Cucumber Martini Cupcakes

Cucumber martini cupcakes are sophisticated - fresh, not cloyingly sweet, and graced with gin and vermouth in both cupcake and frosting.  Cucumber martini cupcakes are not for everyone (a few tasters balked at the unusual flavor and promptly discarded their cupcakes).  Yet, if you relish cucumber martinis or the crisp feel cucumber imparts to any beverage (even simple cucumber water), you'll likely be fond of cucumber martini cupcakes - a dessert destined for a trendy bar's small sleek menu alongside local cheeses, charcuterie, mini scoops of house-made ice cream, and a bowl of truffled popcorn.

Candied Cucumber - This is No Pickle

Cucumbers are clean, crisp, and refreshing.  Why do we often sour them, turning them into pickles?  Although candied cucumbers resemble bread and butter pickles, I assure you that they taste nothing alike.

Candied cucumbers taste like candy!  They are sticky, sweet, and - since I added some fresh mint when I candied them - minty fresh!  These candied cucumbers made a gorgeous topper for my cucumber martini cupcakes (coming soon).  But, they would also steal the show on an after-dinner cheese plate or perched on the side of a glass of an actual cucumber martini.