A Paddy's Day Treat, Chocolate Guiness Cupcakes

I've made these before as one big cake, but this was the first time I tried this recipe as cupcakes. Most of my adaptations to the recipe worked fine, however there wasn't enough frosting to get a decent 'head' on your pint of cupcake. The recipe below has been adapted to provide enough for all the cupcakes.

These have a very unique, earthy taste. The chocolate brings a much needed sweetness. All I can say is try them, everyone will love them, they're quick to make and a great all round 9/10 from everyone.

Makes 16 cupcakes.

Ingredients

250ml Guinness
250g unsalted butter
75g cocoa
400g caster sugar
1 x 142ml pot sour cream
2 eggs
1 tablespoon real vanilla extract
275g plain flour
2 1/2teaspoons bicarbonate of soda
300g Philadelphia cream cheese
150g icing sugar
125ml double or whipping cream

• Preheat the oven to gas mark 4/180°C.
• Pour the Guinness into a large saucepan, add the butter and heat until the butter is melted.
• Whisk in the cocoa and sugar. 
• In a seperate bowl beat the sour cream with the eggs and vanilla and then pour into the brown pan mixture.
• Whisk in the flour and bicarb.
• Spoon the mixture into the cupcake cases, around 3/4 of the way up.
• Bake for 20 minutes until a skewer comes out clean. 
• Leave to cool for a few minutes before transfering the cases to the cooling rack.
• To make the icing sive the icing sugar into a bowl with the cream cheese and whisk till smooth and light.
• Add the cream and beat again until it makes a spreadable consistency.