Beer Brownie Cupcakes With Beer Buttercream Recipes

BEER BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.
• Sift together the flour and cocoa powder in a medium bowl. Add the salt and stir together.
• Meanwhile, add 2 inches of water to a medium saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Place the chopped chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl and set it over the saucepan (do not let the bowl touch the water). Stir occasionally until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove the bowl from the saucepan and set aside.
• Melt the 1 stick butter in a small saucepan or skillet over medium heat and continue to cook until it just turns golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Immediately pour the brown butter into the bowl of chocolate, scraping in the brown bits (to avoid overcooking the butter). Add the beer and stir together.
• Combine the eggs with both sugars in a large bowl. Beat together with an electric mixer on high speed until thick and shiny, about 2 minutes. Continue beating on low speed while adding the flour mixture and wet ingredients in alternating batches. Beat in the vanilla. Do not over mix. Fold in the chocolate chips.
• Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake until matte all over and a toothpick inserted in the center looks fudgy, but not wet, 40 to 45 minutes.
• Let the brownies cool in the pan before cutting and serving.

CHOCOLATE BEER CUPCAKES WITH WHISKEY FILLING AND IRISH CREAM ICING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.
• Bring Irish stout beer and 1 cup butter to a boil in a saucepan and set aside until butter has melted, stirring occasionally. Mix in cocoa powder until smooth.
• Whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a bowl until thoroughly combined.
• Beat eggs with sour cream in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low until well combined. Slowly beat in the beer mixture, then the flour mixture; beat until the batter is smooth.
• Divide batter between the prepared cupcake cups, filling each cup about 2/3 full.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, about 17 minutes.
• Cool the cupcakes completely. Cut cores out of the center of each cupcake with a sharp paring knife. Discard cores.
• Bring cream to a simmer in a saucepan over low heat; stir in bittersweet chocolate until melted.
• Mix in 2 tablespoons butter and Irish whiskey until butter is melted; let mixture cool to room temperature. Filling will thicken as it cools.
• Spoon the filling into the cored cupcakes.
• For frosting, whip 1/2 cup butter in a bowl with an electric mixer until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Set mixer to low speed and slowly beat in confectioners' sugar, 1 cup at a time, until frosting is smooth and spreadable. Beat in the Irish cream liqueur; adjust thickness of frosting with more confectioners' sugar if needed.
• Spread frosting on filled cupcakes.

BEER-BATTERED BROWNIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease bottom only of 8- or 9-inch square pan with shortening or cooking spray. In medium bowl, stir brownie mix, pouch of chocolate syrup, water, 1/4 cup oil and the egg until well blended. Spread batter in pan.
• Bake 8-inch pan 38 to 40 minutes, 9-inch pan 34 to 37 minutes, or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out almost clean. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows.
• In 5-quart Dutch oven or heavy saucepan, heat 2 to 3 inches oil to 350°F. In medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt and the beer with whisk until smooth. Working in small batches, dip brownies into batter. Fry in hot oil about 2 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels; sprinkle with sea salt.

BEER BROWNIE CUPCAKES WITH BEER BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 12 regular-size muffin cups.
• In medium bowl, stir together Brownie Cupcakes ingredients until well blended. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling about two-thirds full.
• Bake 25 to 28 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out almost clean. Cool 5 minutes; remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 45 minutes.
• In medium bowl, beat softened butter, shortening and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 30 seconds. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating on low speed until blended after each addition. Add 2 tablespoons of the beer; beat until frosting is smooth and spreadable. Beat in remaining 1 tablespoon beer if frosting is too thick.
• Spread or pipe frosting on cupcakes. Top with chocolate shavings.