Cupkins: Chocolate Stout Muffins

If you've been a reader for a while you probably know each month Joanne from Ready, Set, Craft! and I collaborate on something we call Cupkins. (If you're a newer reader here's how it works: We pick a theme, then Joanne makes cupcakes I made make muffins to go with the theme we've picked.)

June is going to be a special Cupkins month- we're doing two themes! Today is for Father's Day and then later in the month we'll do 4th of July.

For Father's Day recipe I've made Chocolate Stout Muffins. Perfect for Dads who like chocolate (and maybe also the occasional adult bottled beverage).

Here's how to make them:

First you'll need to get a bottle of a chocolate stout you like. I used this one.

• 1.5 cups of flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/3 cup of non-fat milk
• 1/4- 1/2 cup of the chocolate stout
• 1 large egg
• 1.5 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup applesauce
• 4 oz baking chocolate
• 1 bar dark chocolate

Chop about 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chunks and set them aside.

Put all the dry ingredients into a mixing bowl, then add the applesauce, egg, oil, milk and beer. Stir just a few times until the ingredients start to combine. (at this point you still have to melt and add the baking chocolate so don't stir too much or you'll get tough muffins).

Melt 4 oz of baking chocolate in the microwave

mmmm- doesn't that chocolate look good. I always, always want to eat some of the baking chocolate when I'm melting it. It's not fair that it tastes so bad- but still looks just as good as regular chocolate!

Once the chocolate is melted, add it into the bowl and stir until all ingredients combine. You can also add in your chocolate chunks at this point.

Bake at 375 until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean (I made 6 oversized muffins and mine took about 20 minutes.)

Once the muffins are cool. Melt a little more of the dark chocolate and drizzle over the top.

At this point I'd usually give you a nice shot of the whole batch of muffins. Except that... between the time I made them in the evening and when I was going to photograph them in the nice outdoor morning light not mentioning any names (cough, cough my husband, cough) ate them. He says sorry blog readers.

So I guess that means they came out alright... and my taste tester assured me that they made both a good midnight snack and breakfast treat. At least I had 2.5 left to photograph! (yes 2 and a half, the one cut off in the back of the photo is only half a muffin- see). Good thing I woke up when I did- if my husband had been left alone with these much longer I may not have had anything to photograph!

Now head on over to Joanne's blog (by clicking on the cupkins logo below) to check out her adorable Chocolate Banana Dad Cupcakes.

Thanks for dropping by and enjoy the day!