Baklava Cupcakes

Want to add an international spin to your cupcakes? These Baklava inspired cupcakes are sure to do just that! Before you start furiously writing down the ingredients or printing this recipe, I just want to be honest with you and let you know that these do require a little more work than my usual recipes, but it's still super easy! For this recipe you'll need...

• White Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water - but we're replacing the water with Milk)
• Milk (to replace the water)
• 5 Tablespoons of Honey (some for the batter, icing and topping)
• 2 1/4 Cups Chopped Nuts (some for the batter and some for the topping - I used walnuts for the batter and a mixture of walnuts, almonds and pistachios for the topping)
• 3 1/4 Teaspoons of Cinnamon (some for the batter, icing and topping)
• 1/2 Teaspoon of Nutmeg (for the batter)
• Pinch of Ground Cloves (for the batter)
• 1/4 Cup of Brown Sugar (for the topping)
• Store Bought White Icing
• Butter (Around 1/2 a cup at room temperate for the icing and around 3 tablespoons for the topping)
• Icing Sugar (optional)

Yes, I know, it seems like a lot of ingredients. But if you really wanted you could cut the cloves and nutmeg so that helps!  Now on to the recipe...

Step 1: Sort of follow the directions on your White Cake Mix. Start by preheating your oven and add the oil and eggs...but DO NOT add the water.Replace all of the water your cake mix calls for with Milk.  Add in 1 Tablespoon of Honey, 2 Teaspoons of Cinnamon, 1/2 Teaspoon of Nutmeg, and a Pinch of Ground Cloves and mix the ingredients together until it is smooth.

Step 2: Now, if you're not a fan of nuts in your cupcakes you can skip this part.  But if you do like nuts, stir in 3/4 of a Cup of Chopped Nuts.  I used walnuts, but you could use a mixture of whatever you have in your cupboards.  Spoon the batter into your cupcake liners and bake as directed on the package.  Once they are done baking, let them cool completely.

Step 3: While your cupcakes cool, why not make your icing. Mix together your store bought White Icing and around 1/2 a Cup of Butter on high until smooth. Add in 2 Tablespoons of Honey and 1 Teaspoon of Cinnamon. Mix well until fully incorporated. Icing, done! 

Step 4: By now your cupcakes probably still need some time to cool. So, on to the simple, sweet nutty topping. In a frying pan, melt down around 3 Tablespoons of Butter on medium heat.  Add 2 Tablespoons of Honey, 1/4 Cup of Brown Sugar and 1/4 Teaspoon of Cinnamon. Stir until fully incorporated and continue to heat until it reduces to a sticky syrup. Add in 1 1/2 Cups of Chopped Nuts. Mix well and let cool.  

Step 5: And now it's assembly time - only once your cupcakes are cooled of course. Pipe or spoon your icing on each cupcake. Add a spoonful  (around 1 teaspoon) of your lukewarm topping on the top of your icing and gently spread it around. Make sure that your topping is not hot when you add it because it will melt your icing. That's it, not too difficult at all and you'll be surprised how quickly you can whip these up!

Happy Faking!