Wednesday 17 March 2010

Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes

I could never celebrate St Patrick’s Day without this heavenly Chocolate Guinness Cake recipe but this year I decided to make cupcakes instead. I’ve been making this recipe for years now and it’s definitely one I will bake for many more years to come. In our house this is in our top 10 list of favourite cakes and one my boys and I love eating! These dark cupcakes have a dense, moist sponge that oozes the flavour of the chocolate and subtle undertones resonating from the Guinness. The frothy topped pint of Guinness is replicated here with the creamy exuberance of cream cheese frosting. My hubby is taking some into the office today to share with his co-workers, that should keep them happy and fatter than me (yep I’m back on Weight Watchers, so none for me, boo hoo). Wishing everyone a Happy St Patrick’s Day!!


Happy St Patrick's Day!!



Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes

Makes 24

Ingredients

For the cupcakes
250ml Guinness
250g unsalted butter, cut into pieces
75g cocoa
400g caster sugar
142ml sour cream
2 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla extract
275g plain flour
2 ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

For the topping
300g Philadelphia cream cheese
150g icing sugar
125ml double or whipping cream

Preheat the oven to gas mark 4/180˚C/fan oven 160˚C. Line 2 muffin tins with muffin paper cases.

Start by pouring the Guinness into a large, wide saucepan and add the butter; heat until the butter's melted, at which time you should whisk in the cocoa and sugar. Beat the sour cream with eggs and vanilla and then pour in the pan of brown, buttery, beer and finally whisk in the flour and bicarbonate of soda.

Pour the batter into the muffin cases ¾ of the way up and bake for 18 to 20 minutes. Leave to cool in the tins for 20 minutes and then cool completely on a cooling rack.

When the cupcakes are cold get on with the icing. Lightly whip the cream cheese until smooth, sieve over the icing sugar and then beat them both together. Add the cream and beat again until it makes a spreadable consistency.

Ice the top of the black cupcakes so that it resembles the frothy top of the famous pint. Sprinkle with shamrock sprinkles or green glitter or sugar (optional).

30 comments:

Unknown said...

They do look yummy Maria, but my head can't get around the fact that there's Guinness in them. Perhaps I should just give them a go - they might turn out to be my favourite cake, who knows.
Happy St Patrick's Day to you too :0)

Beth (jamandcream) said...

I've been meaning to try Nigellas Choc Guiness cake for ages. Really should make an effort. They look yummy and hubby would approve

Lucie said...

Absolutely delish! They look perfect -Love them! I admire your will power, they are so tempting. Thanks again for the cupcake idea. A box of them have gone off to Cheltenham Races with my other half to share out. Love Lucie x

Nickki said...

You are seriously tempting me, Maria! ;-) I love this guinness cake but I've never tried it in cupcake form. Brilliant idea for St Patrick's Day! :-)

Sweet Treats by Dani said...

u have more will power than me - i could never say no to a cupcake that pretty :)

Diana's Cocina said...

Oh wow, this is a must try!

Finla said...

I sometimes like to drink guiness especially in the winter, never baked anything with it. Cupcakes looks so moist and i just love that frosting.

Brownieville Girl said...

Great minds think alike!!! I blogged about the choc guinness cake today too.

Your idea of making the mix into cupcakes is wonderful, think I'll have to give it a go.

Love your blog. Thanks.

Chele said...

My right hand man at work is Irish so I will need to make these for him!

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

Oh yum, they look good!

Choclette said...

Love the idea of doing the Guinness cake as cupcakes - so many things to try and never enough time to make them - aghh!

Nic said...

This is about the 10th Guinness cake(s) I've seen today and now I'm desperate to try one! So hungry now.

Anonymous said...

Your hubby brought these into work for us and my god.......they were sooooooo good.

I'm now proceeding to get my wife to make these.

Thank you and Mr johnston

Matt

Maria♥ said...

Your welcome Matt and thanks for the lovely comment.

Maria

Charmaine's Cupcakes said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Maria♥ said...

Hi Charmaine

There should be a slight subtle tang from the Guinness but it shouldn't be over-powering.

Maria
x

Sio said...

Hi, these look amazing! Not a fan of Guiness myself but my hubby would go crazy over them. Just a question, did you use the draft or Extra Stout type, I imagine one would give a much stonger taste. Thanks

Maria♥ said...

Hi Sio

I used the regular Guinness and yes men normally love these!

Maria
x

Anonymous said...

Made these last night. The cake is delicious and went down a treat at work. However, I found the icing recipe far too runny. Perhaps it was because I could only get half fat cream cheese? I added extra icing sugar which obviously made it much sweeter but still gorgeous. Great recipe.

Jimbo said...

You have got to try these!!!!!! The taste of Guinness is overuled by using a good quality cocoa (I used Bournville) and they are brilliant!!!!! I am now working on a chocolate type liqueur that could be inserted as a ganache in the centre, something like Baileys cream.
But even the cake on its own is brilliant with custard!!!!

Anonymous said...

these are absolutely amazing thanks for sharing the recipe, have found a new favourite! They are so moist and very moreish.

Rachel said...

Thank you, this recipe has worked brilliantly... here's my blog on it http://rachelstulips.blogspot.com/2011/09/sunday-sweetness-guinness-cupcakes.html

Anonymous said...

Made these last night and they turned out a treat! I'm not a stout drinker but the taste is awesome and the frosting was so easy to make and had a nice shine. Delicious x

Mum with a Munchkin said...

I love this cake and want to try it with royal fondant icing. Do you think it will work and keep well?

Maria♥ said...

Hi Munchkin mum

Yes using fondant icing will be fine.

Maria

TarcyS said...

During a google search found this recipe... A slight tweak to a slightly baileyed marscapone cream.. 24 cakes later and lots of happy people at work.... A bril recipe... And so easy

Jack said...

I need something to take to work on Monday for a charity coffee morning and I've decided on this! So excited to give it a try. And I'm sure everyone in the office is going to love them :)

Unknown said...

I run a pub and serve this as one of our desserts. I cover with chocolate ganache and serve with cream. Is very popular and delicious.

Unknown said...

I run a pub and make this as one of our desserts. I cover with chocolate ganache and serve with cream - is very popular.

BearNecessities said...

Thanks for posting this, I make this chocolate cake every year for St Patricks day but wondered if I could convert it to cupcakes, you have given me the confidence to try, happy St Patrick's day