Another batch of Guinness

for my son's friend's birthday. Guinness cupcakes with chocolate ganache and bailey's buttercream. So very good. I mucked up the ganache, I used milk chocolate and accidently got some water in it so it isn't as smooth as it should be...still tastes good tho (not that I would know, because, yes, I am still on this stupid diet.

The recipe is from http://the-cupcakery-blog.blogspot.com/

Chocolate Guinness Stout Cupcakes

this recipe makes about 48 cuppies, I usually make half to two thirds recipe

2 cups Guinness Extra Stout

2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter

1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch-process)

4 cups all purpose flour

4 cups sugar

1 tablespoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

4 large eggs

1 1/3 cups sour cream

1 pkg. Hershey's mini-morsel semi-sweet chocolate chips (I never add, but you could)

1. Preheat oven to 350° degrees. Line baking cups with paper liners and set aside.

2. Bring 2 cups stout and 2 cups butter to simmer in large saucepan over medium heat. Do not boil.

3. Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly

4. Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in large bowl to blend.

5. Using an electric mixer, beat eggs and sour cream in another large bowl to blend.

6. Add stout-chocolate mixture to egg mixture and beat just to combine.

7. Add flour mixture and beat briefly on slow speed.

8. Using a rubber spatula, fold batter until completely combined. Gently fold in mini-morsel semi-sweet chocolate chips.(Mixture will appear robust and lumpy.)

9. Divide batter among paper liners and bake 17 - 22 minutes. Cupcakes are done when tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean. Let cool for about 10 minutes on a wire rack.

10. VERY IMPORTANT: Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting!

Chocolate Ganache

12 ounce pakage Nestle semi-sweet chocolate chips (or milk chocolate) (I used milk choc this time, but I prefer dark chocolate)

1/2 cup heavy cream

1. Combine both ingredients in a double boiler.

2. Continue to mix thoroughly over boiling water until ingredients are smooth and chocolate is completely melted.

3. Layer this ganache on completely cooled cupcakes and allow to harden.