Guinness Cupcakes: A Delightful Treat for Any Occasion
Rich, chocolatey cupcakes are made even better with Guinness! Top these Guinness Cupcakes with vanilla buttercream for a decadent St. Patrick’s Day dessert.

Recently, I realized that I don’t make nearly enough cupcakes these days. In the early days of this blog, I experimented with every flavor combination imaginable, and a glance through my cupcake archives here will confirm that I’m not exaggerating.
There’s truly something for everyone, ranging from Doctored Cake Mix Cupcakes to delightful Homemade Funfetti Cupcakes, and even adorable Bunny Butt Cupcakes perfect for Easter. Given the vast collection of cupcake recipes already on the blog, I decided it was time to refresh some of the classics, starting with these Guinness Cupcakes that I first shared many years ago.
Simple, rich, and absolutely delicious, these cupcakes are the ideal treat for St. Patrick’s Day!
Cooking with Guinness Stout
For those familiar with my kitchen adventures, you probably know that beer isn’t my favorite beverage. Though I occasionally enjoy mixing up a drink with pineapple vodka or sipping a tiramisu martini, beer is far from my preference.
However, I absolutely love cooking with it, particularly when it comes to Guinness. There’s something about the deep, rich flavor of this stout that enhances various dishes, imparting a fabulous taste.
While I typically use Guinness in savory dishes, such as Guinness Stew or Slow Cooker Beef and Barley Stew, I recently discovered its potential in chocolate cupcakes, and I was immediately intrigued!
Do These Cupcakes Taste Like Guinness?
If you’re like me and don’t enjoy beer, there’s no need to fret—these cupcakes don’t actually taste like it! As you prepare the batter, you may notice a strong smell of Guinness, but the end result is a moist, light cupcake bursting with chocolatey goodness, elevated by the stout.
Crowned with a swirl of homemade buttercream frosting, these cupcakes are simply perfect. In fact, I’m already dreaming up ways to incorporate Guinness into other chocolate desserts!
How to Make Guinness Cupcakes
For those who keep a bottle of Guinness handy for cooking, you likely have all the necessary ingredients to whip up these delicious cupcakes:
- 1 bottle Guinness
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
Using oil in these cupcakes instead of butter gives them a gorgeous crumb and keeps them wonderfully moist. Plus, they’re quick to prepare, as you skip the traditional butter-sugar creaming process.
To start, preheat your oven to 350°F. In a large mixing bowl, combine the Guinness, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the sour cream.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the cocoa, sugar, flour, and baking soda. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet Guinness mixture.
Portion the batter into 24 muffin tins lined with paper cups and bake for about 25 minutes. The cupcakes are ready when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with just a few moist crumbs.
Allow the cupcakes to cool in the tins before preparing your vanilla buttercream frosting and piping it onto the cooled cupcakes.
Frosting Ideas
For an extra festive touch on St. Patrick’s Day, consider swapping milk for Baileys in the buttercream! Finish these Guinness Cupcakes with a sprinkle of chocolate jimmies for a delightful presentation.
Share a batch of these rich cupcakes with your neighbors this St. Paddy’s Day, and challenge them to guess the secret ingredient that makes them so decadent!