This easy chocolate cupcake recipe has a salty, sweet twist! With rich stout undertones, a salty pretzel crunch and a sweet caramel drizzle, these chocolaty bad boys are the ultimate decadent treat.
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, chocolate cake-y stuff and dark beer really is, literally, one of the greatest pairings of all time.
Even if you’re not a fan of beer, YOU. HAVE. TO. TRY. THIS.
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.
How to make these easy chocolate cupcakes
First, heat the milk and chocolate for the cupcakes until the chocolate has melted. In a large bowl, beat the egg until light and fluffy. Add the oil and continue beating until combined.
Whisk in the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda and powder, and the chocolate/milk mixture until the batter is lump-free.
Gently whisk in the beer. If you’re too aggressive with your whisking, it will make the beer too frothy.
Pour the batter into a lined cupcake pan, filling each liner 2/3 of the way full. Bake at 350F for 18-20 minutes.
Second, combine the granulated sugar and water for the frosting in a small saucepan. Heat over medium-high heat until a candy thermometer registers 240F/115C.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, whip the egg whites 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.
Finally, spoon the frosting into a piping bag with a large, round tip. Pipe the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes, drizzle with caramel sauce and top with crushed pretzels.
Tips for making these chocolate stout cupcakes
- Knowing when your cupcakes are done: There are two ways to test for doneness. 1. Insert a tooth pick in the center of the cupcakes and if it comes out clean, it’s done. 2. Gently press the top of the cupcake and if it almost immediately springs back, it’s done.
- Looking to save a little time? You can skip the homemade frosting and opt for store bought. You’ll need approximately 1 lbs.
- If you’re making the frosting in this recipe, don’t be discouraged if it looks curdled after you add the butter. The butter and meringue will separate slightly before coming back together. Just keep whipping the frosting.
- The secret to smooth, air-bubble free frosting: Once the frosting has come together, turn your stand mixer down to low and continue whipping it for about 5 minutes. This should work out most of the air bubbles.
- Fill that piping bag like a pro: Spoon your frosting onto a large piece of plastic wrap, roll and twist the ends. Trim one end so there’s about ½” in length, drop your frosting into the piping bag (short end first) with the tip already on and pipe!
- Getting that perfect frosting swirl: To get that perfect swirl to hold your caramel, pipe your frosting onto the tops of your cupcakes. Then, using the back of a spoon, drag the tip through the frosting while you turn the cupcake
- Storing frosted cupcakes: While cupcakes are always best when eaten the same day they’re made, these can be stored in an air-tight container at room temperature for 1-2 days.
Did you make this recipe? I’d love to hear how it went in the comments below. Better still, snap a photo and tag it on Instagram with #thesimplesweetlife. I love seeing your creations!
PrintChocolate Stout Pretzel Cupcakes
This easy chocolate cupcake recipe has a salty, sweet twist! With rich stout undertones, a salty pretzel crunch and a sweet caramel drizzle, these chocolaty bad boys are the ultimate decadent treat.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 cupcakes 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
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 caramel sauce and crushed pretzels.
Notes
- Knowing when your cupcakes are done: There are two ways to test for doneness. 1. Insert a tooth pick in the center of the cupcakes and if it comes out clean, it’s done. 2. Gently press the top of the cupcake and if it almost immediately springs back, it’s done.
- Looking to save a little time? You can skip the homemade frosting and opt for store bought. You’ll need approximately 1 lbs.
- If you’re making the frosting in this recipe, don’t be discouraged if it looks curdled after you add the butter. The butter and meringue will separate slightly before coming back together. Just keep whipping the frosting.
- The secret to smooth, air-bubble free frosting: Once the frosting has come together, turn your stand mixer down to low and continue whipping it for about 5 minutes. This should work out most of the air bubbles.
- Fill that piping bag like a pro: Spoon your frosting onto a large piece of plastic wrap, roll and twist the ends. Trim one end so there’s about ½” in length, drop your frosting into the piping bag (short end first) with the tip already on and pipe!
- Getting that perfect frosting swirl: To get that perfect swirl to hold your caramel, pipe your frosting onto the tops of your cupcakes. Then, using the back of a spoon, drag the tip through the frosting while you turn the cupcake
- Storing frosted cupcakes: While cupcakes are always best when eaten the same day they’re made, these can be stored in an air-tight container at room temperature for 1-2 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 357
- Sugar: 31.1g
- Sodium: 237mg
- Fat: 21.9g
- Saturated Fat: 11.7g
- Carbohydrates: 40.2g
- Fiber: 1.9g
- Protein: 4.1g
- Cholesterol: 56mg
Keywords: easy chocolate cupcake recipe, chocolate stout cupcakes, how to make chocolate cupcakes
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Update Notes: This post was originally published in May of 2016 but was republished with step-by-step photos and tips in June of 2019.
OMG! 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!
THANK 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. 😀
I 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.
I’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. 🙂
Never 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)
I’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! 😀
These 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.
If you haven’t tried beer in cupcakes before, you definitely have to. I promise, you’ll TOTALLY understand the hype! 😀
Hello 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
Thanks so much for the sweet feature! 😀
This is such an informative post! I love the process shots and the tips section also. Will definitely be trying this cupcakes as stouts are one of my favorite beers!! Thanks for sharing!
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oh my goodnes!! Love everything about sweets! I will try it out!
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YUM…these would make GREAT celebration cupcakes. Also, the perfect dessert for a bbq party. I just know they would not last long. Grab one while you can.
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Oh my gosh! These sound and look so decadently rich and flavorful!!
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Oh, my word! Where have these cupcakes been all my life?! They look and sound delicious and that those photos are amazing too!
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Your cupcakes look quite addicting! I love the choice of flavors, they will be a hit at any party!
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I LOVE chocolate stout cupcakes!! These pictures make me want to devour all of them! And I love your frosting technique (using the spoon) – I absolutely have to try that next time. The pretzel crumbles really make this, too. What a killer combo of flavors and textures! Love it! Absolutely making this later!
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When I first saw this recipe I said no way!! Well I went ahead and made some — they were amazing. I couldn’t believe beer (I’m not a beer drinker) could make chocolate cupcakes taste so good. And the buttercream frosting is to die for!! This is a keeper recipe.
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Chocolate and stout are one of my favorite pairings, so these are my kind of cupcakes! The pretzels and caramel just put these cupcakes over the top. Thanks for sharing!
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I’m not a big fan of stout a a drink because it’s so heavy. But I love that you use it in this cupcake for the flavor. This looks like an easy and delicious treat
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The flavor combination in this cupcake makes me very happy. I dont have sweet tooth but when the sweetness is balanced well like this, I would gorge on such treats. Looks absolutely amazing!
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I love the salty-sweet combination, so these sound amazing! They’re also decorated so beautifully — I love how you pipe the frosting on top.
Your photographs are precious! Love the hands in frame one! And sounds delish :)!
I haven’t tried this but the simplicity of making it got me interested. Would it be ok if I omit the melted dark chocolate and instead replaced it with Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa powder? Thanks!
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