Spiced Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes

Posted by foodess on Wed 18th of Mar, 2009 09:07:54 PM

Happy belated Saint Patrick’s day!

To celebrate the Irish-ness, here’s a pic of my gorgeous Irish Setter.

oliver1 Spiced Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes

I think he is my lucky charm. There must have been luck involved in helping these cupcakes turn out as yummy as they did. Not only did I fly by the seat of my pants in with the recipe, but I did so at one o’clock in the morning, after a long day of classes, in a goat curry-induced food coma and after several glasses of wine.

cupcake-2 Spiced Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes

The moist, subtly spiced cake was delicious with cream cheese frosting - an idea I got from Kevin at Closet Cooking (who also included a shot of Bailey’s). The stout adds a malty complexity to the chocolate cake, without tasting distinctly beer-y. And the bubbles act as a leavening agent!

Not that I think you really need an excuse to drink beer, but if you really need a reason, try it in cake form. And what better occasion than on St. Paddy’s day? Okay… a bit late, now. Let’s just call March “St. Paddy’s month”, for the sake of getting some more Irish beer in.

cupcake-1 Spiced Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes

Spiced Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes

  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 3/4 cups flour
  • 3/4 cups cocoa
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp allspice
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup Guinness beer, or other draught

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees and line two muffin tins (I did one 12-cup tin and one 24-cup tin for minis) with paper liners. Whisk together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt, and spices.

2. In a separate bowl, blend together eggs, milk, oil, beer, and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients and beat on medium speed of electric beaters for 2 minutes. Fill cupcake liners to three quarters full. Bake for 25 minutes, or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened

    • 1/4 cup butter, softened
    • 2 cups powdered (icing) sugar
    • 1 tsp vanilla

    • 1. Beat together cream cheese, butter and vanilla until smooth. Add sugar gradually, continually beating until smooth.

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    8 Responses

    1. 1
      Kelly - March 18th, 2009 at 9:35 pm

      I think I can speak for all the Dietetics girls when i say ur muffins were delicious!! They were a great way to kick start the morning, so moist and flavourful, yummy! I dont know how u do it Jen, making super great dishes by following ur own intuition (its something Sarah and I could only dream of doing, haha) but ur a master at it :)

    2. 2
      Michelle - March 19th, 2009 at 7:36 am

      I like the green design on your frosting. It looks very elegant. Great job.
      http://oneordinaryday.wordpress.com/

    3. 3
      foodizm - March 19th, 2009 at 3:10 pm

      this is so yummy! the green lines/decoration on the frosting is so pretty!
      i wonder how it taste? does it taste like the beer more or like chocolate?

      i shall try!

    4. 4
      lisa (dandysugar) - March 19th, 2009 at 4:39 pm

      These are gorgeous! I love the pretty design on the icing, very delicate!

    5. 5
      Elyse - March 19th, 2009 at 6:58 pm

      Oh wow! These cupcakes look delicious!! I love chocolate and spice. And that cream cheese frosting sounds divine. What a stellar combination. Man oh man, I wish I had one of these right now. Ooo, and your Irish Setter is beautiful!!

    6. 6
      foodess - March 20th, 2009 at 10:07 am

      Thanks, Kelly! I’m glad you called them muffins… let’s pretend we weren’t eating cupcakes for breakfast in nutrition class… :-)

      Michelle and Lisa - thanks! I just swirled in some green frosting with a toothpick.

      Foodizm - the cocoa and spice are the predominant flavours… the beer is very subtle, it just adds some depth.

      Elyse - chocolate and spice are a great combo. And thanks, I think he’s pretty beautiful, too. :-)

    7. 7
      Becky Hosford - March 22nd, 2009 at 5:59 am

      Jen, these look amazing! Great site that I’m definately going to bookmark!

    8. 8
      George@CulinaryTravels - February 23rd, 2010 at 4:00 am

      Lovely cupcakes, but your Setter is gorgeous. I have an Irish Setter too (Murphy) and aren’t they just the most adorable dogs.

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