Lea Hogg

St Patrick’s is celebrated in Malta with a parade in Valletta and the usual parties and fun.  I love Martha‘s guinness cupcakes and  you will need:

440ml Guinness (one large can)
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
3/4 cup Greek Yoghurt and for those on the island local yoghurt is great
2 1/2 cups self raising flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon instant coffee

Heat the oven to 170 C.
Place cupcake liners into muffin pans
Whisk together the Guinness, milk, vegetable oil in a large bowl until combined. Whisk in the eggs until completely incorporated. Whisk in the sour cream or yoghurt
Sift the flour, and sugar, cocoa powder, instant coffee, baking soda, and salt. Gradually fold this mixture into the wet Guinness mixture. Pour the batter among the cake liners.
Bake for about 20 minutes.
Set the pans on a wire rack and let the cupcakes cool completely before removing from the pan.

For the frosting:
250g cream cheese, at room temperature
Pinch fine salt
1/3 cup double cream
1 pound powdered sugar
Natural unsweetened cocoa powder, for dusting

Place the cream cheese in the bowl and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy
Beat in the cream until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.
With the mixer on medium speed mix in the powdered sugar until it is smooth
Top each cupcake with frosting or pipe it.