Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes

Get ready for chocolate Guinness cupcakes filled with a smooth whiskey ganache and topped with boozy Bailey’s buttercream frosting. This recipe is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day.

This cupcake is affectionately named after the boozy Irish Car Bomb drink made with Guinness Stout, Jameson Whiskey, and Bailey’s Irish Cream.

More about the original cocktail…what is an Irish Car Bomb, you ask?

Maybe I’m the only one asking this question, but I have to admit I’ve never had a real-life ‘Car Bomb’ cocktail. This cocktail has been renamed the Irish Slammer.

After reading the recipe for this festive St. Patrick’s Day cocktail, it doesn’t sound like my jam at all.

This cocktail recipe sounds more like a recipe for the worst hangover you’ve ever had in your entire life. If you aren’t familiar, I’ll enlighten you.

First, you take a shot glass and fill it with a ½ shot of Irish cream liquor, and then you float a ½ shot of Irish Whiskey on top of that.

Then you drop the whole shot glass into a ½ pint of Guinness and chug it as fast as you can!  One recipe actually warns that if you do not chug it fast enough, it will curdle and start to taste bad.

😐 Yeah, no thanks.

What you’re going to love about this Irish-themed cupcake recipe

Chocolate Guinness cupcakes with Bailey’s frosting.

• Dark chocolate Guinness cupcake. It’s a super moist cupcake with rich chocolate flavor.
• Irish whiskey filling. Made with dark chocolate and Irish whiskey. (also amazing on ice cream)
• Bailey’s frosting. Fluffy and creamy, it’s the perfect boozy topper for these cupcakes.

Recipe Notes

These rich, dark chocolate Guinness cupcakes with Bailey’s frosting are filled with Jameson’s whiskey filling.ds Top them off with St. Patrick’s Day cupcake sprinkles.

Honestly, I could eat these cupcakes every day. They are moist and chocolaty, and the Bailey’s buttercream frosting is divine.

Ingredients

Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes

• Dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda.
• Wet ingredients: Sour cream, one egg, and Guinness stout.

Whisky Ganache Filling

• Dark chocolate chips.
• Irish whiskey.
• Heavy cream.

Bailey’s Buttercream

• Butter softened to room temperature.
• Powdered sugar.
• Bailey’s Irish cream liqueur.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Start by making chocolate Guinness cupcakes.

Get Ready to Bake

1. Preheat the oven to 350℉.
2. Line a cupcake tin with cupcake liners.

Make the Chocolate Cupcake Batter

1. Combine the flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda in a bowl and set aside.
2. In a saucepan, warm the Guinness with the espresso powder and the butter until the butter is melted.
3. Add the cocoa powder to the warm Guinness mixture, whisk to combine, and set aside.
4. Beat together the room-temperature eggs and the sour cream in a mixing bowl.
5. Add the chocolate Guinness mixture and beat until combined.
6. Add in the flour mixture and beat until just combined.
7. Fill the cupcake liners about three-quarters of the way full.

Bake the Cupcakes

1. Bake the cupcakes at 350℉ for 17 minutes. (200℉
2. Let the cupcakes cool to room temperature while you make the whiskey filling and Bailey’s frosting.

Make the Irish whiskey filling

Ensure enough time for the cupcakes to cool completely before filling them with whiskey and frosting them with Bailey’s buttercream.

Use a small knife or cupcake corer to take out the centers of the cupcakes.

What is the best chocolate to use for baking?

My favorite brands of chocolate are Guittard, Sharfenberger, and Valrhona. I usually pick an extra dark variety; dark chocolate makes the best ganache.

You can buy chocolate in baking bars or use chocolate chips. Using chocolate chips also prevents all the mess made when your recipe involves chopping chocolate bars.

1. Measure out the chocolate and place it in a large bowl.
2. Warm the heavy cream in a saucepan of medium-high heat.
3. Pour the heated cream over the chocolate and then let the chocolate melt into it. Whisk until smooth.
4. Add about a shot and a half of Irish whiskey; I used Jameson. Whisk again.

PRO-TIP: If the chocolate chips aren’t completely melted you can melt them in the microwave in 30 second bursts (stir after each 30 seconds) or over a double boiler.

Make the Bailey’s Irish buttercream frosting

This buttercream frosting is light, fluffy, and full of Baileys Irish Cream flavor.

1. Cream the unsalted butter until it is light and fluffy. 
2. Add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth.
3. Add a Baileys Irish Cream. Beat until well blended and fluffy. 
4. Add heavy cream to thin, if needed. 

FAQs and Expert Tips

More St. Patrick’s Day Recipes

• POTATOES: Who doesn’t like potatoes?
• BUILT-IN GOOD LUCK: Everyone needs a little extra good luck. Plus a chance of finding gold at the end of a rainbow. It seems like just a bonus; am I right?
• CORNED BEEF: Since I don’t have my Corned Beef Recipe here yet…This recipe from Delish looks super delish.
• GUINNESS BRAISED SHORT RIBS: my personal favorite.

I will leave you with one helpful travel tip  – if you do happen to be visiting Ireland, you should not order an Irish Car Bomb, as the Irish find this reference less than funny.  As for me I’ll be sticking to these St. Patrick’s Day cupcakes and using the rest of my Guinness to make some fantastic Guinness Braised Short Ribs.

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