Spiced Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 View Comments TweetHappy belated Saint Patrick’s day!
To celebrate the Irish-ness, here’s a pic of my gorgeous Irish Setter.
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.
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.
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
1. Beat together cream cheese, butter and vanilla until smooth. Add sugar gradually, continually beating until smooth.
Comments on Spiced Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes
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Kelly
18/03/09
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 :)
Michelle
19/03/09
I like the green design on your frosting. It looks very elegant. Great job.
http://oneordinaryday.wordpress.com/
foodizm
19/03/09
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!
lisa (dandysugar)
19/03/09
These are gorgeous! I love the pretty design on the icing, very delicate!
Elyse
19/03/09
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!!
foodess
20/03/09
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. :-)
Becky Hosford
22/03/09
Jen, these look amazing! Great site that I’m definately going to bookmark!
George@CulinaryTravels
23/02/10
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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