Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes

If there's one thing you can take away from this post, it's that you should not tell your hungry male audience that you are in possession of this recipe until you are prepared to actually make it.  I told a few friends that I had a recipe for Car Bomb Cupcakes approximately a year ago, and have heard virtually nothing but demands and begging ever since.  Finally, a fall gathering last weekend was the perfect opportunity to end the madness.

Having never tasted the drink, I cannot say if these taste anything like it.  The Guinness taste does not specifically come through in the cake, but enhances the chocolate flavor (and makes my kitchen smell especially delightful). They were pretty much exactly what I expected, and I doubt I'll make them again unless specifically requested - they're not exactly universally appealing.  I would recommend heating the cupcake in the microwave for a few seconds if you'd like the filling warm and gooey. It's delightful.

IRISH CAR BOMB CUPCAKES
Source: Annie's Eats

Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes
Ingredients:
1 cup Guinness
16 tbsp. unsalted butter
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
2 large eggs
2/3 cup sour cream

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Line cupcake pans with liners.

Combine Guinness and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.  When butter is melted, add cocoa powder and whisk until smooth.  Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.  In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the eggs and sour cream.  Add the butter/stout mixture, and beat until just incorporated.  On low speed, add the dry ingredients until combined.  Divide evenly between cupcake liners and bake until cupcake tops spring back when touched lightly - about 18 minutes.

Bailey's Ganache
Ingredients:
8 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2/3 cup heavy cup
2 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. Bailey's Irish Cream

Heat the heavy cream until simmering, then pour over chocolate in a heat proof bowl.  Let sit for 1 minute, then whisk until smooth.  Add butter and Bailey's and stir to combine.  Ganache will thicken as it cools.

To fill cupcakes, cut out a small cone from the center of each cupcake and pipe ganache into the center.

Bailey's Buttercream
Ingredients:
8 tbsp. unsalted butter, room temperature
3-4 cups powdered sugar
4-8 tbsp. Bailey's Irish Cream

Beat the butter with an electric mixer until fluffy.  Add powdered sugar and Bailey's until frosting reaches desired consistency.  (If frosting is too thick, add milk gradually).