When the going gets tough, the tough get baking… with BEER. I kid you not, beer + chocolate cupcakes = literally the greatest thing ever. And I mean literally literally, not figurative literally where people are like “it took literally a million years” and you’re just like “No, that’s literally impossible.”
But I digress… word misuse and pet peeves aside (the misuse of the word literally is right up there with people that use the “word” conversate for me… the verb form of conversation is converse… not conversate *cringe*), chocolate cake-y stuff and dark beer really is, literally, one of the greatest pairings of all time.
And in case chocolate and beer weren’t decadent enough for you (I mean, you deserve the best of the best, the most decadent of most decadent, right?), I threw some crushed pretzels and caramel on these babies. We’re going all Emeril Lagasse on these cupcakes over here like… BAM! Pretzels! BAM! Sweet caramel sauce!
THIS is your midweek pick-me up calling.
Chocolate Stout Pretzel Cupcakes
- Yield: 12 cupcakes 1x
- Category: Dessert
Ingredients
For the chocolate stout cupcakes:
- 1 oz dark chocolate
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 2 oz baking cocoa
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 cup stout beer
For the vanilla buttercream frosting:
- 4 egg whites
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 water
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 lb. unsalted butter, at room temp.
For the garnish:
- Coarsely crushed pretzels
- Caramel sauce (store bought or homemade)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350F/175C and line your cupcake pan. In a small bowl, combine your dark chocolate and milk, and microwave for 30 seconds, or until the chocolate begins to melt. Stir until the chocolate has melted completely, then set aside to cool in the refrigerator.
- In a large bowl, beat the egg until light and frothy. Add the oil and continue beating until the two have completely combined. Whisk in the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda and powder, and the chocolate/milk mixture. Add the beer and gently whisk until just combined.
- Pour the batter into your lined cupcake pan and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cupcakes comes out clean.
- To make the frosting, combine the granulated sugar and water in a small saucepan and heat over medium-high heat until a candy thermometer registers 240F/115C. While the syrup cooks, beat your egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer until they hold stiff peaks. On low, pour the hot syrup into the egg whites, increase the speed to high, and beat until the bowl is no longer warm to the touch. On low, begin adding the butter piece by piece until all the butter has been added. Add the vanilla extract, increase the speed to high, and beat until the frosting is smooth and creamy.
- Fill a piping bag with the frosting, attach a tip of your choosing (I used a large, round tip), and frost your completely cooled cupcakes. Drizzle with crushed pretzels and caramel sauce.
Elsa | the whinery says
May 17, 2016 at 2:34 pmOMG! That pour gif literally has me drooling 🙂 Your cupcakes look fantastic! I love the combination of stout and dark chocolate in there… sounds really good!
The Simple, Sweet Life says
May 17, 2016 at 11:02 pmTHANK YOU Elsa! 😀 I’ve been looking for a way to change things up and spice up my posts a little bit, so I’m glad you’re diggin’ the gif. So glad you noticed and liked it. 😀
Antonina says
May 18, 2016 at 11:40 amI agree with Elsa your gif looks fantastic. I am ready to peel one off the screen, ha,ha.. However I tasted those incredible cupcakes and they are divine. Thanks for the recipe but they taste better when you making them.
The Simple, Sweet Life says
May 19, 2016 at 9:41 pmI’m so glad you liked them Antonina! 😀 Your comment brings to mind something my grandma always used to tell me: the best meals are ones other people prepare. Cooking and baking weren’t her thing, but she was always happy to take leftover desserts off my hands. 🙂
Linda @ 2 Cookin' Mamas says
May 18, 2016 at 1:12 pmNever thought I would hear beer and cupcakes in the same sentence but these look delicious! Love your caramel graphic – makes me want to lick the screen. Yum! (and I’m hearing you on word misuse and I have to add spelling too)
The Simple, Sweet Life says
May 19, 2016 at 9:43 pmI’d heard about people adding beer (usually a stout) to cupcakes, and after having tried it, I definitely get it now. Beer isn’t usually my thing, but there’s just something about it that makes the chocolate cupcakes extra EXTRA rich. So glad you liked the gif! 😀
Jennifer Dawn says
May 18, 2016 at 10:42 pmThese look so good! I love that mix of salty and sweet. The beer was unexpected. I wouldn’t have thought to put that in cupcakes.
The Simple, Sweet Life says
May 19, 2016 at 9:43 pmIf you haven’t tried beer in cupcakes before, you definitely have to. I promise, you’ll TOTALLY understand the hype! 😀
Lou Lou Girls says
May 23, 2016 at 10:54 amHello fabulous! I’m stopping by to let you know that we will be featuring your yummy cupcakes at our linky party that starts tonight at 7 pm. Pinned and tweeted. I hope to see you tonight! Lou Lou Girls
The Simple, Sweet Life says
May 24, 2016 at 9:55 pmThanks so much for the sweet feature! 😀