Cheers! Cocktails were flowing and glasses were tinging tonight at the third Iron Cupcake. The challenge was COCKTAIL, and it did not disappoint.
Let me just say from the get go...I am not too proud to just come right out and say it...I got my cupcake butt kicked tonight! My interpretation (above) - Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet - was a very heavy cake and a decent frosting, but did not carry the flavor of the liquor. It baked out and a solution to solve the problem never dawned on me. They were cute; as cake, it was yummy, but NOT as a liquor cake. Boo Hoo for me.


We had a new entry this evening, Brendan (above) the manager of Fratello's Milwaukee. He whipped up a Mojito cupcake infused with simple syrup and topped with candied lime. Brendan had a similar taste challenge as I did. It was a good cake, but identifying the specific cocktail by taste was difficult.

Jeff brought his A-game tonight and he knew it! I barely got there and he was making the big cupcake reveal. Tonight, he was snapping as many pictures as I was! This boy was in it to win it...must be the liquor. (ha ha ha)
To trump my previous cupcake cards, he made not one entry, but two! The first was based on an Applejack Martini - and it was lovely, especially to look at. The picture doesn't do it justice, but it was garnished like a work of art. The fanned apple was stunning. The cake was doused in a Apple Martini simple syrup and drizzled with a caramel. Served in a chilled martini glass.
Jeff's second entry was the Bomb Pop Martini – and the hands down winner. Remember those awesome big popsicles from when you were a kid? This was the boozy cupcake version: three layers - a UV Blue Raspberry Vodka Cake, a Lemonade Cake and a UV Lemonade Vodka cake. It was served stacked on a stick (like any good popsicle would be) and presented on a whipped cream base. DELICIOUS! This incredible creation makes Jeff our winner tonight. CONGRATULATIONS JEFF! You da Man!
While we are talking about Jeff, lets not let it go un-noticed that we FINALLY have photographic proof that he does in fact exist! Here he is, my cupcake playmate -- Chef Jeff -- not just a figment of my imagination. Ladies...I present to you... the cupcakes, the tattoo, the attitude... (and those eyes...) and such a good sport for playing along with my cupcake fodder.

Next Iron Cupcake, one week from tonight.
Challenge ingredient: CHEESE