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Crown Royal Cupcakes

For the whiskey lover in your life, these Crown Royal Cupcakes are infused with the bold flavor of Crown Royal and filled with chocolate! Decadent and delicious!

An ideal dessert option that serves beautifully, wows a crowd, and is rich in that Crown Royal cake flavor you desire.

Crown Royal Cupcakes

I am in love with my chocolate cake recipe.  It is so versatile.  I mean seriously. I’ve made this chocolate cake so many different ways now.  It’s gone mocha/coffee, dark chocolate, Guinness, cream, and now Crown Royal Reserve. 

I love the fact that just replacing this one ingredient, substituting just this one aspect of the cake can change the flavor so drastically.  It’s amazing!

Guinness Bailey’s Biscoff Chocolate Cupcakes are another delicious option you may enjoy instead.  Loaded with flavor, they have just enough alcohol in the background to add that special “kick” you want.  

You also can’t go wrong with my simple drunken chocolate cupcakes recipe.  As you can see, I love a good boozy cupcake!

Cupcakes flavored with Crown Royal displayed on a tabletop.

Can I Make These Hennessy Cupcakes Instead?

The cupcakes I made today are full of Crown Royal Reserve flavor.  The aroma of the batter was extremely intense and tasted so incredibly delicious.  The whiskey flavor was strong, but not overpowering.

It was perfection.

That said, if you prefer Hennessy over Crown Royal, you can easily substitute it in this recipe.  Just remember that different liquids can change the consistency of your batter.

Check the thickness of the batter once you’ve added about ¾ the amount listed and then add in more if needed. 

Filling cupcakes with cream filling.

Do These Cupcakes Need Chocolate Cream Inside?

Inside these cupcakes is a spiced chocolate cream I had leftover from the pumpkin spice cupcakes I made last week. 

I just whipped it up until it was smooth, then added a tablespoon of Crown Royal to it and it was silky, smooth, and perfect to fill these cupcakes.

Without the cream, the cupcakes are a delicious chocolate cake, but really lack that hint of whiskey that packs the flavor punch you want.

You can also use the whipped milk chocolate ganache from this recipe for chocolate cupcakes as a great filling for these whiskey-flavored cupcakes. 

Close view of Crown Royal Cupcakes

Are These Crown Royal Cupcake Safe for Kids to Eat?

In a word, no, they are not.  The crown royal is added not only to the cream filling, but to the icing, and as such, it is not cooked down. 

So, these cupcakes are definitely ones you would only share with the adults and need to limit consumption of because they do contain alcohol. 

Instead, serve the kids these yummy Red Velvet Oreo Cupcakes instead.  Just as delicious, with no alcohol so totally safe for them to indulge in with abandon. 

Kids deserve to have a special treat just like the adults, just make sure it is safe for them to consume. 

What Icing is Best for a Crown Royal Cake Cupcake?

Topping these cupcakes is a cream cheese frosting with nothing but Crown Royal Reserve as the flavoring. 

They are also garnished with a dollop of the same chocolate cream as in the middle of the cake.

This is my personal favorite combination, but a basic cream cheese frosting is a great choice, as well as any chocolate buttercream or even a cinnamon buttercream. 

They are all great choices with the richness you want that compliments the chocolate cupcake easily. 

Crown Royal Reserve Cupcakes

Betsy Eves
Crown Royal infused dark chocolate cake filled with spiced dark chocolate cream topped with Crown Royal frosting. Perfect for the CR lover in your life!
Servings 2 dozen cupcakes
Calories 477 kcal

Ingredients
  

Crown Royal Cupcakes

  • 3/4 cup Crown Royal
  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup dark chocolate cocoa powder
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2/3 cup sour cream
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup milk

Dark Chocolate Cream for the filling

  • Recipe can be found here!
  • NOTE: You’ll only need about half of what the recipe makes so save the rest for later or only make half
  • 1 Tbsp heavy cream

Crown Royal Frosting

  • 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • 4 oz cream cheese room temperature
  • 2 lbs powdered sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp Crown Royal more if you want a thinner frosting

Instructions
 

Crown Royal Cupcakes

  • Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Line cupcake pans with liners.
  • In a medium sauce pan, melt the butter over medium heat.
  • Once melted, add the Crown Royal and cocoa powder and whisk until smooth. Bring just to a boil then remove from the heat to cool slightly.
  • While cooling, whisk together the eggs, sour cream and milk in a medium bowl.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
  • Slowly pour 2-3 Tbsp of the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and whisk until smooth. Pour the rest in and whisk until combined.
  • Make a well in the flour and pour in the wet mix. Whisk until smooth.
  • Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full. Bake for about 18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Allow to cool in pan for 5 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.

Dark Chocolate Cream

  • Using about half of the frosting from the this recipe, add 1 Tbsp of heavy cream.
  • Using the whisk attachment on your stand mixer, whip frosting until light and fluffy.
  • Core each cupcake and fill with the chocolate cream.

Crown Royal Frosting

  • In the bowl of your stand mixer, cream together the butter and cream cheese.
  • Add the powdered sugar and beat on high until smooth. If it becomes too thick to mix, add the Crown Royal to loosen up.
  • Mix in the salt and beat on high for 3-4 minutes.
  • Pipe frosting onto cupcakes and top with a dollop of the dark chocolate cream to garnish.
Recipe Rating




Roddy

Saturday 11th of November 2017

Hi, I made these and I had GREAT reviews, my question is, could I substitute Crown for Hennessey? Would the alcohol volume difference cause an issue in baking and instead of 3/4c of alcohol could I add 1c or would that change the consistency of the cupcake? Thank You!

Betsy Eves

Sunday 12th of November 2017

Roddy - Yes - you can use whatever alcohol you want!! However, be careful when replacing the amount of liquid. Check the consistency of your batter after 3/4 cup and see how thin it is. :) Happy baking!

Tanika

Monday 17th of April 2017

These sound great! Can I omit the cocoa powder and use vanilla for vanilla flavored Crown Royal cupcakes?

Benika

Friday 16th of December 2016

I want to bake some some & sell for daughter fundraiser (I'm selling to all adults of course lol) but because it's a fundraiser I don't know how much to sell them individually because I always bake and give them out to my friends any suggestions

Betsy Eves

Friday 16th of December 2016

I suggest $2.50 each. :)

Julie

Saturday 11th of June 2016

I didn't make the filling but I will say I was the talk of the party! So so so so delicious!

Amy

Thursday 9th of June 2016

Hello! These cupcakes look delish! Do you need vanilla for the frosting? Just making sure it wasn't left out by accident. I'm making a birthday cake for my friend! Thanks for sharing!

Betsy Eves

Friday 10th of June 2016

Hi Amy - Nope... the flavoring comes from the Crown! :)