Ingredients: (serves 12)
Batter:
12oz can or bottle of Guinness
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup Arbequina EVOO (or other Mild Intensity EVOO)
1cup dark brown sugar
2eggs
3/4 cup sour cream
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Raspberry Balsamic Frosting:
1 1/4 cups unsalted butter (2 1/2 sticks of butter), softened
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons Raspberry Balsamic
1teaspoon vanilla extract
2teaspoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons whole milk
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a small saucepan, add Guinness and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Continue to simmer until the beer reduces to 1/2 cup. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
In a large bowl combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt, whisk to combine. In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment, place reduced Guinness, olive oil, sugar, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla, whisk until blended and smooth.
Begin adding in the dry ingredients, a cup full at a time, until the batter is smooth and blended.
Fill a muffin tin with decorative paper baking cups and fill 3/4 of the way full with batter. Bake cupcakes for 20-30 minutes, until cooked through. Remove them from the oven and set aside to cool.
Place butter in the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, and beat or cream until smooth. Replace the paddle attachment with the whisk attachment (removing as much butter from the paddle as possible) and begin whisking in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, until combined. Add balsamic, vanilla, cocoa powder, and milk, and continue to whisk until fluffy and smooth.
Once the cupcakes have cooled completely, top with frosting (either spreading or piping the frosting on top of the cupcakes).