Ultimate Baileys chocolate cupcakes with a surprise inside

From the dark chocolate chips in the rich chocolate sponge, to the smooth and creamy chocolate and Baileys frosting, to the velvety milk chocolate Baileys ganache you'll discover inside - these really are the ultimate Baileys chocolate cupcakes.

If you're wanting to try these at home, here's the recipe for these ultimate chocolate cupcakes. Enjoy!

Ingredients

For the sponge:

• 150 g (5.5 oz) butter
• 200 g (7 oz) sugar
• 3 medium eggs
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 200 g (7 oz) self-raising flour
• 1 tbsp cocoa
• 2 tbsp whole milk
• 100 g (3.5 oz) melted dark chocolate
• 100 g (3.5 oz) dark chocolate chips

For the Baileys ganache:

• 150 ml (5 fl oz) double cream
• 50 ml (1.75 fl oz) Baileys
• 200 g (7 oz) milk chocolate

For the frosting:

• 170 g (6 oz) butter
• 500 g (17.5 oz) icing sugar
• 50 ml (1.5 - 2 fl oz) whole milk
• 2 tbsp Baileys
• 4 tbsp drinking chocolate powder
• Chocolate decorative hearts optional

Instructions

TO MAKE THE SPONGE:

1. Preheat the oven to 190C (170C fan, 375F)
2. Beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy
3. Beat the eggs separately, then beat into the mix bit by bit
4. Sieve in the flour, cocoa and baking powder and fold through
5. Fold in the milk to loosen
6. Fold in the cool melted chocolate
7. Fold in the chocolate chips
8. Spoon into a 12 hole muffin tray lined with paper cases
9. Bake for 18-20 minutes until just firm on top
10. Leave to cool completely on a wire rack

To make the ganache:

1. Heat the cream and Baileys in a saucepan until just beginning to simmer.
2. Break the milk chocolate into a bowl and pour the heated cream mixture over it.
3. Stir until it melts together, forming a glossy ganache
4. Leave to cool to room tempPrepare the core:
5. Cut out a hole from the centre of each cupcake - I used a cupcake corer from Lakeland
6. Pour the cool ganache into each hole, up to the top
7. Leave until it feels set to the touch (15-30 minutes)

To make the frosting:

1. Beat the butter on its own until fluffy
2. Add the icing sugar, drinking chocolate powder and milk and beat together - starting slow and then speeding up until pale fluffy
3. Add the Baileys and beat again
4. Transfer into a piping bag with an closed star nozzle and pipe high swirls, keeping the bag upright to give lovely frilly swirls
5. I topped mine with some chocolate hearts

Are you tempted to try baking these cupcakes at home?

Here's that Baileys ultimate chocolate cupcakes recipe again in a printable format.

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Baileys ultimate chocolate cupcakes with a surprise inside

Chocolate chip sponge with Baileys chocolate frosting and a hidden core of Baileys ganache.

Prep Time1 hr

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time1 hr 20 mins

Course: cakes and bakes, Cookies

Diet: Vegetarian

Keyword: Baileys, cakes, chocolate cupcakes, cupcakes

Servings: 12

Author: Emily Leary

Ingredients

For the sponge:

• 150 g (5.29 oz) butter
• 200 g (7.05 oz) sugar
• 3 medium eggs
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 200 g (7.05 oz) self-raising flour
• 1 tbsp cocoa
• 2 tbsp whole milk
• 100 g (3.53 oz) melted dark chocolate
• 100 g (3.53 oz) dark chocolate chips

For the Baileys ganache:

• 150 ml (5.07 floz) double cream
• 50 ml (1.69 floz) Baileys
• 200 g (7.05 oz) milk chocolate

For the frosting:

• 170 g (6 oz) butter
• 500 g (1.1 lb) icing sugar
• 50 ml (1.69 floz) whole milk
• 2 tbsp Baileys
• 4 tbsp drinking chocolate powder
• Chocolate decorative hearts optional

Instructions

To make the sponge:

• Preheat the oven to 190C (170C fan, 375F)
• Beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy
• Beat the eggs separately, then beat into the mix bit by bit
• Sieve in the flour, cocoa and baking powder and fold through
• Fold in the milk to loosen
• Fold in the cool melted chocolate
• Fold in the chocolate chips
• Spoon into a 12 hole muffin tray lined with paper cases
• Bake for 18-20 minutes until just firm on top
• Leave to cool completely on a wire rackTo make the ganache
• Heat the cream and Baileys in a saucepan until just beginning to simmer.
• Break the milk chocolate into a bowl and pour the heated cream mixture over it.
• Stir until it melts together, forming a glossy ganache
• Leave to cool to room temp

Prepare the core:

• Cut out a hole from the centre of each cupcake - I used a cupcake corer from Lakeland
• Pour the cool ganache into each hole, up to the top
• Leave until it feels set to the touch (15-30 minutes)

To make the frosting:

• Beat the butter on its own until fluffy
• Add the icing sugar, drinking chocolate powder and milk and beat together - starting slow and then speeding up until pale fluffy
• Add the Baileys and beat again
• Transfer into a piping bag with an closed star nozzle and pipe high swirls, keeping the bag upright to give lovely frilly swirls
• I topped mine with some chocolate hearts

* Note: nutritional information is estimated, based on publicly available data. Nutrient values may vary from those published. Information on this website should not be taken as medical advice. Cuisines identify the primary region of inspiration for a dish.

Tried this recipe?Snap a pic and tag @amummytoo on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. I can't wait to see your posts!

For more delicious Baileys recipes, try these!

Luxurious Baileys triple chocolate trifle

This is a Baileys triple chocolate trifle: a dark chocolate flourless sponge base covered in thick Baileys Original Irish Cream infused milk chocolate ganache and topped with chocolate and Baileys whipped cream.

Get the recipe

Baileys salted caramel mini chocolate tarts

Sweet shortcrust pastry, a layer of salted caramel, creamy Baileys and chocolate ganache, finished with a sprinkle of salt.

Get the recipe

Baileys hot chocolate pudding (recipe)

Chocolate fondant with a shot of Baileys.

Get the recipe

Amazing no-bake Baileys chocolate cheesecake (recipe)

Creamy, decadent Baileys cheesecake with flecks of creamy milk chocolate.

Get the recipe

Moist chocolate cake with Galaxy ganache and Baileys cream filling

This rich Galaxy chocolate cake with blow your mind. Imagine perfectly light and delicious chocolate cake, sandwiched with smooth Baileys cream, all covered with a glossy Galaxy ganache. It's every bit as delicious as it sounds.

Get the recipe

Get Your Kids to Eat Anything

My debut cookbook, Get Your Kids To Eat Anything is available now from all good bookshops!

It's so much more than a cookbook, it's a 5-Phase programme designed to take you through a meaningful, simple and sustainable journey to end fussy eating.

Since its release in March 2019, Get Your Kids To Eat Anything has been changing mealtimes in households across the country and has become an Amazon #1 best-seller.