Chocolate Stout Cupcakes

Chocolate Stout Cupcakes adapted from Chow
I made these for my brother and was surprised at how much I liked them! This is a wonderful recipe.

• 2 1/2 c (313 g) flour
• 2 c (400 g) sugar
• 3/4 c (64 g) cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 (11.2-ounce) bottle Guinness stout
• 1/2 c (118 ml) milk
• 1/2 c (118 ml) vegetable oil
• 1 Tbsp vanilla
• 3 eggs, room temp
• 3/4 c (177 g) sour cream

Preheat the oven to 350F and line two muffin tins with liners. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the Guinness, milk, vegetable oil and vanilla. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking until completely incorporated. Mix in the sour cream.
Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and fold to combine. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, folding to combine. Divide into the prepared tins.
Bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean. Set pans on a wire rack to cool completely before removing the cupcakes from the tins.

Simple Bailey's Buttercream

• 1 c (227 g) unsalted butter, room temp
• 1/2 cup (95 g) shortening
• 1 Tbsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 lbs (6 cups or 678 g) confectioner’s sugar

About 4 Tbsp Bailey's Irish Cream, mint or other flavor
Cream together the butter and shortening until lightened, about 3 minutes. Add the vanilla and beat to combine. Add the powdered sugar in about 1 cup additions and beat well before adding the next portion. After all the sugar has been incorporated, begin adding the Bailey's, on tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.


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Cinnamon Graham Cupcakes with Mixed Berry Filling and Swiss Meringue

I found this recipe on Whisk Kid. I tried making this but.... FAIL. I shall try again sometime.

Cinnamon Graham Cupcakes with Mixed Berry Filling and Swiss Meringue
These cupcakes are not overly-sweet, very light and pleasantly moist. Make them with whichever fruits you have on hand, fresh or frozen, and serve without telling your guests about the surprise inside.
Printable Recipe

Cinnamon Graham Cupcakes
This recipe made 9 which I realize is an odd yield, but that's what happened, sooooo.... Yeah.
3/4 c (105 g) flour
1/4 c (35 g) whole wheat flour
2 Tbsp cornstarch
3/4 c (107 g) brown sugar
3/4 tsp baking soda
3/8 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 egg, room temp
3/8 c (90 ml) warm water
3/8 c (90 ml) buttermilk*
1 Tbsp oil
1/2 tsp vanilla
Preheat the oven to 325F (160C) and prepare one cupcake tin with cupcake liners. Set aside.
Whisk together the flours, cornstarch, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in a large bowl. After combining thoroughly, make a well in the center and add all of the remaining ingredients. Whisk just until smooth.
Portion batter into the pan, filling cups 2/3rds full and bake 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in one comes out with only a few crumbs attached. Cool, in pan, on a rack for 5 minutes, then remove from the pan and allow to cool completely on the rack before filling and frosting.
*If you do not have buttermilk, pour about 1/2 tsp of vinegar into your measuring cup and fill remaining measure with regular milk. Let set five minutes at room temp before using (milk should curdle slightly).

Mixed Berry Filling
The exact ingredients and ratios for the filling aren't terribly important. Use the fruit you have in the quantity you like and cook until thick.
2 handfuls of blueberries, fresh or frozen
2 handfuls of raspberries, fresh or frozen
2 Tbsp sugar
Combine all ingredients in a small pan and cook, stirring occasionally, over medium-low heat until reduced and thick. Press through a strainer to remove seeds, if desired. Let cool.

Swiss Meringue
3 egg whites
3/8 c (75 g) sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Heat a pot of water to a simmer.
Meanwhile, whisk together the egg whites and sugar in a bowl large enough to sit over the top of the pot of simmering water (like a double boiler). Once the water has come to temp, reduce the heat to medium-low and set the bowl containing the egg whites and sugar on top. Whisk constantly until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is quite warm.
Remove from heat and beat on high speed until cooled to room temp, about 10 minutes. Beat in the vanilla and frost cupcakes immediately.

Assembly
Core the cooled cupcakes by cutting a circle (about 1" in diameter) on the top of the cupcake with a sharp knife. Cut straight down as deep as you like and use a spoon to help gently scoop out the core. Carefully trim part of the core off and discard (ie: eat) the bottom part, reserving the top. Fill the cupcake with a scoop of the filling mixture and top with the reserved piece of cupcake, pressing gently to seal. Repeat for all cupcakes, then frost. Toast topping with a kitchen torch to brown, if desired.

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