Chocolate-Raspberry Cupcakes

This makes 24 cupcakes. I have gotten such rave reviews about these that I simply must share. The components of cupcakes, filling, and frosting are from three different recipes. The cupcake recipe is one I have made many times from browneyedbaker.com. The filling is home-made seedless raspberry jam. You could buy some at the store, probably with the same effect. The frosting is based upon sallysbakingaddiction.com.

Cupcakes:
1 cup Guiness stout
1 cup butter
3/4 cup cocoa powder
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs
2/3 cup sour cream

Prepare cupcake tins with 24 paper liners. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place Guiness and butter in a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Whisk in the cocoa powder until smooth. Remove from heat and let cool a little bit.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.

In a mixer, mix together the eggs and sour cream until combined. Add the Guiness mixture and mix until combined. Slowly add the flour mixture until just mixed, then fold until it’s completely combined.

Divide the batter equally between the paper liners. Bake for 20 minutes or until a light touch and they spring back up. Let cool completely.

Once cooled, remove the centers (I used my handy cupcake corer) and dribble seedless raspberry jam into each one. Rather than throw them away, we snack on the cupcake cores. Another idea would be to use them to make small trifles. I digress. The jam should be even with the top of the cupcake.

Frosting:
3/4 cup butter, room temperature
3-1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 Tbsp. heavy cream
2 tsp. vanilla extract
Dash of salt
1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam

Beat butter until softened. Add powdered sugar, cream, vanilla, and salt. Beat slowly until smooth. Add seedless raspberry jam and beat slowly until well incorporated. Add powdered sugar if it’s too thin or more cream if it’s too thick. Update: I just learned that mixing the frosting slowly will reduce the air bubbles forming in the frosting. 

Place into a piping bag and pipe onto the tops of the cupcakes. Like I said, I got RAVE reviews for these cupcakes. I mean for reals.