Candace the Munchie Monster: Irish Cream Cupcakes

Although St. Patty’s day isn’t quite upon us just yet, when I found this delectable cupcake recipe I knew it was simply meant to be displayed no matter what time of the year it was (although the fact that it’s getting close to the Irish holiday makes it just that much more perfect). Cupcakes are the perfect cake-to-go, and it’s easy to bring one along to class to get over the mid-day hump, making all your classmates jealous. Everyone knows that Bailey’s is delicious, but when in a cupcake adds that extra something something.

Guinness and Bailey’s Irish Cream Cupcakes
For the Cupcakes:

• 1 cup Guinness
• 16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 2 large eggs
• 2/3 cup sour cream

For the Ganache Filling:

• 8 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 2/3 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoon butter, room temperature
• 2 teaspoon Bailey’s Irish cream

For the Bailey’s Buttercream Frosting:

• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3-4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 4-8 tablespoons Bailey’s Irish cream

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin pan with paper liners.
2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine Guinness and butter. Add the cocoa; whisk until smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
3. In a large mixing bow, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt; set aside.
4. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the eggs and sour cream until combined.
5. Add Guinness mixture and beat to combine. Mix in dry ingredients on low speed until incorporated.
6. Fill the cupcake papers about 2/3 full, making sure that the batter is divided evenly. Bake until an inserted toothpick comes out clean, about 15-17 minutes. Cool completely on wire rack.
7. To make the ganache filling, place chocolate in heatproof bowl; set aside.
8. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, heat cream until simmering. Pour over chocolate, let sit for 1 minute, then stir until smooth.
9. Add butter and Bailey’s;  stir until smooth and combined. Set aside until cool and thick enough to be piped. stirring occasionally.
10. Once cupcakes have cooled, use a paring knife or apple corer to cut out a small circle in the center of each cupcake. Remove the core and trim leaving the core just big enough to be used to plug the hole once it is filled.
11. Transfer ganache filling to a decorating bag fitted with a small round tip (about ¼ inch). Pipe the filling into each hollowed cupcake
12. Once the filling is in place, place the trimmed core of the cupcake back into place.
13. To make the frosting, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter on medium high until light and fluffy.
14. Add powdered sugar and beat until incorporated. Add Bailey’s a few tablespoons at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
15. Transfer frosting into a large decorators decorating bag fitted with the 1M decorating tip and approximately 1/4″above cupcake top at a 90° angle to cupcake surface, pipe a spiral of icing, beginning at the outer edge and working inward.

Yields: 24 cupcakes
 
Thanks to: http://sweetpeaskitchen.com/2011/03/17/guinness-and-baileys-irish-cream-cupcakes/