For some time now, my dad has been on ancestry.com trying to learn more about our family history.  What I know of my heritage is that I’m, 50% Russian Jew, 25% Slovak, and 25% euro mix.  Part of that mix is British Isles, but not sure if its absolutely at all from Ireland.  Good thing on St. Patrick’s Day, anyone can be Irish!  Fun fact, St. Patrick’s Day was created to celebrate the arrival of Christianity to Ireland.  St. Patrick used shamrocks to describe the Holy Trinity to the polytheistic population of Ireland.  Typically St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated in church, wearing green, and lifting lenten food and alcohol restrictions for that day.  Desiree over at Honey Dearest makes chocolate stout cupcakes with irish cream buttercream to celebrate this holiday.  Since we were finally invited to a St. Patty’s Day party, I decided to join her for this new tradition!

My darling children, or “wee bairns”, love to help me whenever they can in the kitchen.  Now that they are getting a bit older, I’m more willing to let them help, but at 4 and 2 and a half, it can still be a challenge.  Each one gets a turn to help measure and dump ingredients into the bowls.  Its a great little activity when I actually have the patience to let them do it.  They especially LOVE sampling all that they have helped create.  This recipe was a bit tricky though, what with the beer and Bailey’s.  The kids did get to sample the cupcake, but with some homemade whipped cream on top, rather than the Irish cream laced buttercream. 

The cupcakes were quite easy to make, and definitely one of the best chocolate cupcakes I’ve ever tasted.  Who would have thought that simmering a bottle of Guinness with 3 sticks of butter could make a chocolate batter so delicious.  This recipe actually was perfect for my humble little blog, as the full recipe including butter cream calls for about 7 sticks of unsalted butter.  YUM.  

I never used to like frostings on cupcakes, but then I discovered the importance of well made buttercream.  Pretty sure all of the world’s problems could disappear if everyone could enjoy a cupcake with perfect buttercream every now and then.  I worried that 4 sticks of butter may make this buttercream have a “slick” aftertaste on the roof of your mouth, but it was quite the opposite.  A delicious enhancement to the cupcake that neither stole the show or was left in the background.  I also thought that a full box of confectioner’s sugar may be overkill, but it did not make the buttercream too sweet.  I had 2.5 total yesterday, and one for breakfast today!!  Its never too early for Guinness when its in a cupcake.  If you are looking for a great chocolate cupcake with a smooth buttercream, oh, and if you like beer and Bailey’s, then this is the recipe for you!  Enjoy!

Chocolate Stout Cupcakes with Irish Cream Buttercream