I am not a beer fan; honestly, I am not really an alcohol fan in general, but I particularly loathe beer. I get loopy when I drink, yep loopy and sick, so it’s just better for everyone that I stay far away from the stuff!
Although I do not like to drink beer, I do like to cook with it, especially when it’s Guinness. There is something about this dark, thick stout beer that enhances some dishes and really imparts a fabulous flavor. Up until recently, I have only used Guinness in savory dishes, so when I came across a recipe for Guinness cupcakes, I was all over it!
I had faith that these would just have a hint of Guinness and be heavy on the chocolate flavor due to all the cocoa powder. This recipe is very easy to whip together and although the batter reeks of Guinness, the finished product is a moist, light cupcake full of chocolaty goodness. I topped these with a nice dollop of vanilla bean frosting and a quick sprinkling of chocolate jimmies. Brian rated these an A and my co-worker Adam said, “This may be the best thing I have ever put in my mouth.” Now if that statement doesn’t make you want to rush into your kitchen and make these, I don’t know what will.
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Guinness Cupcakes
adapted from Dave Lieberman
Ingredients
1 (12-ounce) bottle Guinness Stout
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
3 large eggs
3/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa (I used Scharffen Berger Cocoa)
2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the Guinness, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Mix in the sour cream.
3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cocoa, sugar, flour, and baking soda. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet Guinness mixture.
4. Butter 24 muffin tins and divide the batter among the muffin tins.
5. Bake 25 minutes, until risen and set in the middle but still soft and tender. Cool before turning out of the tins.
Vanilla Bean Buttercream
1 stick salted butter – room temperature
1 stick unsalted butter – room temperature
1/2 cup shortening
1 tablespoon Clear Vanilla extract
1 1/2 pounds confectioner’s sugar (powdered sugar, 10x)
4 tablespoons very cold milk
Directions
Cream the butter and shortening in the bowl of an electric or stand mixer. Add the clear vanilla extract and combine well. Begin adding in the sugar and mixing thoroughly after each addition. After all of the sugar has been added and mixed thoroughly, begin adding the very cold milk… one tablespoon at a time, combining very well after each addition (mixer on medium-high to high speed) until you reach the desired consistency.
Notes:
Cupcake recipe is from: http://www.chow.com/recipes/11557
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Beautiful!! I’m not a big drinker, and I hate most beers, but I love Guinness. And I love things cooked or baked with Guinness. I will definitely have to give these a try.
Thanks for the recipe.
Gorgeous cupcakes Jamie! I’m with you completely – Guinness on its own = ick, but in cooking and baking, it yields many terrific dishes!
I’m with you. I hate beer with a passion, but Guinness in a cake? I’m positively obsessed. Top it with Baileys Irish Cream Frosting and I’m in absolute heaven. Mmm. Now you’re making me want to run out to the store to get some Guinness to bake these RIGHT NOW!
I love Guinness cupcakes! Guinness is definitely better when it’s baked into chocolate cake.
*drools* might have to make these for work
These are so cute and look delicious.
I want one of those for breakfast. It looks amazing.
This looks so yummy! (: Thanks for sharing the recipe. Think I will make this VERY SOON!
We also don’t drink booze around here….but these cupcakes sound awesome. Guiness is a great addition to baking, ice cream & savories. Wonderful inspiration and great photos!
My husband refuses to take even a tiny sip of beer….when we were first dating, I would sometimes order a beer and it was so funny to see the waiters always set it down in front of HIM!! I guess we all assume men like beer. These cupcakes look so yummy, I would love to make them, let him eat one, and then tell him he ate a beer cupcake!!
I have never baked anything with guiness, this looks so so good.
Looks like a nice recipe. I haven’t baked with beer yet (not a a huge fan), but I have done bourbon, brandy, rum, and cognac. Just a little bit of advance. Try heating the alcohol and then adding it to the cocoa powder, this will melt the residual cocoa butter in the cocoa powder, giving you a more intense chocolate aroma and flavor. Then add this mixture to your eggs and oil. I always use this technique when I’m making chocolate cake “anything.” Trust me you will notice a difference. Good Job.
Jon
I made similar cupcakes last weekend, and oh my they were good. Easily one of the best chocolate cakes I’ve ever made. And I don’t like beer!
Yours look amazing – I didn’t make a frosting, and yours looks perfect.
who would’ve thought? i’ve only used guinness in savory dishes, but this is the perfect solution for all the guinness we have left over from st. patty’s.
I don’t drink, but I am pretty sure I could handle one of these cupcakes with no trouble:)
These looked so amazing I tried them last night, they were really yummy but some how mine ended up hollow! They were like little cupcake tops, anyone have any idea what went wrong?
These look absolutely fabulous. LOVE the use of the beer cap as decoration. What a great gift idea for a boyfriend or husband (or girlfriend or wife, for that matter!). Thanks for sharing!
I made a cake that was just like this, but it was too big for my boyfriend and i to finish.
I love the cupcake idea. I am going to make mini guiness cupcakes with a new pan i got from KaTom (a restaurant equipment online site)
Check it out. You can make 24 in it
I’ve made these multiple times since I’ve run across the recipe! They are extremely tasty and moist. The most recent time I made them I substituted the milk for more Guinness – YUM! Everyone has loved and raved about them. Thanks for sharing.
These cupcakes are a hit whenever I make them! Fantastic recipe as always!
Hi,
Does the Guinness have to be fresh? I have a bottle in the fridge that’s been opened for like a week and am wondering if I can use it!
Sophia-
I think the guiness should be fresh for this recipe.
-Jamie