There are two things you need to know before we start:

#1: If you’ve never used beer to enhance the flavor of chocolate (kind of like coffee and chocolate), I’m about to change your life.

#2: These cupcakes are so decadent, and the cream cheese frosting is the bomb!

Think of red velvet, but with actual chocolate flavor—rich, malty, and deep, thanks to the Guinness. If you make these to share on St. Patrick’s Day, you’ll have the luck of the Irish all year long, even if you’re as un-Irish as a girl can get.

The Magic of Guinness and Chocolate

Guinness in a cupcake? Oh, yes. Just like coffee, stout beer deepens the flavor of chocolate, making it richer and more intense. The bitterness of the beer balances out the sweetness of the sugar, giving you a cupcake that’s luxurious but not cloying. And don’t worry—it won’t taste like beer. It’ll taste like the most indulgent chocolate cake you’ve ever had.

And then, because we’re extra, we’re topping them with a tangy, dreamy cream cheese frosting. It’s the perfect contrast to the rich chocolate base, and honestly, I could eat it with a spoon.

The Recipe: Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

For the cupcakes:

• 1 cup Guinness Stout (don’t worry, you won’t taste the beer—just the chocolatey magic it brings)
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2/3 cup sour cream (this keeps them super moist)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

For the frosting:

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake pan with liners. Because peeling cupcakes from the pan is a tragedy we can all avoid.
2. Melt the butter with Guinness: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and whisk in the cocoa powder until smooth. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.
3. Mix the wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, eggs, and sour cream. Then, slowly add the slightly cooled Guinness-butter-cocoa mixture, stirring until combined.
4. Combine the dry ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined.
5. Bake: Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners, filling them about 3/4 full. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let them cool completely before frosting—unless you enjoy watching frosting slide off like a sad little landslide.
6. Make the frosting: Beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt, and beat until it’s creamy and glorious.
7. Frost the cupcakes: You can pipe it on all fancy-like or just slather it on with a knife. Either way, it’s going to be delicious.

Serve & Enjoy!

These cupcakes are rich, moist, and perfectly balanced with that creamy, tangy frosting. If you bring these to a St. Patrick’s Day gathering, people will ask you for the recipe. And if you just make them for yourself, well… I won’t judge if you eat two (or three) in one sitting.

Final Thoughts: The Best Cupcakes You’ll Ever Make

Even if you’re not a beer drinker (same), Guinness is a game-changer in baking. It makes these cupcakes impossibly rich, giving them a deep chocolate flavor that’s better than any boxed mix.

So go ahead—bake these, share them (or don’t), and enjoy a little luck of the Irish. Even if you’re about as Irish as a taco.