Henny Cupcakes with Hennessy Pipettes (Easy Recipe)
Today I’m excited to share a delightful dessert with a twist – Henny Cupcakes. For those of you who might not know, Henny is short for Hennessy, a popular cognac brand.
If you want to bring something to a birthday party or girls’ night that makes people stop mid-conversation — these are the cupcakes.
Vanilla cupcakes with a salted caramel buttercream frosting, gold sanding sugar on top, and a Hennessy pipette sticking out of each one. The pipettes are the whole moment. Guests squeeze them in themselves right before they take a bite, so every cupcake is custom. Some people do a little. Some people do the whole thing. No judgment.
I’ve made these for birthdays, bachelorettes, and one very memorable girls’ night where the pipettes were gone before I even finished frosting the last cupcake. They look impressive, they taste even better, and — real talk — they’re mostly just box mix and canned frosting dressed up correctly. That’s the secret.
What ingredients do you need for these henny cupcakes?
- vanilla cake mix
- water
- vegetable oil
- eggs
- buttercream frosting
- salted caramel frosting
- hennessey
- Gold sanding sugar
How Do You Make These Henny Cupcakes? Step By Step Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
Add the cake mix, water, oil, and eggs to a large bowl, or bowl of a stand mixer, and beat on high for 3 minutes, until you have a smooth batter.
Fill 24 cupcake cavities ¾ full with batter, transfer the pan to the oven, and bake for 12-15 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Transfer pan to a cooling rack, and allow cupcakes to cool for 1-2 hours.
Add both cans of frosting to a medium bowl, or stand mixer, along with ½ tablespoon of cognac, and beat on high for 1-2 minutes until light and fluffy.
Add the frosting to a piping bag equipped with the tip
Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes.
Sprinkle gold sanding sugar onto cupcakes.
Fill the pipettes with hennessy, and insert into cupcakes.
The Pipettes — What They Are and Where to Get Them
(This is the #1 question people will have and the post currently doesn’t address it at all)
The pipettes (also called cocktail injectors or flavor syringes) are small plastic tubes with a rubber bulb on top. You fill them with Hennessy, insert them into the top of the frosted cupcake, and guests squeeze as they eat.
You can find them on Amazon or at party supply stores — search “cocktail pipettes” or “cupcake pipettes.” They usually come in packs of 50-100 and are inexpensive. Plan for one per cupcake minimum, two if your crowd is generous.
To fill them: draw the Hennessy up by squeezing the bulb, releasing it into the liquid, then inserting while submerged. Insert into the cupcake after frosting and sanding sugar — add them last so they stay upright and look clean in presentation.
FAQs About Cognac Cupcakes:
Cocktail pipettes (also called flavor injectors or drink syringes) are small plastic tubes with a rubber bulb. Search “cocktail pipettes” on Amazon or check party supply stores. They come in packs of 50–100. Plan for one per cupcake.
At ½ tablespoon across 24 cupcakes it’s subtle — more of a warm background note than a strong alcohol flavor. The pipettes are where guests control their own pour. If you want the frosting itself to taste more like Hennessy, go up to 1 tablespoon.
The cake batter in this recipe doesn’t actually contain Hennessy — the alcohol comes from the frosting and the pipettes. So there’s no baking-out question for the cupcake itself. The ½ tablespoon in the frosting is a small amount across 24 servings.
Yes — any cognac works in place of Hennessy. Bourbon or dark rum are good alternatives if you want a different flavor profile. Keep the amount the same.
Yes. Bake and cool the cupcakes up to 2 days ahead — store unfrosted in an airtight container at room temperature. Make and store the frosting separately in the fridge, bring to room temperature before piping. Insert pipettes right before serving.
Tips and Tricks For These Boozy Cupcakes:
Be careful not to overmix your batter as this can make your cupcakes tough rather than light and fluffy.
Do a toothpick test to ensure your cupcakes are fully baked. If the toothpick comes out clean, your cupcakes are ready!
Ways To Switch These Cupcakes Up:
Henny Chocolate Cupcakes: Add cocoa powder to your batter for a rich, chocolate flavor with a hint of cognac.
Henny Fruit Cupcakes: Add some dried fruit like raisins or currants that have been soaked in cognac for a boozy fruit cupcake.
Where to Serve:
These Henny cupcakes are a fantastic addition to adult parties or gatherings, cocktail hours, and even as a unique dessert for dinner parties. Their unique flavor makes them a great conversation starter!
Store your Henny cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the fridge for up to a week. They can also be frozen (without frosting) for up to 2 months.
Topping Options:
- Cognac-infused buttercream frosting
- Vanilla or cream cheese frosting
- A dusting of powdered sugar
- Chocolate ganache
Why This Recipe Works:
This Henny Cupcake recipe stands out because of the unique flavor the cognac imparts. It adds a warm depth to the cupcakes, making them a sophisticated treat for adults. The alcohol also helps to keep the cupcakes moist and flavorful. And don’t worry if you’re not an expert baker, these cupcakes are straightforward to make and the result is absolutely delightful!
What are some other fun cupcake recipes to try?
If you are looking for more cupcake recipes be sure to check out The Best Cupcake Recipes You Will Ever Try!
Easy Henny Cupcakes
Vanilla cupcakes with salted caramel cognac frosting, gold sanding sugar, and a Hennessy pipette in every single one. The cupcake that stops the party.
Ingredients
- 1 box vanilla cake mix
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 3 eggs
- 16 oz container buttercream frosting
- 16 oz container salted caramel frosting
- ½ - ¾ cup brandy
- Gold sanding sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
- Add the cake mix, water, oil, and eggs to a large bowl, or bowl of a stand mixer, and beat on high for 3 minutes, until you have a smooth batter.
- Fill 24 cupcake cavities ¾ full with batter, transfer the pan to the oven, and bake for 12-15 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Transfer pan to a cooling rack, and allow cupcakes to cool for 1-2 hours.
- Add both cans of frosting to a medium bowl, or stand mixer, along with ½ tablespoon of brandy, and beat on high for 1-2 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add the frosting to a piping bag equipped with the tip, and pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes.
- Sprinkle gold sanding sugar onto cupcakes.
- Fill the pipettes with cognac, and insert into cupcakes.
Nutrition Information
Yield
12Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 466Total Fat 21gSaturated Fat 7gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 12gCholesterol 69mgSodium 358mgCarbohydrates 64gFiber 1gSugar 46gProtein 3g
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Hi! I’m Nellie. I am an entrepreneur, a busy mama of 3 and a wife to my high school sweetheart. I have been sharing content for over 12 years about how to cook easy recipes, workout tips and free printables that make life a little bit easier. I have been featured in places like Yahoo, Buzzfeed, What To Expect, Mediavine, Niche Pursuits, HuffPost, BabyCenter, Mom 2.0, Mommy Nearest, Parade, Care.com, and more!
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