Beer Cupcakes

When I came across this recipe over at The Seaside Baker, I knew I had to try them! I have made beer cookies before, cooking down the beer to a rich, flavorful syrup. However, I had never considered using beer in cupcakes. These were delightful, and I will definitely be making them again!

Beer Cupcakes
yield: about 20 cupcakes

1 cup butter, melted
1 1/3 cups sugar

2 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla
1 cup craft beer, I used Tap Room Number 21's Amber Ale

3 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350 (or 325 if using dark pans) and line two cupcake tins with 20 liners. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar until a homogenous, wet, sandy mixture forms, about 2-3 minutes on medium speed. Add the eggs, beating to combine, followed by the vanilla. With the mixer running on low speed, add the beer and mix until homogenous (at this stage, the batter is quite thin).

With the mixer continuing on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture, scraping down the bowl as necessary. Avoid over-mixing. I found the batter thickened nicely, even after I had stopped mixing. Divide the batter between the liners, filling each liner about 2/3 full. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 15-18 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting
yield: enough to frost about 20 cupcakes

3/4 cup butter, softened
8oz cream cheese, softened

3 1/2 - 4 cups confectioner's sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp cream

Cream the butter and cream cheese until combined. Add in one cup of the powdered sugar and mix to combine. Add in the vanilla, followed by another cup of the powdered sugar. Alternate remaining powdered sugar and cream until the desired consistency and sweetness is reached (I prefer a less-sweet frosting, so I wound up using about 3 1/2 cups of the sugar). Beat on high for 3-5 minutes. THe frosting will be light, airy, and will pipe beautifully. Frost the cupcakes.

Garnishes

1 cup crushed pretzels
1/2 cup roasted, salted peanuts
melted chocolate

Top each cupcake with pretzels, peanuts, and melted chocolate as you see fit.