yesterday and they came out AMAZING!!!
So good to hear Belle, thanks for taking the time to let me know.
Hi this is my first time in your blog. You have a very beautiful daughter. Congrats. Thank you for sharing your story and thanks a lot for sharing this recipe too! God Bless you both.
Thank you; we are just so blessed that her journey was also so successful. Hardest thing in the world for a parent to experience and certainly did some jumping for joy! The cupcakes? The bomb. 🙂
Do you use all-purpose flour?
Lindsay…Yes, any recipe on my site will be all purpose flour unless I specify something different. Hope you love them like we do!
Black Velvet makes a Caramel Whiskey that would be great for this as well
Like I need another bottle of whiskey. Which of course now that you mention that I DO!!
Ever tried making these in a mini cupcake pan?
I have not but can’t see why they wouldn’t work just fine. You will have to start testing for doneness much sooner; depending on how ‘mini’ they are. I have really tiny ones that cook cupcakes in 12-15 minutes like cookies so just make sure they don’t overbake and you’re golden!
I make this in mini-cupcake liners all the time — and may I say, they are INCREDIBLE! But SO rich, we like them a little smaller. It means making about half of the frosting, and I didn’t notice too much difference in cooking time, but the end result is lovely. Thank you SO much for this recipe and the story!
Will this recipe work in 2 9 in cake pans? My sister is turning 22 and has come to love Tennessee Honey and am really excited to make these for her!
Should be fine; just adjust your baking time to accommodate the increased volume. Start testing at 25-30 minutes.
Made these as a holiday treat for someone who enjoys their booze. He said that he and his girlfriend thought they were the best cupcakes ever! I don’t even like alcohol that much, but I LOVE these cupcakes. They look so fancy, but they’re really easy to make. This recipe is definitely a keeper!
These look amazing! I cannot wait to try making these 🙂
They are. That frosting and drizzle though? Out of this world. You’ll see. 🙂
Barbara, that photo of Lauren in the meadow is gorgeous, and I am so happy for you that she is cancer free! Those cupcakes are gorgeous, and the flavors sound just decadent and lush! No joke intended– I realize that some may think that eating these treats makes you a lush with all of that whiskey content! I have to make these!
Susan
Just read this today (12 months later) and I sincerely hope your beautiful Lauren is still going strong. That photograph of her is absolutely gorgeous. Wishing you and your family the very best. Angela xo
Thank you so much Angela. She is thriving; she lost her job as a result of cancer being a ‘bother’ for her boss and recently got a dream job with Zappo’s in Las Vegas so my girl is doing good. Just had a cle3an 6 month scan; it’s always a bit nerve-wracking to think it could come back but she’s a fighter and living her life to the fullest and that’s all any of us can do right?
So wonderful to hear the great news about your lovely daughter! Very happy to hear that she is cancer free after such a strong fight. Congrats (and the cupcakes look wonderful too BTW)!
Thanks much Raquel; that news literally knocks you to the ground but she was a fighter and kept a good spirit and now has a fantastic new job, some new hair and a great perspective. So grateful.
Love Love Love this story! and YES she is BEAUTIFUL!!! My daughter’s boyfriend is fighting cancer. Today has been such a tearful day as I see my daughter so broken! I read this story and it just warms my heart. Thank you for sharing your story. And, I am gonna make the cupcakes and think of you and your daughter.
Lauren would barely allow tears; she was determined to be POSITIVE, strong and proactive. I have to wonder how much that helped. Have him find some groups if he hasn’t already; that support was invaluable to her getting through this. No matter how much their family and friends love them; having others that can identify with the fear and heartache of the diagnosis means so much. I’m praying for him; this monster should not win! Stupidcancer.org…great for young people with cancer.
Hello, this is my first time on your blog and I simply had to say that is a stunning photograph of your beautiful daughter. Congrats on her recovery! I hope she continues to do well. I will be signing up for e-mails of your blog entries and will be making these for my best friend’s birthday. She is a huge Jack Daniels’ fan. Thanks!
Thank you Sandra; we certainly feel blessed. She just had her 6 months checkup and is still clear. Hoping and praying this is behind us forever.
Also how potent is the honey jack?
Definitely a denser cupcake; it needs to stand up to both the frosting and the drizzle. It’s a 70 proof combination of Jack Daniels and honey liqueur. Typically served straight up or over ice; here’s a review if that will help you. http://www.drinkspirits.com/liqueur/jack-daniels-tennessee-honey-review/
Thanks so much! One of my friends actually said she uses this recipe and loves it so I will give it a try. Do you think if I use cake flour it will work the same, while making it a little less dense?
I hesitate to say since I’ve not tried cake flour when making them; you can give it a shot if you’ve tried that before with other recipes and know that an equal amount won’t affect the outcome. They are not THAT dense; I would recommend sticking with the recipe as is if you can.
Hi! What is the texture of the cupcake? Is it dense or fluffy?
I made these for a graduation party and they were a huge hit. was asked to make them again for a 4th of July party. they were awesome. Just so yummy
Love that you loved them too Hollie!
Hello!!!
I am wanting to make these cupcakes but I do not see the recipe….PLEASE HELP!
I updated some pieces of my site this morning and it turned off my recipe display apparently; all fixed now Theresa.
I found this recipe from a friend’s share on Facebook. So excited to be making them for my husband’s birthday! Your daughter is beautiful, and I’m glad to read she is doing well! A quick question. My beebs are still far from the age of consent (5 and 2 to be exact), although I better not blink, lol. I was thinking the cupcakes would be ok for them, if I made some non alcohol based frosting, but what do you think?
Sorry for the late reply Meghan and yes, the cupcakes should be fine. You could make the frosting without any booze and just have the sauce for adults if that would help your efforts at all…hope you enjoy.
Where can I find the honey whiskey?? I searched Amazon and was unable to find anything. Ideas???
Thanks
Angie
I found it in my local liquor store so I would start there; anywhere Jack Daniels regular whiskey is sold would be a good beginning. As much as I love it I would not hesitate to use Jack without the honey liqueur if I couldn’t find it!
I came for the recipe but got so much more and so much better. The story of yours and your daughter’s journey. What brave girls you are. Your daughter is beautiful and I trembled when I read Cancer Free. Bless you both and thank you for sharing your story. I cherish my daughter and cannot image what you went through. You both are an inspiration.
Oh, and I am anxious to try the cupcakes. THANK YOU!!
Thank you so much for your sweet comment Annie; it is truly something no person should ever deal with but when it’s your child? Hardest words I’ve ever heard. We are so grateful but this experience certainly opens your eyes to the families who are dealing with cancer in one form or the other. We are the lucky ones.
I was surfing-looking for a super bowl dessert when I came upon your cupcake. My hubby bought a bottle of JD Honey a year ago & the full bottle is collecting dust in the cupboard. Aha! something to use it for; cupcakes-perfect. Than I read your story, by the time I finished tears were running down my cheeks. I’m a RN and used to work in an out patient area where we cared for patients having biopsy’s, chemo lines (creatures) placed, ect. What was frustrating was that we rarely heard about the outcomes of the people we took care of. Thank you for sharing story. I’ll think of you
Linda…out of this journey I know Lauren really looked for the good; for the good people and experiences and the things she could hold onto that helped to make it something almost positive. She will surely love that her experience brought something to yours. I can only imagine what it took to work in that environment when you saw the beginning and I’m so glad to share that Lauren’s journey had such a positive outcome. I feel blessed and fortunate and lucky…she will ALWAYS be my baby girl!
Been struggling to find a [strong] whiskey cake recipe without coffee in it and one made from items that I’ll already have in my cupboard to keep costs down! My handsome one is gonna have the best birthday with these involved 🙂 to top it off, thanks for sharing yours and your daughters recent journey through cancer. I lost my Dad to it 4 days before my graduation in 2012… so I understand the battles you’ve faced (except the watching your daughter deal with it part)! I wish you both happiness and health for the future… and of course plenty of fancy-cake eating! Thanks for sharing the recipe 🙂
So I plain on making these for a 21st birthday party Thursday night, and I will be traveling with them all ready made. I was wondering if I should wait to make the drizzle, or if it would be fine when I make the cupcakes (either the night before or the day of). Also same with the frosting.
Kelsie I made these for my daughter’s birthday and actually froze the cupcake/frosting for a couple of days so she could take them to Vail…and I gave her the drizzle in a separate container. Seemed to work fine for her…so I would suggest you do the same; with or without the freezing part of it. The drizzle might have to be warmed slightly or at least kept at room temp. Hope that helps!
I would really love to use this recipe for a cake! I’m assuming I would double the recipe?
These are the BEST cupcakes I’ve ever had. I still blows my mind that I made them! My husband is super in love with them and I’ve made them for my co-worker’s birthday tomorrow! She’s going to be in love as well… I thought of using other liquors as well, like Malibu or maybe a beer! Guiness is my fave 🙂 Thank you for this recipe!
As someone who has friends going through, and gone through this same experience, I understand. As a mum, well, that understanding and sharing is even deeper. To have beaten it, well done! Best that life can give! Cherish every moment with your daughter, she will always be ‘your little girl’! Congrats to you both!
You are so right Nancy; and she doesn’t get it. Determined to be independent which I applaud; she is also sort of determined to break some times and not be my ‘little girl.’ Silly huh”? It will never happen!
So I literally cried reading about your daughter and when I seen the Cancer Free Words in Red I cried even more 🙂 but the best words I can find at the moment is congratulations to your daughter and even more so to you for having a beautiful and brave daughter… on to the cupcakes they look and sound delicious which I can not wait to try and make this master piece for mom I think she would be one of the happiest people I know once I set that cupcake right in front of her 🙂 …. Thank you so much for your recipes
You are most welcome LeaAnn; thank you for your kind comments!
I made these for Thanksgiving…Man they were yummy….Just a quick question, my cake was a little dry and dense, and ideas on how to make it more moist? The icing was YUMMY and the drizzle was awesome!!!! 🙂
Hi Lisa…a couple of things: Ovens can actually vary in the temp output so even cutting back on cooking time a minute or two might help. Otherwise just add a bit of moisture in the form of a Tablespoon of milk (or two if you think you need more). I wouldn’t have called mine truly dense but they were also not light and fluffy…I wanted a cupcake that could hold up to that frosting. It is fantastic stuff isn’t it?
Wonderful I will try both. That frosting was super yummy. I have a request to make them again this weekend. My friend was not here for Thanksgiving and was very upset that I did not save him any cupcakes, so now I have to make them again…Like I’m broken up about making them again 😉 Thank you for the tip!!!
An incredible cupcake for a most deserving woman. Thanks for sharing the recipe and your story. I just shared it on my FB page because I thought everyone should see it.
Gracias por ésta deliciosa receta la voy a hacer.
De Nada!
Researching several recipes for whiskey cupcakes, this one sounds the very best. I’m going to try it with a pecan whiskey i picked up in TN. Thanks for sharing and best wishes!
Your recipe sounds fantastic! I stumbled upon your post on Pinterest.. I am just a week shy of my 22nd birthday, and I think these May be my birthday cupcakes!
Your post touched me because, I am fighting a rare gastrointestinal cancer.. I was diagnosed in 2010 with Gastro Intestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST).
I smiled as I scrolled through and saw that beautiful picture of your daughter. You are absolutely spot on when you say your daughter has a great reason to celebrate her next birthday, what a blessing to be cancer free! “Happy Birthday” is a victory song for people like us!
I will keep you and your family in my prayers.. From one cancer fighter to another, keep on fighting! Matthew 17:20
-Jessica, Tx
Oh Jessica I’m hoping AND praying you will hear those words too; I know it sounds trite but it is not fair for young people to face this monster. I hope you are in a great support group; I know Lauren’s spirit was buoyed up by meeting others fighting the same fight…they’ve all helped each others immensely. YOU take good care and I wish I was there to make these for you! Have a great birthday and here’s to MANY more. Barb
I have recently started cake decorating and I enjoys it very much. I moved 2 a very big town and got a job right off at Walmart doing exactly what I had hoped to do. Ive bn getting request fm friends and family for cakes and cupcakes so I have decided to pursue this new path Im on Your cupcake looks awesome! Im going to have to try it this weekend. Your daughter is a beautiful young woman and I know you’re proud. I have a Aunt and a Grandmother who are survivors so I understand the battle she has won and I understand the frustration of not being able to do much of anything but watch as they fight. God bless and good luck
Best of luck to you Porscha and thank you for the sweet comment.
it says 1/4 heavy cream…. is that Cups, tbsp or tsp??
An oops for sure Kathy; I’ve fixed it and it’s 1/4 cup or 4 Tbsp! Thanks for the catch…Barb
Thanks for the quick reply! I am making it today!! yay! Can’t wait to try it !
I am jealous; could you send me a huge spoonful of that frosting? Boy did I love that stuff!
Hi…I think I must have just read over it but what is the oven temp for this recipe? 375? Thank you for posting it! Excited to make!
Oops…should be 350 degrees Fahrenheit. I’ve fixed it; thanks!
Your Daughter is a beautiful, strong woman, as you too, must be. “CancerFree” should be a new word in the dictionary! My prayers go out for you and your family! I am anxious to try your cupcakes, they look scrumptious!
Thanks JB. Yeah, I raised them to be strong; I was a single mom and it’s all they knew! These cupcakes are really ‘the bomb.’ I sent them with her mostly out of concern I would eat all of them in one sitting. 🙂
First of all, I adore that picture of Lauren! It’s a beautiful photograph of a beautiful woman with an indomitable spirit. I can imagine back when she was first diagnosed how in the dark recesses of your mind, you must have feared not celebrating this birthday with her. I can imagine the joy that you had in your heart being able to write *CANCER FREE!!* I am so very happy for you, for Lauren and for all who know and love her. All birthdays are special but this one for Lauren is particularly so and you made her a treat that will be remembered for a long time to come. These cupcakes were so beautifully photographed Barb.
Thank you for all of you sweetness…not just for a comment! I did have those moments Paula; it was the most frightening thing I’ve ever dealt with so having her come out the other side is such a huge blessing. She will have to forever be watchful but for now we are breathing much easier…and her hair is starting to grow back!
What an amazing post. Thanks for sharing – and these cupcakes! Definitely the perfect way to celebrate!
These are really special cupcakes for the special lady and her special occasion. Congratulation and all the best.
I’ve featured this recipe on my blog, hoping that you don’t mind, but if you do, please contact me and I’ll remove it.
Thanks for letting me know Vera. I’m pretty easy, as long as you’ve linked back to me I’m OK with it. Thanks…Barb
You have a very beautiful daughter , and you are a lovely Mother. Congratulations to you both. Going to try these yummy cup cakes next !!! They sound wonderful.xox
Thank you Jan, I think she is too…inside and out. I hope you enjoy the cupcakes as much as we did!
I’ve absolutely officially fallen in love with these cupcakes – there’s really nothing else I can say – and wanted to let you know that I featured them on my blog’s Weekend Wrap-Up this week. If you’re interested, I’ve left the link below. Thank you for such a beautiful post and fabulous recipe, and I hope you have a great rest of your weekend!
Happy Birthday to your gorgeous daughter. She is quite a stunner and I am so glad she is now cancer free. Woo Hoo! I am sorry to hear that her boss was such a jackass about her illness, but a greater future lies ahead. Can I tell you how insanely good those cupcakes look. Oh my goodness! I want to lick the screen. That Bourbon drizzle over the butter cream looks soooo good. YUM!
Thanks on all counts…I wish I had some more but I’m tempted to drizzle some of that leftover bourbon drizzle over my tongue! 🙂
Happy (belated) birthday, Lauren! So happy that your inner warrior princess conquered cancer and you are now cancer-free!!! Wahoooo! Fabulous news! What an incredible journey for both daughter and mom. You two ladies are awesome. Meanwhile perfect Friday Cocktails recipe to celebrate…stinkin’ cute cupcakes all infused with good boozy flavor. Thanks ever so much for sharing, B! You are THE BEST. Again, so happy for you both! xo
I sent the cupcakes with Lauren to the mountains where she was given a week free at a condo by some folks who want to celebrate her good health. I’m thinking I should have kept them for me…she got a condo after all and I want a couple of those stinking cupcakes!! 🙂
Late to read this post! Belated happy birthday wishes to Lauren! Also HUGE whoops of joy and hugs for the words “cancer free”! What a journey you have both been on, so happy to see you both safely through the other side! xx
So late to read this post, but happy belated birthday wishes to Lauren! Also HUGE hugs and whoops of joy for the words “cancer free”! Wow, what a journey you have both been on, so glad to see you both safely through the other side! xxx
Wow, what an amazing post! Fantastic news about your daughter–congratulations on being cancer free! Here’s to spending many more years together. Cheers!
Happy Birthday to Lauren! What a year, huh?! A big high five to being cancer free. As Mom, you must be so thrilled. Cheers to many more birthdays!!!
[K]
Oh my goodness, Barbara! What wonderful news for Lauren!! Thank you so much for sharing this happy time with your readers, and your recipe. These cupcakes look irresistible!
I just found your blog for the first time courtesy of a link from How Sweet It Is, and what a wonderful first post to read! I’m very happy for you and your daughter! (And your talk about your girl, how much you adore her, and your miraculously close age gap all remind me of my mom and our relationship.) Can’t wait to try these cupcakes soon and to peruse more!
Welcome Mia; thanks for visiting and for your very sweet comments. They are truly good; wishing I had one right this very minute!
I hope your daughter had a wonderful birthday. Your cupcakes are certainly worthy of the special occasion.
I’m sure she did…she’s still celebrating up in the mountains; nice huh?
I am so glad to learn more about your brave and beautiful daughter. This post was so inspiring. It brought tears to my eyes! And these cupcakes? They look just delicious. Thank you for sharing all of this with us today!
Thanks Monet; you should know brave and beautiful!
Glad to hear that your daughter is continuing to do so well. I love the gorgeous picture of her. She’s amazing!
Thanks Anne-Marie…isn’t that picture amazing; who knew balk could be so doggone beautiful?
What a wonderful story, and how beautiful your girl is! Her ex-boss is a jerk, but on to bigger and better things. And these gorgeous cupcakes – how special are they!
Thanks Susan…and I do agree; he was a jerk but he was a jerk before he fired her, so best she not have to deal with him when she was trying to SAVE HER LIFE!! Right? 🙂
Woohoo, this is happy news indeed, Barb!! So much to celebrate. Sending both you and your daughter warm hugs and wishes for a wonderful, healthy year ahead. And what a way to indulge…this bourbon drizzle looks divine. xx
Thanks so much Hannah…and yes, I do believe the celebration could have begun and ended with that drizzle alone!
These look Fantastic! Happy she’s cancer free and your both now survivors. Cancer changes a person and is one of the scariest of words a person can hear. I beat cervical cancer when I was 20 but had to have a hysterectomy. My mother and aunt ( my moms sister) both beat breast cancer. Its unfortunately not an uncommon word in my family. I’ve always wanted to be in a position to help or be charitable for a good cause so Im getting ready to launch a campaign the end of this month to kick off for the month of October with a line of shirts that I will be giving back 50% of the proceeds to a local non-profit in Colorado called “Brent’s Place”. It’s a non-profit that helps children who are going through bone marrow transplants. Keep your eyes out 🙂
http://www.prettybitchescancooktoo.com
Hi Tamara; glad to hear that your are doing well now; keep me apprised of your project please? I’m in Colorado too and my daughter has built a decent network of women that might be able to help!
YAY!!!! So happy for you. And loving these cupcakes too 😉
oh Barb, I sit here with joyful tears as I read this – happy birthday to Lauren, happy Birth Day to you – such a reason to celebrate!
Thank you Kristina…it is a very happy day indeed!
What a great post! Terrific recipe, beautiful photo and best of all, a wonderful story to go with it.
Thank you Lynne…we are blessed the story does have such a happy ending.
Happy Birthday, Lauren! Hugs and wishes for many many more Birthdays.
Beautiful, luscious cupcakes Barb. Hugs to you too.
And ours to you…what a week huh?
What a wonderful reason to celebrate! 30 years old and a victory over cancer, what a year! Your cupcakes are perfect for the occasion. Enjoy the weekend!
We could use some sun couldn’t we? How was the get together? I had to cancel with Lauren; just started feeling bad and even the though of going to a restaurant made me nauseous. Boo. Missed everyone!
Lauren is so beautiful, both inside and out and I’m sure she gets it all from her very strong willed mommy. Love you my friend and love Lauren even more!!
I’ve never been happier before, now that she’s cancer free!! Happy Birthday, sweet Lauren!! xoxo
You are so sweet…thank you so much for your kind words Kiran. XOXO
Beautiful birthday tribute to Lauren, so glad to hear she is cancer free!
Thank you Laura…probably the best news ever!
Beautiful post, and gorgeous cupcakes! Happy Birthday to your lovely daughter – so happy that she is cancer-free!!
Thank you Sommer; best birthday present ever I would say (although she still gave me a wish list!). 🙂
Happy Birthday for Lauren at this very special occasion.
She s a beautiful girl -inside and outside -!and I admire her courage and strength ,shining example for all of us!
Thanks for sharing this life experience which is encouraging and inspiring!
And thank you for dropping by Daniela and for your very sweet words.
Reading this gave me goosebumps. So glad your baby girl is cancer free!
You get it probably more than she does. She will FOREVER be my baby girl.
Happy birthday, Lauren. And what a gift you have been given. Celebrate and appreciate all you have, but I’ll bet you already do. Barb, it looks like you have a goddess on your hands. What a gorgeous photo! And please save one of these cupcakes for me. OMG – they look over the top, good! and Barb, you must celebrate, too. What a relief! Take a deep breath. I’ve been living on those lately!
Lots of deep breaths Abbe…now sort of wondering when the fear will dissapate; I still wake each morning and it’s the first thing I think of. It helps that the news is now good at least!
So beyond thrilled for you both to hear those words – cancer free!! Happy, Happy Birthday, Lauren! Beautiful and delicious cupcakes, mom!
Thank you for your help through this journey…I’ll still share some goodies now and then too!
Congrats to Lauren! I’m so happy for both of you. 🙂 And these cupcakes are a great way to celebrate! I’m more a dark rum than whiskey person when it comes to booze in baked goods, but I do break out the bourbon from time to time. These are wonderful. Love the drizzle shot!
Thanks John. AND…you gotta try more bourbon; it can be FANTASTIC in baked goods and sauces. I promise!
That drizzle looks unreal! I could dive into a bucket of it 🙂
Me too. I might have licked a bit too much of it but we’ll just call that recipe testing, OK? 🙂
What a celebration! A major birthday and victory over cancer all rolled into one. And the perfect cupcake to honors those milestones.
I cannot stop staring at that photo of Lauren. It’s one of the most beautiful portraits I’ve ever seen. There’s determination and courage written all over her face.
I love everything about that photo but the real courage for me was seeing her say ‘be damned with worrying about a stupid bald head.’ Like she told me one day; I have nothing to be ashamed of…it’s just stupid cancer!
What a beautiful, heartrending and uplifting post all in one. I dread thinking of something like this happening to one of my boys and your strength through it all was second only to hers! She is beautiful and courageous! Her portrait is just gorgeous! And hey my son would love a boozy treat like this for his birthday!
(I am astonished by her boss’s actions! Astonished! He should be sued!)
Happy Happy Happy Birthday to beautiful Lauren! xo
Thanks especially to you Jamie while you deal with your own memories and heartache; you know more than anyone right now how I worried about that and how lucky I feel that we are celebrating. YOU take care…love you.
Oh my, when I started reading this sweet recipe, I had no idea what turn this article would take. How very touching, and thank you for sharing your odyssey. I have to start with “the cancer was a pain for her boss to deal with.” Holy smoke! Aren’t there laws against her losing her job? What a world, and what a heartless man he (or she) must be. There are some bad bosses, but this one takes the cake – well no, no cupcakes for THAT boss.
I am SO pleased to hear your daughter is well. My, but the entire experience must have been so terribly heartbreaking.
These cupcakes sound like a wonderful way to celebrate, and I am really really glad you are celebrating!
Best always to you and your lovely daughter,
ABC
Yes, he took the cake. Could we have sued? Maybe. Did she have the time or strength to endure that too? Maybe not…sometimes it’s best to just move on.
Thank you for your always sweet and kind words.
Wow, I am so happy for both of you!!!! Many more birthdays and celebrations ahead of both you 🙂 Gorgeous pics and fab recipe as well!
Thanks my sweet friends; and if we don’t chat soon I’ll wonder if you are just a figment of my imagination!
I’m not sure which I want to comment on first… so I’m flipping a coin….. and…. it’s heads!
Happiest of Birthdays, Lauren!!! I am so very happy for you. I’ve never met you or your mom but I feel as much joy as I would if we’ve all been RL friends. You are brave. You are lucky. You are resilient. You are strong. Waun Strong. I wish for you many, many more birthdays.
Barbara, you are just as amazing as your daughter (it obviously runs in the family). Everything I know about you I admire— and I’m not talking about your recipes.
Now for this recipe… oh yum… I can’t even begin to tell you how much I want to try this out! I rarely have luck with scratch cupcakes… cakes of any size without a mix weren’t something I learned as a child (except for cheesecake…. I make a killer cheesecake, compliments of my Gramma). So I’m putting my faith in you and shall give it a go.
You are so sweet; thank you from the bottom of my heart Teresa…Barb
Happy birthday Lauren and may you have many more! Birthdays are cancer’s worse enemy.
I had never thought of that but it’s a great saying…hey, you should enter it in a contest! 🙂
Happy Birthday. She looks and sounds like a warrior. Shes strong and a survivor!
That she is…it takes one too; an exhausting journey even if a successful one.
My hubby is the one that uses the PA system to find me in shopping centres! These cupcakes look awesome, I’d be very happy with these for my birthday. Such great news your gorgeous girl is cancer free, best wishes for Lauren on her birthday, for many more wonderful birthdays.
Sometimes you just have to do what you gotta do right? Hey, I would do it again today if I had to…she had better watch out! 🙂
Oh Barb, what an utterly inspiring post. I *adore* that photo of your daughter (the miracle one that’s only 9 years younger than you!!) – she does look like fierce warrior princess. My worst nightmare as a teenager was having my parents call me on the PA system in a public place…! These cupcakes also look utterly divine – perfect for weekend indulgence!
I am a miracle aren’t I…maybe I’ll age soon…to 49. 🙂
Oh Barbara, I feel so joyful to read this post, such wonderful news. No parent should have to see their child suffer. I have seen my own son suffer for some 15 years now and it’s the worst thing. Saying cheers to you both. Much hugs ox
You are so right Lizzy…I’m not aware of what is wrong with your son but I’m wishing both of you strength and courage through whatever it is. XOXO