My friend and coworker Ryan had a birthday recently and asked if I had ever heard of Guinness cake with Bailey’s frosting.  Car bomb cupcakes – of course!  Not only had I heard of them, I’d been dying for an opportunity to try them.  For those unfamiliar, an Irish car bomb is a drink consisting of a shot of Bailey’s and whiskey and a glass of Guinness.  Sounds innocent enough, until you find out that the shot is dropped into the Guinness and the whole thing must be chugged before a foamy mess is all over the place.  I have never tried this concoction, though I have seen Ben and his friends do this more times than I care to mention.   Though I can’t vouch for the drink, I can definitely vouch for these cupcakes.

Wow, these are fantastic cupcakes.  They consist of a Guinness chocolate cake base, are filled with a Bailey’s-spiked ganache, and topped with Bailey’s buttercream frosting.  It sounds like a winning combination and it really, really is.  These were hugely popular with the coworkers and received many thumbs up all throughout the day.  They are fun to make, pretty, and they smell phenomenal.  The beer flavor isn’t very prominent, but rather adds a nice depth to the chocolate cake.  The Bailey’s ganache filling – I almost skipped it, but thank goodness I didn’t.  It really put these over the top to amazingness.  The Bailey’s buttercream was delicious as well and the flavor of the Bailey’s really came through.  I did have to add quite a bit more Bailey’s than the original recipe indicates (darn!) but it turned out fine in the end.  These are sure to be a hit wherever you serve them!

  • Yield 24 cupcakes

Ingredients

For the Guinness chocolate cupcakes:
1 cup stout (Guinness)
16 tbsp. unsalted butter
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1½ tsp. baking soda
¾ tsp. salt
2 large eggs
2/3 cup sour cream

For the Bailey’s ganache filling:
8 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
2/3 cup heavy cream
2 tbsp. butter, at room temperature
2 tsp. Bailey’s Irish cream (or Jameson whiskey)

For the Bailey’s buttercream frosting:
8 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
3-4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
4-8 tbsp. Bailey’s Irish cream

Directions

  • 01

    To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350° F.  Line two cupcake pans with paper liners.  Combine the stout and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Add the cocoa powder and whisk until smooth.  Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.

  • 02

    In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt.  In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the eggs and sour cream to blend.  Add the stout-butter mixture and beat just to combine.  Mix in the dry ingredients on low speed just until incorporated.  Divide the batter evenly between the cupcake liners, filling them about 2/3 to ¾ full.  Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 17 minutes.  Allow to cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

  • 03

    To make the ganache filling, place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl.  Heat the cream in a small saucepan until simmering, then pour it over the chocolate.  Let sit for one minute and then whisk until smooth.  If the chocolate is not completely melted, place the bowl over a double boiler or give it a very short burst in the microwave (15-20 seconds).  Add the butter and Bailey’s and stir until combined.

  • 04

    Set aside to let the ganache cool until it is thick enough to be piped.  (You can use the refrigerator to speed the cooling process, but be sure to stir every 10 minutes or so to ensure even cooling.)  Meanwhile, cut out a portion from the center of the cupcake using the cone method (a small paring knife works best for this).  Once the ganache has reached the correct consistency, transfer it to a piping bag fitted with a wide tip and pipe it into the cupcakes.

  • 05

    To make the frosting, place the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.  Gradually add the powdered sugar until it is all incorporated.  Mix in the Bailey’s until smooth.  Add more if necessary until the frosting has reached a good consistency for piping or spreading.  Frost the cupcakes as desired.

Source

38 responses to “Guinness and Bailey’s Irish Cream Cupcakes”

  1. megan says:

    OH!!! I will be making these!! I LOVE GUINESS!!!! And these cupcakes look amazing!!!!! Thanks for the great recipe!!!

  2. Bailey’s GANACHE!!! Oh my! They look just perfect, too! My cupcakes are never that pretty!

  3. car bomb lover says:

    you forgot the best part of a car bomb, half the shot is whiskey and half is bailey’s!

  4. Yum, those look delicious. Your picture is absolutely beautiful!

  5. Krystle says:

    These look great! Although not a fan of the shot I could definitely see myself being a fan of these cupcakes.

  6. betchacanteatjustone says:

    I can’t wait to make these cupcakes, they sound awesome!

  7. Mary Ellen says:

    These look great! I have never done an Irish car bomb but would love to try the cupcakes. I dont’ bake so I emailed your post to my sister, dad, and friend and told them that someone needs to make them so I can try them!!

  8. The Cooking Bride says:

    Oh! I just LOVE recipes with unique ingredients! I’m making these too!

  9. itsangelag says:

    These look fantastic!!! I can’t wait to try out this recipe, Thank You!

  10. Bartender at Heart says:

    Yes, and it’s not usually served in a pint (the Guinness), but a tumbler which your Baileys and Jameson shot is dropped into :)

  11. Annie says:

    Yeah, as I mentioned in the post, I’m no expert on the drink as I’ve never had one – only watched in semi-disgust as others drank them.
    :) Annie

  12. Marci says:

    There is a bakery in my town that makes these and they are my favorite! I love Irish Car Bombs and can’t wait to make these, maybe this weekend!

  13. Kendra says:

    Too funny- I signed on to the get the Guinness cake recipe you posted awhile ago for my husband’s birthday… and this version is even more perfect! Can’t wait to try- thanks!

  14. Mimi says:

    It’s amazing how well Guinness goes with chocolate. I can’t drink it but it is good to cook with. I make a Guinness Chocolate Mousse for St. Patty’s day that is fabulous. Thanks for the recipe.
    Mimi

  15. SweCan says:

    They look fantastic! Might make this for DH’s birthday.
    I have one question though, in the ganache part of the recipe the last sentence is “Add the butter and whiskey and stir until combined” yet I can’t see any mention of whiskey in the ingredients list. So which is it – do I add Bailey’s or whiskey to the ganache?

  16. Annie says:

    Hi SweCan,
    Sorry, I guess that was a bit confusing. I used that terminology directly from Smitten Kitchen and she seemed to use the terms “Bailey’s” and “whiskey” interchangeably. I have edited it to be more clear.
    :) Annie

  17. Alexandra says:

    Oh My.. These look fantastic and I have a free afternoon tomorrow, so I am heading to the store right after work! You mentioned you added quite a bit more Bailey’s for the frosting… exactly how much ?

  18. Tricia says:

    I am so LOLing because http://www.thesuperficial.com‘s facebook page posted a link to your cupcakes! I just got done looking at them in my reader!

  19. Courtney says:

    After I read your post today I told my husband about these cupcakes and he insisted that I make them for dessert tonight. They were amazing! We brought them to my parents house and my mom is not letting me take any home! FYI, I only made a half batch and the recipe was pretty easy to halve. Thanks for another winner Annie!

  20. Annie says:

    OMG, thanks for tipping me off to that! I kept seeing all these hits from FB but knew they weren’t from my own profile. So random and awesome!
    :) Annie

  21. Jennifer says:

    I found this recipe awhile back and then was googling it tonight so that I could actually make them and found your blog post. Your cupcakes look like they turned out amazing! I just wanted to add though that Smitten Kitchen’s recipe actually calls for the ganache to contain Irish Whiskey (such as Jameson), not Irish Cream. So, that would make it more true to the actual drink, although I’m sure the extra cream in yours was delicious! :)

  22. Annie says:

    Hi Alexandra,
    If I had known exactly how much, I would have noted that. However, I just kept adding it and adding it in little bits until it had the right consistency. That’s the best I can do.
    :) Annie

  23. Beth says:

    It’s funny you have this on here as I was just talking to someone about these cupcakes tonight! My brother and his fiance have decided on these instead of wedding cake for their wedding. Can’t wait to try them!

  24. Christy says:

    LOL….I’m one of the hits from thesuperficial.com . I read that site religiously so when your cupcakes came up…I had to share with all my FB friends. I am now a devoted reader of Annie-Eats!!

  25. Alexnadra says:

    I am another reader directed here by The Superficial.I love that site. And I made these cupcakes yesterday…. THEY WERE FANTASTIC. So much fun to make, and even more fun to eat. A wonderful addition to my USC -ND football party ( not to mention the fun we had using up the rest of the beer and whiskey!)

  26. Katie says:

    Wow these sound fabulous! I need a cake for my dads birthday soon and might have to use this – looks divine!

  27. Suzgrrl says:

    I made these, and they were delicious! I was surprised at how easy the ganache was to make, not having made it before; however, it got pretty firm and when the cupcakes were cut or bitten into, the ganache tended to want to fall out. Is there a way to make a softer ganache that will stick to the cake better and not firm up quite as hard?

  28. Anonymous says:

    Hmm, that is strange. I’ve made these many times and I’ve never had that issue. Were the cupcakes chilled when you served them? If so, I would think letting them come to room temp might help. If you don’t think that was the problem, you could always whisk in an extra tablespoon of butter. Hope that helps!

  29. Tara says:

    I have to ask, in total naivete… is the alcohol still potent when this is all made? I want to make them and bring them to a church social, and don’t want anyone going home drunk… especially any kids who might have one!?!
    I have had it in the back of my head to make these for FOREVER.. finally getting to do it. They are perfect for the month of March! ;)

  30. annieseats says:

    It’s really up to you. When you think about the amount of alcohol divided amongst all the cupcakes, it’s very little. However, I personally would not serve them to children. Whatever you decide, enjoy!

  31. RM says:

    Thanks Annie, I _knew_ you would have a cupcake recipe that would be perfect for St. Patrick’s day :). (though I think my mom will probably lobby for today’s post, the tiramisu cupcakes).

  32. guest says:

    I went to Smitten Kitchen, where these are supposed to have come from, and the ganache filling does call for “whiskey” not the “baileys.”

  33. annieseats says:

    Yes, I adapted it to suit my tastes, hence the “adapted from” in the source.

  34. Thanks for the recipe – my hubby loves Irish car bombs! JSYK, the issue isn’t foam all over the place, it’s that the Bailey’s will curdle if it’s not chugged fast enough. O_o

  35. Steph C says:

    Hi Annie,

    Do you think these will be fine if I have to store then in the fridge before serving? I wasn’t sure if it would harden the ganache…it might still be tasty that way though? Anyway, I just wanted to ask your advice!
    Stephanie

  36. Silverlily says:

    I made these yesterday, and I cannot rave about them enough. They are moist, chocolate-y, and rich, and the flavours are surprisingly complex! I doubled the icing recipe (I like a lot of icing on my cupcakes) and used 4 TBS of Bailey’s & 3 TBS of heavy whipping cream. (I love Bailey’s, but it can get strong quickly.) My husband doesn’t like Bailey’s and he positively loathes buttercream icing, yet he loves both the ganache and the icing. Wowza!

  37. annieseats says:

    When ganache sets, it basically has the consistency of the center of a truffle. I think it’s great that way. If anything I would just let them come to room temp before serving. (I always do that because the cake has better flavor and texture that way anyway.)

  38. Erica says:

    I’ve made these before, but with whiskey ganache filling because real irish car bombs are baliey’s, whiskey, and guinness. It’s really good with that cause the ganache is a little bitter while the rest of the cupcake is quite sweet.