I had decided a while ago that St. Patrick’s Day would be the real end of my two-month long hiatus from baking due to bar study. A trip to Wegman’s was necessary to get the necessary ingredients (as you can see below), and I actually ended up feeling super cliche asking where the Bailey’s and Jameson were on the day before St. Patrick’s Day. There was actually only ONE six-pack of Guinness left when I got there around 5pm. I realized I shouldn’t have been surprised, but still, they should have had more in stock I think.
I used this recipe for chocolate Guinness cupcakes with Bailey’s buttercream frosting. Since I ended up not getting the Jameson, I skipped the whiskey caramel sauce, although I’m sure that would have put these out of this world. To make up for it, I topped the cupcakes with Thin Mints and green sprinkles.
I loved baking these because the rich aroma of Guinness filled the oven and spilled out into the kitchen. This was my first time baking with chocolate and stout, and I am a big fan. Just like coffee, the stout adds another layer of depth to the chocolate flavor. When it came to the frosting, for some reason I wasn’t in the mood to exactly measure out the powdered sugar. Powdered sugar is probably my least favorite ingredient to work with, and on this day I was not in the mood for a big puff of sugar in my face. I ended up gradually scooping small amounts into the whipped butter, and in doing so I lost track of how much I had put in. So I just kept going, adding more and more Baileys along the way too, until it seemed right to me.
I was really excited when some people at work said these were the best cupcakes I have made yet. I loved them too. You definitely get the Guinness flavor in the cupcakes, and the frosting was creamy without being overpowering in the sweetness department. The thin mint was a nice touch too with a slight touch of refreshing mint. These were the perfect way to celebrate the Irish holiday.