Luck O’ the Irish Simple Chocolate Cupcakes

Do you know what one of my absolute favorite holidays is? That’s right, it’s St. Patrick’s Day. I’m an Irish girl through and through and I love celebrating this holiday with an icy cold beverage in hand.

Parties, get-togethers and family dinners make this day complete…well, that and maybe a Guinness and some Jameson to wash down all of the food.

I come from an Irish family where we love stuffing our faces with meat and potato dishes. One of my favorite dishes my Mom made was corned beef and cabbage but I always had to wait an entire year to have it. The wait always made the dinner that much more special.

With St. Patrick’s Day comes all things Irish and green so celebrate the luck o’ the Irish with these festive St. Patrick’s Day simple chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese frosting!

Simple Chocolate Cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 dash salt
• 3 tablespoon butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line muffin tin or grease very well.
3. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa and salt in a small bowl; mix well.
4. In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until smooth; add the eggs and mix in the vanilla.
5. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture — alternate pours with the milk; Beat until smooth.
6. Fill the muffin cups 2/3 full and bake for 15 to 17 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
7. Remove from muffin pan and cool completely on wire racks before frosting.

Luck O’ the Irish Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

• Cream cheese (8 ounces)
• 1/2 cup butter (one stick, room temperature)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2-4 cups powdered sugar
• Green food coloring

 Directions:

1. Mix the butter and cream cheese together until completely smooth.
2. Add the vanilla extract and mix.
3. Slowly add the powdered sugar — keep adding until you reach the desired consistency.
4. Pour a few drops of the green food coloring into the mixture and stir — add coloring until you have the desired color. 
5. Spread on the cupcakes.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!