Week 35 Cupcakes - Chocolate Guinness with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

These weren't the cupcakes I planned on making this week.  Not even close.  When I pulled up the recipe for the cupcakes I was planning to make I discovered I just didn't want to make them this week.  The flavor combination just didn't grab me and I just wasn't feeling it.  So I went back to my Pinterest board and found this recipe that I'd pinned a few weeks ago.  I also just happened to have a bottle of Guinness on hand because I'd bought some for the soup I'm making for St. Patrick's Day.  Turns out you can do customizable 6 packs at my grocery store now.  Who knew!  So the stars aligned and these cupcakes got made!

1. Source: Baked by Rachel
2. Ease of Recipe (1 being cake mix/canned icing - 5 tons of steps and very time consuming): 2.5.  Did have to get out the mixer but that was about as difficult as it got.

3. Changes Made: None!  I finally had all the ingredients needed!

4. Problems:  None!

5.  Overall Impression:  I was a little concerned because I don't absolutely love the flavor of Guinness (my Irish grandfather is trying to figure out how to disown me I'm sure).  The flavor was subtle and just added a little depth to the chocolate.  Kind of like what coffee does for chocolate but while I can always faintly taste the coffee I didn't get a Guinness aftertaste.  They cake itself was a teensy bit dry but I did overmix a little instead of using a spatula to mix in the last 2 ingredients like I should've done.  The frosting is pure heaven.  Light and creamy with just enough cream cheese tang and a nice kick of cinnamon.

6. Quantity:  8 (just like the recipe called for! Never happens to me.  I always end up with less)

7. Make Again?: Yes definitely.  Next time I'll be a more careful of my mixing though