Sugar Water Cakes

The first time I saw Black Cobra was in February at the Empty Bottle. I can barely describe their awesomeness. Not only are Jason Landrian & Rafa Martinez amazing musicians that fucking kill it, they're also super gracious and polite. This kid I was going out with at the time, couldn't stop telling them how great they are and how their music is as heavy as Bullhead. They were very, very nice and even participated in a group hug with him.
Shut up! Group hugs are fucking metal!

Plus their t-shirts have Medusa riding two Great White Sharks. BRUTAL!

To further express my love for Black Cobra, I present to you a cupcake recipe inspired by their song Sugar Water. It features my favorite sugar water - Horchata!

Black Cobra: Sugar Water Cakes

Makes 24

Metal Constituents:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cup Horchata*
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 large egg whites

For the Frosting:

• 1 package (8oz) cream cheese, room temperature
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, room temperature
• 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

*If you're lucky enough to have a Mexican restaurant in your vicinity, I recommend buying a large Horchata with no ice (so that it's not watered down in the batter), and then just drinking whatever you don't use.

Merciless Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cupcake tin with baking cups and set aside.
2. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
3. Beat the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
4. In a separate measuring cup, mix the Horchata and vanilla together.
5. Add the flour mixture to the butter & sugar in 3 parts alternating with the Horchata. Beat well after each addition, and set mixture aside.
6. In a clean mixing bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form - if you've never done this before, it takes a while. Feel free to use an electric mixer, and maybe walk away for a bit to turn up your stereo. I'm sure it's playing Black Cobra, just like mine.
7. Gently fold egg whites into cake batter.
8. Fill baking cups about 2/3 full
9. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into one cake, comes out clean.
10. To Make the Frosting: Beat the cream cheese and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer until combined.
11. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time, beating until well incorporated.
12. Add the cinnamon, then increase the mixer speed and beat until fluffy.
13. Frost completely cooled cupcakes, and sprinkle with more cinnamon, if you so desire.

Here is the video for "Sugar Water." Enjoy!