Chocolate Stout and Irish Cream Liqueur Cupcakes

For the cupcakes:

1) Preheat the oven to 160 degrees C/Gas Mark 3. Line a cupcake or muffin tin with 24 regular-size cupcake liners.

2) Place the stout and butter in a medium-size saucepan and whisk together on medium heat until the butter is melted. Remove from the heat. Sift the cocoa powder into a medium-size bowl and add the sugar. Slowly whisk into the stout mixture. In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, eggs, and vanilla and lightly whisk until smooth. Add this mixture to the saucepan and whisk thoroughly (it may appear lumpy). Sift the flour and bicarbonate of soda together in another small bowl and then add it to the saucepan, mixing a final time until the color is even.

3) Fill the cupcake liners three-quarters full with batter and bake until the cakes spring back after touching, about 27 minutes. Cool the cupcakes in their pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

For the Irish liqueur icing:

1) Cream the butter in the bowl of an electric stand mixer until pale. Turn the mixer to low speed and add the Irish liqueur in a steady stream. Slowly add the icing sugar and continue beating until a creamy consistency is achieved.

To assemble:

1) Pipe the icing onto cooled cupcakes using a large plain tip. Dust with cocoa powder if desired.

This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.