These decadent vegan chocolate cupcakes are made with stout beer, filled with chocolate whiskey sauce and an Irish Cream frosting to finish it all off. It’s a grown-up dessert that blows everyone away! Vegan Chocolate Stout Cupcakes with Irish Cream Frosting are the ultimate treat.
Do you ever wonder where food bloggers get their recipe inspiration from? Magazines? TV shows? Yes, sometimes. Other bloggers? Definitely. But a lot of times, inspiration comes from everyday things, like going to the market, or a billboard or visiting friends. And I find that to be the most exciting source.
The Story Behing These Vegan Chocolate Cupcake Recipe
Years ago, I visited a friend who had just baked a batch of Guinness chocolate cupcakes with whiskey ganache and Bailey’s frosting. I am NOT exaggerating when I say they were the most delicious chocolate cupcakes I’d ever had! I knew immediately that I needed to start developing a vegan version, which is exactly what I did here. It took lots of trial and error, but this recipe is the best vegan chocolate cupcake recipe. It’s moist, decadent, a little bit boozy, and the perfect treat to spoil yourself and the ones you love. We hope you enjoy it!
How to Make Vegan Chocolate Stout Cupcakes Video and Step by Step Images
Vegan Chocolate Cupcake Ingredients
Making these cupcakes vegan only requires a couple simple ingredients that you probably already have at home!
- Unsweetened plant milk (we like almond milk!)
- Flax seeds (these work as an egg replacement)
- Stout beer (make sure it’s vegan!)
- Coconut oil
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Baking staples: all-purpose flour, sugar, baking soda, salt
- Agave or maple syrup
- Dairy-free yogurt (this is what makes the cake so moist and replaces the buttermilk found in most chocolate cupcakes)
Flax egg Heating stout beer Making the whiskey cream sauce Creaming the cooconut oil Adding flour to the batter Mixing the batter Adding whiskey chocolate cream Frosting a chocolate cupcake Enjoy!
Vegan Cupcake Filling
I learned one of the coolest tricks to creating a vegan fudge sauce, and it’s so simple. It’s just maple syrup and cocoa powder, and when whipped together they make the most decadent drizzling sauce! I combined that with a bit of whiskey to create the most incredible filling that oozes out of each stout cupcake.
Non-Dairy Irish Cream Frosting
To get this frosting just right I had to create a dairy-free Irish cream. Was I up for the challenge? You bet! When combined with vegan cream cheese, cocoa powder, and confectioner’s sugar...well, you should probably sit down when you take a bite, because it’s so good you just might fall over!
How Much Cupcake Batter in Each Cup
It can be tempting to fill each cupcake tin mostly-full with cupcake batter, but resist the urge! When your cupcakes are too tall they will sink in the center and have dry, cracked tops. For a moist, dense cupcake, fill each cup half full. Trust us on this one!
Homemade Cupcakes Ahead of Time
Since these chocolate cupcakes are perfect for entertaining, it’s also helpful to know that they can be made ahead of time. Bake the cupcakes one day in advance and then cover them tightly. Do NOT refrigerate--this will dry them out! Fill and frost the cupcakes right before serving for the most perfect results. Unfrosted cupcakes can also be frozen for up to 2 months. Pop them in the refrigerator overnight, then bring them to room temperature before frosting.
How to Make This Chocolate Cupcake Alcohol-Free
Just a few quick swaps will give you the same decadent, crave-worthy cupcakes without any alcohol at all. Simply trade...
- For the chocolate cupcake batter, use seltzer water instead of stout
- For the filling, use coffee, water or plant milk instead of whiskey
- For the frosting, skip the Irish Cream and use coffee or plant milk instead
More Chocolate Desserts
- Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chocolate Bark with Pistachios and Tahini
- Chocolate Truffles Vegan
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Tart
- Chocolate Truffles Guilt Free
- Chocolate Glazed Banana Bread Donuts
- Chocolate Chia Pudding Date Sweetened
- Chocolate Covered Hazelnuts Salted and Roasted
- Chocolate Tart with Raspberries Vegan
- Tahini Stuffed Dates Dipped in Chocolate
- Vegan Chocolate Cake
Did you like these vegan chocolate cupcakes?
If you enjoyed this recipe, it would help us tremendously if you left us a star rating in the comments below or on the recipe card. Do you have any questions about the recipe or do you need a swap for any of the ingredients? We are here to help, just leave us a question in the comments below.
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Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes With Irish Cream Frosting
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 18 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
These vegan chocolate cupcakes are made with stout beer, filled with whiskey spiked chocolate cream, and topped with a homemade vegan Irish cream frosting.
Ingredients
- Cupcakes:
- ¾ cup unsweetened plant milk
- 3 tbsp ground flax seeds
- 1 cup stout beer (for a list of vegan stouts, click here )
- ½ cup coconut oil or non-hydrogerated vegetable shortening
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
- ¾ tsp salt
- ½ cup agave or maple syrup
- ⅔ cup plain non dairy yogurt
- Filling:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 4 tbsp whiskey
- Frosting:
- 1 ½ cups plain vegan cream cheese alternative
- 3 tbsp coconut oil at room temperature
- ¾ cup confectioners' sugar
- 6 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 6-7 tbsp vegan "Irish cream" (recipe follows)
- Vegan "Irish Cream" (makes 1 cup):
- 1 cup vanilla non-dairy coconut creamer
- ¼ cup espresso (equivalent to 2 shots) or strong brewed coffee
- 2 ½ tbsp whiskey
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Line 18 muffin tins with foil liners and coat them with cooking spray
- To make the vegan Irish Cream:
- Combine the creamer and coffee in small saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, whisk in the whiskey and vanilla extract and set aside to cool. Refrigerate until ready to use (it will thicken as it cools). Shake well before using
- To make the cupcakes:
- In a medium bowl, combine the almond milk and ground flax. Set aside
- Bring the stout and coconut oil to simmer in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the cocoa powder and whisk until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt
- Using an electric mixer, beat the flax mixture, non-dairy yogurt and agave at medium speed. Slowly pour in the stout-chocolate mixture and mix until combined
- Reduce the speed to low, add the flour mixture and mix until just combined ( do not overmix!)
- Fill liners about ¾ of the way with batter. Bake at 350F for 23-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Set aside to cool completely
- To make the filling:
- Make a simple syrup by combining the water and sugar in a sauce pan, bringing the mixture to a boil and stirring constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved. Set aside to cool
- Whisk in the cocoa powder and whiskey and mix until smooth and creamy
- To make the frosting:
- Using an electric mixer, beat together the vegan cream cheese alternative, coconut oil and confectioners' sugar. Carefully, add the cocoa powder and Irish cream, alternating each one, one tablespoon at a time. Refrigerate until ready to use
- To assemble the cupcakes:
- Using a melon baller, cut out the center of the cupcakes (go about ⅔ of the way down, without cutting the bottom), saving the centerpieces
- Fill the cupcakes about ⅔ of the way with chocolate-whiskey filling and top with the reserved center pieces
- Spread or pipe frosting on top and drizzle with leftover chocolate filling. Refrigerate until ready to serve
Notes
Need to make these alcohol free? Here's how:
- For the chocolate cupcake batter, use seltzer water instead of stout
- For the filling, use coffee, water or plant milk instead of whisky
- For the frosting, skip the Irish Cream and use coffee or plant milk instead
- Prep Time: 35 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 353
- Sugar: 34
- Sodium: 193
- Fat: 14.1
- Saturated Fat: 9.1
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.8
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 53.2
- Fiber: 3.8
- Protein: 4.4
- Cholesterol: 0
Keywords: vegan, chocolate, chocolate cupcakes, stout, whisky, dairy free, Irish cream
Ruta says
No way those are vegan! Those cupcakes both look and sound so delicious. I could really use one right now... 🙂
Vicky & Ruth says
The first batch we made didn't even last a day in our house!
Couldn't Be Parve says
The sound utterly over the top delicious. Thanks for sharing your tip for the filling, I am going to have to try that sometime, I am always looking for good dairy-free dessert tricks.
Vicky & Ruth says
You are welcome. It is a really good tip!
Sina @ thekosherspoon says
So decadent, i love it! I've never had vegan cupcakes but they look amazing
Vicky & Ruth says
We can assure you that you will not miss the dairy or the eggs in this recipes. it is awesome if we may say that....
Sarah Klinkowitz says
Hello, cupcake!
Tamar Genger says
This looks amazing. Quite a few steps, but the flavors sound so good, I have to find time.
Vicky & Ruth says
The flavor combination is really great. Give it a try and let us know.
[email protected] says
These look so fantastic! I'm amazed!
stephanie says
these certainly don't look pareve!! delicious!!
Vicky & Ruth says
thank you very much
veganmiam.com says
That looks so super good! Hey! We are staying in Valencia for a month very soon! Do you have any favourite vegan eats?
Vicky & Ruth says
Enjoy your stay in Valencia. I am sure you can charm someone to make you a really good and tasty vegetarian paella. Don't forget to enjoy some really good gazpacho and some sanfaina. There are always vegan options in any menu. Have a great trip.
Joanne says
I think the filling is wrong! I have tripled checked the ingredients and it came out soupy. One cup of water must be too much.
Vicky & Ruth says
Hi Joanne,
The filling for the cupcakes is closer to a chocolate "syrup" rather than a creamy filling. The cupcakes actually absorb some of it, making them a little more moist and gooey. Hope this helps. Please let us know if you have any more questions
Mary @ Fit and Fed says
These look heavenly! I'm always up for chocolate plus stout or porter in a dessert, and I'm also a fan of Bailey's, this has both!
Vicky & Ruth says
Perfect then! Hope you enjoy them!