Guinness-Gingerbread Cupcakes
by David Lebovitz
These cupcakes, inspired by New York City pastry chef Claudia Fleming, are an intriguing combination of gingerbread and rich, malty stout. Topped with a bright-tasting lime frosting to complement the spicy cake, these cupcakes make a perfect grown-up treat for St. Patrick’s Day.
Yields 12 cupcakes
For the cupcakes:
1/2 cup stout beer, such as Guinness
1/2 cup mild-flavored molasses
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 tsp. baking soda
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/4 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp.ground ginger
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. table salt
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup finely minced candied ginger
For the frosting
4 Tbs. (2 oz.) salted or unsalted butter, at room temperature
1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
2-1/2 Tbs. freshly squeezed lime juice, or more to taste
1 Tbs. whole milk
Strips of candied citrus peel or candied ginger, for garnish
Make the cupcakes:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
To make the cupcakes, in a very large saucepan, bring the stout, molasses, and oil to a boil over medium-high heat. Remove from the heat and whisk in the baking soda until dissolved. (The mixture will foam up, then settle down.) Stir in the brown sugar, then let cool until tepid.
Into a small bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.
Whisk the eggs into the stout mixture, then whisk in the flour mixture just until incorporated. Don’t overmix. Gently stir in the minced candied ginger.
Divide the batter among the cupcake liners and bake until the cupcakes feel just set in the center, 22 to 24 minutes. Let cool completely.
Make the frosting:
In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on high speed until smooth, about 10 seconds. Decrease the speed to low and, with the mixer running, gradually add half of the confectioners' sugar. Stop the mixer and scrape down the bowl as needed to make sure the ingredients are being incorporated. Add the lime juice, then add the remaining confectioners' sugar. Once the sugar is incorporated, add the milk. Beat the frosting on high speed until completely smooth and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Taste, and add a few more drops of lime juice, if desired.
Transfer the frosting to a pastry bag fitted with a star tip. Remove the cupcakes from the muffin tin. Pipe rosettes of frosting in the center of each cupcake. (If you don’t have a pastry bag, you can spoon a mound of frosting decoratively in the center.) Garnish each with strips of candied citrus peel or a piece of candied ginger.
Make Ahead Tips
The cupcakes can be stored in an airtight container for up to 4 days at room temperature.
Variations
For kids, feel free to use apple cider in place of the stout.
photo: Maren Caruso © 2010
From Book Ready for Dessert
, pp. 36
June 4, 2010
Reprinted with permission from Ready for Dessert: My Best Recipes by David Lebovitz, copyright © 2010. Published by Ten Speed Press, a division of Random House, Inc.
