Everyone's Irish on St. Patty's Day!

It's everyone's favorite green holiday and let's face it...even if you aren't Irish 364 days of the year, you are on St. Patty's Day! In celebration, I'm making traditional corned beef and cabbage via Real Simple, and chowing down on some baked goods that I froze last week. And just in case you missed it, be sure to check out these St. Patty's Day favorite!

Is there a more fun way to enjoy dessert than by incorporating some of the most delicious alcohol around? Guinness, Jameson and Bailey's make my Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes one for the dessert record books.

The typically dry Irish Soda Bread comes to life with this recipe via my good friend Kristen and her mom. It's Kathy's Irish Soda Bread and once you go Kathy's way, you won't go back.

So how are you celebrating St. Patty's Day? Grabbing your green Mardi Gras beads and heading out to Happy Hour? Relaxing on your couch with a six of Guinness?

Kathy's Irish Soda Bread

A few weeks ago, I attended a bridal shower for a friend of mine. Kristen is the future Mrs. of Ryan, Shaun's long time best friend and one of my oldest friends (even before Shaun was in the picture...many, many years ago. Our friendship was born when I had a cast on my ankle in 11th grade and Ryan volunteered to carry book bag for me after the much-dreaded Physics class...such a gent). Anyhow, we're super excited for these two and can't wait for the big day!

A sweet soiree to celebrate her transition into married life, the shower was filled with friends, good food, lots of gifts and small tributes to Kristen and Ryan's Irish heritage including one of the most creative and fun party favors I've ever received - a mini bread pan containing a loaf of the mother of the bride's famous Irish soda bread, complete with printed recipe. Let's face it, sometimes Irish soda bread does leave a bit to be desired...but not this one. A recipe that was handed down and morphed over time, this version is more moist than most of it's kind and has impeccable flavor. After not only consuming a few slices at the shower, I arrived home where Shaun and I dug right in to the party favor goods. After expressing my love of not only the party favor idea, but of the bread itself to Kristen, I was over the moon with excitement when Kristen and her mom, Kathy, gave me the go ahead to do a write up for TAA.

So in the midst of my Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes extravaganza, I also embarked on my first batch of Kathy's Irish Soda Bread. And now I'm sharing it with you, so read on.
Kathy's Irish Soda Bread
4 C all purpose flour
1/2 C sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 sticks butter, at room temperature
1 C raisins
1 1/3 C buttermilk
Optional: 1 tbsp caraway seeds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Cut butter into the mixture until the butter is very fine - or mix with your hands so there are no large lumps of butter. (Note: I got down and dirty with the dough and used the best tool at my disposal; my own two hands. It's a sticky job, but it's really the only way to get 'er done). Add buttermilk and mix into soft dough. Kneed by hand a few times. Grease pan (generously!) and smooth bread evenly in pan. Cut an "X" across the top of the dough. Bake at least 1 hour, then check color and if top is wet/damp. If it is, bake additional 10 minutes (Note: in my old-as-dirt oven, my bread was done at 55 minutes. I was alerted by the extremely delectable smell wafting through my apartment. When I checked it, the bread was clearly done).
The result? I delectable none-too-crumbly bread with just a hint of sweetness brought to the table by the addition of raisins. Thanks for sharing with us, ladies!

Do you have any go-to Irish soda bread recipes? Or any other St. Patrick's Day treats or traditions that you follow? I know I have a corned beef in my fridge just waiting to jump into my slow cooker this weekend...

UPDATE: I should probably mention the type of pan to use! Kathy suggests 4 mini bread pans or one 8 or 9" round pan. I used one standard sized bread pan and the mini pan that I got at the shower. Any of these ways will work. I filled both pans about 3/4 of the way full.

Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes

We're starting Monday on a sweet note. Though I skipped the Hoboken St. Patty's Day festivities on Saturday (a tradition that I have partaken in during the past years but just wasn't feeling it this year), I was, however, feeling inspired by (what else?) the food. And while I wouldn't typically tout the Irish for having top of the line cuisine, I will get behind their beer and their bread. This week, despite my non-Irish background (don't let the freckles fool you), I'm giving into my love of all things green with some St. Patty's Day inspired treats. First up? Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes. I know, it's not PC...but who walks into a bar asking for a shot of Jameson and Bailey's dropped into a pint of Guinness without referencing it as a Car Bomb? No one I know. So that being said, let's get down to business. When I devised the concept for these cupcakes, I honestly wasn't sure how they'd taste. But the end result? Nothing short of light, heavenly chocolate cake and creamy frosting with just a hint of, "what's that flavor I'm tasting? It's fabulous!"

I know, it seems weird to use so much liquor in a dessert, but trust me on this. The Guinness makes the chocolate sing, akin to adding coffee to your chocolate. It doesn't taste like coffee or beer, just makes the chocolate...well, more chocolatey...and in turn, more delectable. The Irish cream in the frosting doesn't overpower the cream cheesey, sugary goodness...it just gives a hint of Irish cream, which brings the whole cupcake flavor together. Let's get down to the deets...

Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes
*Adapted from smitten kitchen
1 cup Guinness
2 sticks unsalted butter
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups all purpose flour

2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp salt
2 large eggs

2/3 C sour cream (don't skimp and use low-fat. Go big or go home)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a saucepan over medium heat, bring Guinness and both sticks of butter to a simmer. Add cocoa powder and whisk until smooth. Note: when you add the cocoa powder, the mixture will foam up, so stand back. Turn off heat and set aside to cool. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. In a stand mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat eggs and sour cream until combined. Slowly add the warm chocolate mixture to the eggs and sour cream and beat just to combine. Note: You will want to add the warm liquid in slowly, and make sure it's cooled slightly. Otherwise, you'll have scrambled eggs in your batter. Add flour mixture and beat briefly on low speed to combine, but not completely. With a rubber spatula, fold the mixture until completely combined. This is a light and airy batter so folding is a must. Line muffin tin with paper or foil liners. Fill about 3/4 of the way with batter (I use a big ladle for the perfect pour). Bake 17-18 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Whiskey glaze (optional)
2 sticks unsalted butter
1/4 C water
1/2 C Irish whiskey (like Jameson)
1 C sugar
Sanding sugar or sprinkles

In a saucepan, melt butter. Add sugar, water and whiskey. Bring to a boil and stir constantly for five minutes. Once cupcakes have cooled, dip tops into whisky mixture and roll in sanding sugar. Note: The glaze is not necessary to enjoy these cupcakes. It gives an extra kick of liquor and in the spirit of the Irish, I included it. But, these cupcakes are simply delish with or without it. When I made my batch, I did half glazed, half unglazed.

Irish Cream Frosting
aka the best frosting you'll ever eat
1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 pkg cream cheese, at room temperature
2 C confectioner's sugar (or more to taste)
2 tbsp Bailey's Irish Cream (if you want to keep this alcohol-free, try it with Irish cream coffee creamer)

In a stand mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat butter and cream cheese until mixed and fluffy. Add confectioner's sugar, one at a time, fully incorporating with each addition. Add 1-2 tbsp of Bailey's (to taste) and mix until incorporated.

So there you have it. A fun St. Patty's Day cupcake recipe. So what do you think? Do you eat any fun treats around the holiday?

Psst...stay tuned for St. Patty's Day treats part two, where I share a recipe for the best Irish Soda Bread you could imagine. And if you're just itching for more cupcake recipes, check out this, this, this and this.