Saturday, March 6, 2010

Leprechauns like lusciousness.....

St. Pat's is around the corner and it is not all about the green beer. Even if you don't celebrate, here are some luscious treats for you.  Irish Coffee Cupcakes AND Guinness Cupcakes. Why not? But it's too early for chocolate? Shame on your for thinking that way. You want something hearty? Something savory to go with your sweetness? I am also adding a delicious St. Patty's Potato muffin. Perfect to fill your tummy before you celebrate. From my kitchen to yours, enjoy every bite.

Irish Coffee Cupcakes (makes 15)
Ingredients: For the cupcakes:
2 c. flour
1 t. baking powder
¼ t baking soda
¼ t salt
½ c boiling water
2 T instant espresso powder (you can use instant coffee or buy the instant espresso powder at Starbucks)
¼ c whole milk
1 stick unsalted butter at room temp
½ c. sugar
½ c packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs

For the frosting:
1 c. heavy cream
1 T powdered sugar
1 T whiskey
Instant espresso powder for dusting

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 and line your cupcake tins.

Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Pour water over espresso powder and let cool. Combine espresso with milk. Beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar with a mixer on medium until pale and fluffy (about 3 mins.) Add eggs, one at a time beating well after each addition.

Beat in flour mixture 1/3 at a time alternating with espresso mixture beginning AND ending with flour. Batter may look broken.  Fill muffin tins ¾ full. Bake 20-22 mins until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool, turn cupcakes out from tin.

To make frosting: Whisk together cream, powdered sugar until peaks form. Add whiskey and mix until slightly stiff peaks form. Top cupcakes with 2 T of frosting and lightly dust with espresso powder. Feel free to save most for yourself.

Guinness Cupcakes
Ingredients: For the cupcake:
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch fine salt
1 12 oz bottle Guinness (not for your mouth..for the bowl.)
1 stick butter, melted
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
3/4 cup sour cream

For the frosting:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened at room temperature
3/4 to 1 cup heavy cream
1 (1-pound) box confectioners' sugar

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cocoa, sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt. In another medium mixing bowl, combine the stout, melted butter, and vanilla. Beat in eggs, 1 at time. Mix in sour cream until thoroughly combined and smooth. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture.

Lightly grease 24 muffin tins. Divide the batter equally between muffin tins, filling each 3/4 full. Bake for about 12 minutes and then rotate the pans. Bake another 12 to 13 minutes until risen, nicely domed, and set in the middle but still soft and tender. Cool before turning out.

To make the icing:
In a medium bowl with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese on medium speed until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the heavy cream. On low speed, slowly mix in the confectioners' sugar until incorporated and smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use. Icing can be made several hours ahead and kept covered and chilled.
Top each cupcake with a heap of frosting and dust with cocoa or chocolate sprinkles. You can also use nonflavored green food coloring to make the icing green. Take a bite and say "mmmmmmmmm." Repeat.


Savory St. Patrick's Day Potato Muffins
Ingredients

2 medium potatoes (peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes)
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 pinch salt (be generous)
1 egg (lightly beaten)
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
3 tablespoons fresh chives (or spring onions chopped)
3 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped)
1/2 cup cheddar cheese (grated)

Directions:
Pre-heat the oven to 350. Grease a 12 cup muffin pan or use paper liners. In a small saucepan, cook the potatoes in boiling salted water for 8 minutes or until just tender.
Drain and rinse under cold water and set aside. 

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt and baking powder. In a large bowl, beat the egg, oil, buttermilk, chives or spring onion and parsley. Stir the flour mixture into the buttermilk mixture until nearly combined. Gently fold in potatoes. Add the cheese.  I also added mushrooms. Spoon into muffin tins and bake for 20 minutes. 

You can top these with extra grated cheese. Remove pan from oven and cool for 5 minutes. Then remove muffins and cool on rack.

After all that work, you deserve a beverage. Now, go pinch someone on the 17th. Have a fantastic weekend.

60 comments:

Secret Mom Thoughts said...

OMG Guinness cupcakes! I am so making these. Any excuses to buy Guinness.

Laura Trevey said...

I would like a cupcake with my coffee and these look scrumptious :)

Ed said...

I am definitely trying these.

Maybe.

MommaKiss said...

I am soooooo making those cupcakes. Like 5 dozen. I have similar recipes from last year. I'll chow them after my 5k next Sunday.

Maria said...

YUM, YUM, YUM! Can't wait to try these!

Anything Fits A Naked Man said...

OK, Guinness? And cupcakes? TOGETHER? Is this heaven? SOOOOO trying these!! Thanks!

Emily said...

yum! those cupcakes look great! going on my list of desserts to bake...

Debbie said...

Those look incredible! Great recipes for us. Thanks!

Unknown said...

STOP that, Jenny Mac!!! I swear I gain weight just reading your blog! lol

Menopausal New Mom said...

As tempting as all those goodies look, think I'll just enjoy the Irish tradition of drinking beer!!

Khak said...

I am definitely making the potatoes for my St Patty's Day get together. Thanks for the great ideas!

Lift Like A Mom said...

These sound sooooo good! When my husband traveled for our honeymoon, we got sucked into Irish Coffee almost every night. We couldn't figure out why were gaining weight like we did! Haha. When we got back home we happened to see how many calories we indulged in almost every day....but soooo worth it! :)

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Yum! Start out the morning with these delicious muffins and 'Irish' coffee and head into the afternoon with lots of great Irish beer. Works for me!!

Sultan said...

These sound so evil!

Ashley Stone said...

Yum!

Ellen said...

Guiness cupcakes?! I don't think I could do anything better to impress my British bf. I'm totally trying this recipe—mainly because I want an excuse to simultaneously drink beer AND lick icing from my fingertips. (No judgment, k?)

http://www.firednfabulous.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

What a great recipe to make for St. Paddy's day. Thanks.
mary

Mom in High Heels said...

OMG, I am totally making the Guinness and the potato things. They look delicious. As a non-coffee drinker, the espresso ones don't appeal to me.
The naughty leprechauns come to our house on the night before St. Pat's Day and wreak all sorts of havoc. Last year they turned the toilet water green (which thrilled Indy), threw all of his socks and underwear on the floor (the clean ones out of his drawer) and made his eggs green. They also bring chocolate coins and a few real coins, so that's an upside. :)

Jaime said...

did you really have to clarify that the beer was for the bowl not the mouth? :)

SimplySandi said...

I cannot wait to try these recipes.

Anonymous said...

YUM! St.Pattys day is big in my family! The whole corn beef and cabbage with potatos and soda bread. I may have to try to make one of these!

Kristina P. said...

I don't drink coffee or drink, but those potatoes look awesome!

Herding Cats said...

I'm not sure I could choose between the two of those recipes. They both looks so delicious!

TS Hendrik said...

Sweet mother of delicious, those look good! I think I shall have to try the Guinness cupcakes.

Cafe Fashionista said...

Coffee and cupcakes. Together. In one scrummy dessert. Ummm...yes please!

Happy, Happy Weekend, my love!! :)

Claudya Martinez said...

I am extremely intrigued by the Guinness cupcakes.

Little Ms J said...

Can I just come to your house?

yonca said...

Mmmm...Irish coffee cupcakes...look delicious!!! I'm following you :) Have a wonderful weekend!

HalfAsstic.com said...

Oooooh! I can't pick a favorite! I think the potato muffins first!
We are such big hash brown fans around here, that MUST be the right one!

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

potato muffins and guiness cupcakes... two - two - two recipes in one!

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Those sound awesome. Thanks!

Brian Miller said...

oh yeah! we will be making both of those cupcakes...

Unknown said...

I just love them! Thanks for sharing JM.

chocolatecovereddaydreams.blogspot.com said...

Mmmmm. The cupcakes look heavenly!

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

I am sending The Source to your blog today to look at these recipes.

You have some yummy and different stuff here!!

Stepping On Cheerios said...

I might have to start baking! Yummy:)

Stephanie said...

OMG Hubby's Birthday is March 17th! I sense some inspiration in these recipes :)

Mary@Holy Mackerel said...

Holy St. Paddy's!! Can't wait to try these! My St. Pat's staple is green milk...not so exciting.

wendy said...

I am going to try those.
And, thanks for reminding me that the Guinness is NOT for drinking. (tee,hee)

Sniff said...

Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting these recipes! I will try out each and every one of them. The last time I tried my hand at making cupcakes, the result was rather dismal:

http://insniffschoos.blogspot.com/2010/02/homemade-cupcakes-total-failure.html

But ever the optimist, the disappointment has long since been swallowed and I'm ready for fighting my oven yet again. ;)

Pink Haired Momma said...

Oh my goodness! I will be WIFE OF THE YEAR with the guinness cupcakes! THANK YOU!

SimplySandi said...

I'm having friends over for the Oscars. They wanted me to make chili, so I'm making the potato muffins and the Guinness cupcakes. The cupcakes are baking now. The batter tastes delicous. I cannot wait to try these.

Megan said...

OHMYGOSH!! Those all sound AMAZING!!! YUM!!

angsamp said...

The coffee cupcakes look soooo yummy!!

AnnQ said...

Love it! Since I worked for the company that owns Guinness (and lots of other liquor) for years and am half Irish, I'm a big St Pat's Day fan!

:-)

Anonymous said...

Tis a wonderful holiday, and hey, everyone's a little Irish anyway! The traditional start of Spring, a day of celebrating what is a new beginning, the best time of the year!

Your recipes are already fattening me up, they sound delicious!

Secretia

Vivienne @ the V Spot said...

I'm all over the Guinness cupcakes. Definitely going to try the potato muffins too.
Yum!

lisa and laura said...

I am totally making those Guiness cupcakes. Is it inappropriate to bring them into my son's preschool? Might extend naptime a little and really who couldn't use a longer nap on St. Patty's Day?

jackie fo said...

Those Guinness cookies look so YUM...

Lisa Anne said...

The potatoe muffins look so good. I might try that when I make corned beef and cabbage. YUM!!!

Pseudo said...

Oh good lord, those look and sound delicious. Perfect with an Irish coffee to be sure.

Anonymous said...

Sounds divine. I'm thinking I should make this soon!

Salt said...

My brain almost exploded after reading all of these. Especially the first two. My husband says thank you. :)

LadyFi said...

So much delicous-ness in one post! Although, heaven help the kids if they ever got their hands on those cupcakes!

LadyFi said...

Oh darn it.. has my comment disappeared!

So much deliciousness! Mmm.. but heaven help me if the kids ever ate those cupcakes! ;-)

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

I will take one of each STAT!

Unknown said...

Jeezy creezy!! I looooove Guinness!! Cupcakes now?! Oh I'm so making those...and not sharing.

Pandorah's Box said...

OH. MAW. GAWD.

That's all I have to say.

And thank you. I have shed a tear over here.

Unknown said...

My goal is to make one of these recipes tomorrow. It is going to be another rainy windy day so I think I can do it : )

Anonymous said...

I made the Savory St. Patrick's Day Potato Muffins. They are delicious! This recipe is a keeper for cold winter days in the Midwest; these muffins would be great with a bowl of soup.