Irish Coffee Cupcakes

Name: Irish Coffee Cupcakes
Yield: makes 12 cupcakes
Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups (175 g) all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon baking soda; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 cup (250 ml) strong brewed coffee; 6 tablespoons (50 g) unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder; 1/2 cup (4 ounces/115 g) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, at room temperature; 1 1/4 cups (275 g) packed light brown sugar; 2 large eggs, at room temperature; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 4 ounces (115 g) cream cheese, at room temperature; 4 tablespoons (2 ounces/60 g) salted butter, at room temperature; 6 tablespoons (75 g) powdered sugar; 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Irish cream liqueur, such as Bailey’s Irish Cream; 4 ounces (115 g) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped; 1/4 cup (60 ml) heavy cream; 2 teaspoons light corn syrup or agave nectar; 2 tablespoons (30 ml) whiskey

December 9, 2011

One of the pitfalls of having a blog is that you leave yourself open to all sorts of questions. The most common are from folks who want to substitute ingredients. I always want to reach through my computer screen, grab hold of their shoulders, and say, “But I worked so hard to develop this recipe. Please make it just as it is!” When I was working on these cupcakes, I began with the simple idea of individually filled chocolate cakes, similar to the kind I had as a kid, but with an adult sensibility. So I added a pour of Irish cream liqueur to the filling and spiked the ganache icing with a tipple of whiskey, which effectively wiped out the possibility of making these kid-friendly. So please don’t ask if you can make them without either, because the bad news is that you can’t. But the good news is that you can have them all for yourself and you don’t have to share them with the kids.

Recipe notes

White Bean Turkey Chili

A dash of cocoa powder adds depth and richness to the broth of this easy turkey chili.

Butternut Squash–Kale Salad With Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

Round out these autumn greens with tart pomegranate seeds, crunchy pepitas, and a shower of Parmesan.

Béchamel Sauce

This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.

Rosemary and Dried Cherry Pork Chops

Rehydrating dried cherries in hot water turns them plump and juicy—exactly what you want scattered throughout a rosemary-scented pan sauce for pork chops.

Dulce de Leche

Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.

Frijoles Peruanos (Peruvian Refried Beans)

Mayocobas, or canary beans, are the quick-cooking pantry ingredient you should know about.

Gochujang Turkey Sweet Potatoes

Fully loaded, meal-prep friendly, and ready to be dressed up, down, or sideways.