St. Patrick's Day: Stout Cupcakes Recipe

Today is the day to celebrate Irish culture. March 17th remembers Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who died on this day in the fifth century. St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated since the 1600s and falls during the Christian season of Lent. It originally served as a “break” during fasting. Prohibitions against meat were waived and people would dance, drink, and feast.

Similar celebrations occur today. We wear green. We carry shamrocks. We eat corned beef and cabbage. We dance a jig. We drink Guinness.

Or, in some cases, we eat Guinness.

I first baked these cupcakes in September. It was a cold and rainy Penn State football weekend, and it was also Nick’s 27th birthday.

The recipe comes from Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes cookbook, which we received as a bridal shower gift. At first I was hesitant to pour a pint of Guinness into the cupcake batter, but I knew Nick would love it. And, really, the cupcakes ended up tasting more like spice cake or gingerbread than beer. The stout simply helps to make them more moist and bold.

May the luck of the Irish be with you this St. Patrick's Day!

Cupcake Ingredients

•  3 3/4 cups flour
•  1/2 tsp plus 1/8 tsp baking soda
•  1 3/4 tsp baking powder
•  1 1/4 tsp salt
•  1 Tbsp cinnamon
•  1 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg (use less if you’re not using fresh)
•  1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
•  1 1/4 cups unsulfered molasses
•  1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp light brown sugar
•  2 whole eggs plus 1 egg yolk
•  1 Tbsp plus 1 tsp orange zest
•  1 1/4 cups (10 oz) Guinness, poured and settled

Cupcake Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 350°. Grease muffin tin (or line with paper).
2.  Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
3.  With an electric mixer on medium-low speed, beat oil, molasses, brown sugar, whole eggs plus yolk, zest, and stout until combined, Reduce speed to low and gradually add flour mixture until combined.
4.  Pour batter into tin, filling each 3/4 full. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Place onto wire racks to cool completely.

Glaze Ingredients

•  2 cups confectioners sugar, sifted
•  1/4 cup Guinness, poured and settled

Glaze Directions
 Whisk together until combined. Spoon over cupcakes and let set.