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Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes are rich, moist, and perfect for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day! These festive cupcakes are made with chocolate cake infused with Guinness stout, which enhances the flavor without making them taste like beer. Topped with a fluffy Baileys Irish Cream frosting, they’re indulgent, delicious, and not too boozy. Whether you’re hosting game day, or bringing a potluck dessert to the office party, these chocolate cupcakes are always a hit!

frosted Cupcake with liner gold liner

St. Patrick’s Day Cupcakes

These rich Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes are a sweet treat to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with!

Moist chocolate cupcakes made with rich cocoa powder, stout beer and topped with fluffy Baileys Irish Cream frosting. A festive dessert that is indulgent, fun, and always popular at office parties and gatherings.

What You’ll Love About These Irish Cupcakes

• Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day – Celebrate the holiday with a delicious dessert that features two classic Irish ingredients!
• Moist and Flavorful – The Guinness enhances the chocolate without overpowering it, and the sour cream keeps the cupcakes moist.
• Decadent Frosting – The Baileys buttercream frosting is smooth, creamy, not too boozy tasting, and easy to make.
• Make-Ahead Friendly – Great to prep ahead for office parties or potlucks.

frosted Guinness Chocolate Cupcake with liner peeled away

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a batch of these Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes! Bring them to the office party and people will talk…

This is an easy St. Patrick’s Day dessert, and we love it, but these chocolate cupcakes are suitable for lots of other occasions!

Ingredients In Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes

Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes ingredients shot
CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES
• Guinness Stout
• Unsalted Butter
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• Granulated Sugar
• Sour Cream
• Large Eggs
• Vanilla Extract
• All-Purpose Flour
• Baking Soda
• Salt

BAILEYS FROSTING:
• Unsalted Butter
• Powdered Sugar
• Baileys Irish Cream
• Salt

Cupcake Recipe Variations

Caramel Drizzle: Add a swirl of store-bought or homemade salted caramel on top of the frosting.
Festive Toppings: Decorate with green sprinkles, edible gold glitter, or a chocolate coin for a fun St. Patrick’s Day touch.
Mini Cupcakes: Bake in a mini muffin tin for bite-sized party treats. Reduce the baking time to 10–12 minutes.

How to Make Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes

Prep:
• Preheat to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
Make the chocolate base:
• In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter with the Guinness. Stir in cocoa powder and sugar until smooth (don’t let it boil). Let cool slightly.

Combine wet ingredients:
• In a bowl, whisk together sour cream, eggs, and vanilla.
• Very Slowly whisk the Guinness-chocolate mixture into the sour cream-egg mixture.
• Whisk until smooth and fully combined.

Add dry ingredients:
• In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
• Stir into the wet ingredients until just combined.

Fill Liners:
• Divide batter among cupcake liners (about ¾ full).

Bake Cupcakes:
• Bake 18–22 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely.
Frosting:
• Beat butter until creamy.
• Slowly add powdered sugar.

• Add Baileys, vanilla, and a pinch of salt and beat until fluffy and smooth.
Decorate:
• Pipe or spread the Baileys buttercream frosting on the cooled cupcakes. Top with sprinkles or drizzle with caramel for extra flair!

Tips for the Best St. Patrick’s Day Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes

• Don’t let the Guinness and butter boil — just heat until the butter melts.
• Sour cream adds moisture, but full-fat Greek yogurt works in a pinch.
• If your frosting is too thick, add a little extra Baileys (or milk).
• Let cupcakes cool fully before frosting for best results.

St. Patrick’s Day Cupcakes FAQs

Can I make these Guinness cupcakes without alcohol?
Yes! For the cupcakes, you can substitute Guinness with strong brewed coffee, buttermilk, or even chocolate milk + extra cocoa powder. For the frosting, replace Baileys with heavy cream and a splash of vanilla extract to keep the texture and flavor smooth and creamy.
What frosting goes well with these cupcakes besides Baileys?
A classic cream cheese frosting or chocolate ganache also works with these rich chocolate cupcakes. For something less sweet, try a whipped mascarpone topping.
Can I make this recipe into a cake instead of cupcakes?
Absolutely. This batter works well in a 9-inch round cake pan. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. You can also use it for a small sheet cake or loaf.
Can I make these cupcakes in advance?
Yes, you can bake the cupcakes 1–2 days ahead. Store them unfrosted in an airtight container at room temperature. Frost just before serving for best texture and flavor.
Are these cupcakes suitable for kids?
Not as written, but you can make them kid-friendly: Use a non-alcoholic substitute for the Guinness (like chocolate milk or root beer) and omit the Baileys in the frosting by using milk or cream + vanilla instead.

Cupcake Storage

Unfrosted cupcakes: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Frosted cupcakes: Refrigerate for 3–4 days. Bring to room temp before serving.