cupcake of the week!

sunday afternoon i finally got around to making the guinness cupcakes i had meant to make for saint patrick's day. whoopa.


luckily no one in our house particularly loves guinness so we still had a bottle sitting in our fridge for my baking extravaganza. they turned out really well - they're super moist and very chocolatey! and just in case you're interested i'll put up the recipe in case you have a bottle of guinness laying around as well.

Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes
Makes: About 30
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Total time: 50 minutes (plus cooling and frosting time)

CUPCAKES
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 cup Guinness stout
2/3 cup dark cocoa powder, sifted
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
2 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
8 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Green food coloring, optional
Green sprinkles, optional

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 24 to 30 muffin cups or line them with paper liners. In a heavy saucepan heat the butter, Guinness and dark cocoa powder until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool. In a large bowl, sift together the salt, flour, sugar and baking soda. Add the Guinness-cocoa mixture and beat for 1 minute on medium speed. Add the eggs and sour cream and beat for 2 minutes on medium speed. Evenly divide the batter among the prepared muffin cups. Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. While the cupcakes are baking, make the frosting. In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese, butter, confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla. Leave as is or tint it with green food coloring for a festive look.Remove the cupcakes from the oven and let them cool for 5 minutes in the muffin tin. Then remove the muffins onto a wire rack to cool completely. Frost the cupcakes as desired. Sprinkle with green sprinkles or sugar.

now, i cheated and just used store bought frosting. but, i think they still turned out pretty delicious! and if i can somehow locate my camera in my mess of a room i will take a picture of the cupcakes. but, don't count on it.