Celebrate St. Patty's Day with cupcakes!

I'm not a huge beer fan (yuck!), but to be true to my Irish heritage and celebrate St. Patty's Day I've found a way to get my Guinness fix without struggling through the obligatory pint...GUINNESS CUPCAKES WITH BAILEY'S FROSTING! These have become somewhat of a tradition in my house for St. Patrick's day, just as much as corned beef and cabbage :)

Ingredients:
1 1/2  cups Guinness stout
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tbsp vanilla extract
3 eggs
3/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. In a large mixing bowl combine the Guinness, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Then beat in the eggs and mix in the sour cream.

In a separate mixing bowl combine the cocoa powder, sugar, flour and baking soda. I typically sift all of these ingredients together to ensure that they are thoroughly combined. Gradually mix the dry mixture into the wet mixture, making sure that the batter is completely smooth.

Line or grease your cupcake tins - whichever you prefer. I use the liners because it makes the cleanup a lot easier for Joe lol. This recipe yields 24 cupcakes, so you'll need 2 standard size cupcake pans, or you'll have to do them in a couple batches. Bake for 20 minutes or until they pass the toothpick test (poke a toothpick into the middle and it should come out clean).

Now for the frosting...

Ingredients:
8 oz cream cheese
1 lb confectioners sugar
1/3 cup Bailey's Irish Cream (coffee is my fav)

Whip the cream cheese in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the Bailey's and once it's thoroughly combined, slowly mix in the confectioners sugar.

Top your cupcakes with a big dollop of frosting once they've cooled.

It's the best way to enjoy the traditional St. Patty's Day Guinness without the hangover! Be safe out there and enjoy!