Pinot Noir Cupcakes

What is better than wine and cupcakes?  Wine IN cupcakes!  Pinot Noir pairs nicely with chocolate. 

Cake Ingredients:
Devil's Food Cake mix
1 1/4 cup Pinot Noir
1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
4 eggs
1 Cup Chocolate Chips, dusted in flour

Frosting Ingredients:
6 cups Powered Sugar
1 1/2 cups Unsalted Butter
3/8 cup Pinot Noir
1/2 tsp Vanilla
Red Food coloring

For the cake you can simply use a chocolate cake mix or your favorite recipe and replace the water with the Pinot Noir or another Red wine of your choice.  Combine all cake ingredients except for the chocolate chips.  Mix on low speed until combined, then mix for about 2 minutes on medium speed.  Mix in the flour coated chocolate chips (the flour coat will help keep the chocolate chips from sinking).  Next scoop the batter into two cupcake pans lined with cupcake wrappers.  Bake according to directions, typically 350 degrees for about 25-30 min would be appropriate.

To prepare the frosting use a stand mixer to combine the powdered sugar and unsalted butter.  Next add the wine, vanilla and red food coloring.  If the frosting seems too thin gradually add more powdered sugar until the desired consistency is reached. Next fill a pastry bag fitted with a 1 M star tip with frosting.  Pipe onto the cupcakes once they are completely cool.  I finished my cupcakes with some chocolate sprinkles.

Enjoy these adult cupcakes responsibly!  They will definitely help keep you warm on these cold nights.