Easy Guinness Cupcakes with Chocolate Whiskey Frosting

Happy St. Patty's Day!  I know the internet is littered with similar recipes, but I couldn't refrain from taking part.  It's fun to cater your menu around the holidays and these cupcakes turned out so well, that I had to share them.  This is my EASY version of the impressive originals.  The cake is dark and flavorful with a slightly bitter taste from the Guinness and is complemented perfectly by the sweet and subtle whiskey flavored chocolate frosting.

Guinness Cupcakes

1 Chocolate cake mix

2 T. cocoa powder

1 t. instant coffee powder

3 Eggs

1/2 C. applesauce

1 1/3 C. Guinness

Preheat oven to 350.  Spray and flour cupcake pans.  

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and beat until smooth.  Fill the cupcake pans 1/2 way full with the batter.  Bake for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick skewered into the center of the cupcakes comes out clean.  Cool before frosting.  

Chocolate Whiskey Frosting

1 Container of your favorite chocolate frosting

1 1/2 T. Whiskey

Gently fold together the two ingredients in a medium sized bowl.  If you'd like your frosting to taste more like Whiskey, add more, but the frosting will become more like a ganache, instead of a firmer cake frosting.  

7 Game Day Favorites

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  Football’s not really my thing.  BUT, planning the food for a party based around football?  That I can do.  I’ve collected some of my choice finger foods from the past year or so and compiled them here for an easy guide to game day favorites.  Make one of them or all of them and your party is sure to be a touchdown, no matter who wins the game!

Click on the food titles to see the recipes!

Pretzel Dogs

(this recipe is at the bottom of the page)

Bitterballen

Potato-wrapped meatballs from Holland

Caramelized Onion Dip 

Spinach Balls

Sliders

 with Chipotle Aioli

Grape Jelly Meatballs

Chili

Chili is a must.  I had it growing up.  I made it for my Super Bowl parties in college.  It's so easy to have a big pot of chili on the stove.  People can help themselves, it's very casual and it's perfect for a cold, February day.

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Pretzel Dogs

Head back to childhood with these fun, crunchy, chewy and satisfying pretzel-wrapped hot dogs.  

1 tube of pretzel or breadstick dough (found in the refrigerated section near the cinnamon rolls)

Your favorite kind of precooked hot dogs or polish sausage (I like Nathan's or Hebrew National)

Course Salt

Ketchup & Mustard

Preheat the oven to 350.  Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick spray. 

Open the pretzel dough and separate the pieces.  Take one strip of pretzel dough and slowly twirl it around one of the hot dogs.  You may need to stretch it a little bit to reach the end of the hot dog.  Place on the cookie sheet.  Repeat the process with each of the other hot dogs. 

Some of the pretzel dough directions say to brush the tops with egg wash or water.  I find that it’s not necessary, but feel free if you have some egg handy. 

Sprinkle each hot dog with course salt for looks and make sure it sticks to the dough.  Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.  Serve with ketchup, mustard or your favorite condiments.