Did you mention Bailey's...twice?

Just a quickie incase you don't fancy making your own St Patrick's day cupcakes to celebrate tomorrow - Lola's are doing a rather yummy sounding cupcake available at their outlets in Harrods and Selfridges (until Sunday) and also to order online.

A sumptuous chocolate sponge base with a dash of Baileys liqueur has been topped with a heavenly vanilla and Baileys buttercream icing and decorated with a traditional green Shamrock.

I'm planning on popping over there on Sat to pick up a flavour of the month for Manny, so may pick up one of these too.

While we're talking about special days - St George's day is April 23rd and Lola's St George cupcakes are already available to pre-order.

I hope to be popping to their new store (details coming soon) to collect mine in person on the day.

Look out for my post about my St Patrick's day cupcakes tomorrow!

Guiness cupcakes

There seems to be no better day than today to share Petra from Choc Star's Guiness cupcake recipe! We had these last year and they're fab!

These cakes always attract a lot of attention on the countertop – and cries of amazement that they actually have Guinness in them.

CUPCAKES
250ml Guinness

250g slightly salted butter

80g cocoa

400g caster sugar

1 x 142ml pot sour cream

2 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

270g plain flour

21⁄2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
300g cream cheese

150g icing sugar

150ml double cream

METHOD
Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4. Line 2 X 12 hole muffin tins with large muffin cases.

Pour the Guinness into a large saucepan, add the butter in small pieces and heat until it all melts together. Turn off the heat but leave the pot on the pan.

Whisk in the cocoa and sugar. Beat together the sour cream, eggs and vanilla extract then mix into to the pan. Finally whisk in the flour and bicarbonate of soda. Do this little by little so you avoid lumps of flour in the batter.

Now divide the mixture between the muffin tins – I use a piping bag because the mix is pretty wet. If no bag then a jug works fine.

Place tins in the oven and bake for 18-20 mins, or until they are nicely puffed up and a skewer comes out clean (not looking like it's dragging half the mix with it).

Cool on racks and remove the cakes from the tins when they're firm/cool.

For the icing put the cream cheese, icing sugar and cream into a bowl. Mix together slightly so the icing sugar doesn't blow all over the place when whisking. Whisk with an electric whisk until you get a good, thick consistency and there's no danger of the icing dripping over the sides of the cupcakes.

Ice the cakes – nice big, billowing slathers to give the illusion of a small, sweet, edible Guinness.

Eat whenever you're ready but there's nothing quite like a warm cupcake topped with the cool frosting….

Thanks to Petra for the cupcakes and the pic!

Mmmm Baileys

I may try and get to Selfridges tomorrow to see if they have any of these gorgeous sounding Lola's cupcakes, but I doubt I'll make it...damn work! St Patrick's day is the PERFECT excuse to drink/eat Baileys!

If anyone tries them let me know!

March 17th is Saint Patrick's Day and Lola's has created a special cupcake to celebrate! We love this new rich chocolate cupcake filled and topped with delicious Bailey's Irish Cream icing and a Shamrock created especially for Lola's. You can also choose from any of our other flavours, which will all be decorated for St Patricks Day. Your order is hand delivered with a personal gift note. Available from the 10th to the 17th March. "For each petal on the shamrock This brings a wish your way - Good health, good luck, and happiness For today and every day. ~Author Unknown"