I think my mom would probably freak out if she knew all the random people I meet up with from the Internet. But really it’s no different than meeting anyone. Anyone could be an axe murderer. Maybe I am? If I am, I’m a lousy one as I don’t think I can even swing an axe, but you never know.
For years I have been back and forth with the woman who runs Melinda’s Kitchen Diary. Yesterday I got to meet her. And what a lovely person she is. Warm and vibrant and a fellow lover of food. She brought me an adorable pink bag from Harrods that is covered in sweets and was filled with all things British. The Demarquette Fine Chocolates were immediately hidden from any one that might find them other than me. 🙂
I had decided to make something American. I tried to think if they had root beer in the UK. She said that they did not. I had seen a recipe for root beer float brownies and decided that that said America. But I wanted them to be cupcakes. So I messed with the recipe a little and got a very dense, brownie in cupcake shape. Sadly I could not find root beer extract to save my life so I didn’t put any in. I wish I had found it as without it there is not a strong root beer flavor. But they were good all the same.
The original person to make these brownies did not make them with frosting. Make them with frosting. If I had more time I would have swirled the frosting to make it look more like a foamy float top. But I was frosting these to be shoved into a container to take to someone…so no pretty frosting here. Taste all the same. 🙂
So if you ever do get to meet me in person and you are an axe murderer could you please hold out and not kill me. I could give you the names of a few people to axe off if it’s really that important to you. If you don’t kill me you could end up with a brownie. 😛
Root Beer Float Brownie Cupcakes
1 cup flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
6 oz chopped semi sweet chocolate
3 oz white chocolate
6 Tbsp. butter
3 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
6 oz. root beer
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners.
Sift flour, cocoa powder and salt in a bowl and set aside.
Over a double boiler (or in microwave) melt the butter, semi-sweet and white chocolates together.
Remove from heat when just melted and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
Using your mixer mix the eggs, sugar, and vanilla together.
Slowly add in the cooled chocolate mixture.
Now add half the flour and half the root beer. Mix on low, scraping the sides.
Repeat with the remaining flour and root beer until just combined. Batter will be on the thin side.
Fill almost all the way to the top in each liner, these are not going to rise. Bake for 20-23 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting.
Float Frosting:
1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1/3 cup root beer, no foam
5 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. root beer extract (optional)
Beat butter on medium speed until smooth.
Slowly add in your powdered sugar and mix in.
Now add your root beer and extract, if desired.
Beat on medium until smooth and all ingredients are incorporated.
The root beer extract is optional. It will give the frosting more of a distinct root beer flavor. Always add more or less powdered sugar until the consistency you desire is reached.
adapted from Baking Bites and cookies and cups
Erin says
I love root beer!!! Eeee must try these, I love that they are dense.
Lori @ RecipeGirl says
ROOT BEER is my favorite. I drank gallons of the stuff when I was preggers. I can only imagine if I had gotten my hands on RB cupcakes!
Yeah, I was a little weary about meeting you for sure… because of that axe-murderer possibility 😉
Peabody says
@Lori- yes, I spared you. 🙂
Marla says
These sound great.. I will have to try.. And I actually have a bottle of rootbeer extract! Lol
Bonnie says
When all else fails, try Watkins.
http://www.watkinsonline.com/productdetail.cfm?Product=21205&gCatalogLocale=USA
Kerstin says
Yum, these sound so unique and delicious!
sara says
Haha, love your description of meeting people from online! 🙂 Gorgeous cupcakes, they look really yummy! 🙂
Shonie says
I love everything rootbeer! Even hubby, who doesn’t like sweets (I know, he’s broken), said I should make these. Thanks for the recipe and funny post!
Rosa says
Those cupcakes must be quite addictive!
Cheers,
Rosa
Pamela says
Zatarain’s of New Orleans……for root beer extract and loads of other stuff! ….only one I use for cupcakes.
Nicole says
I had root beer extract in my cupboard and I’m local. I wish I would have known you were looking! I swear I am not a crazy Internet stranger.
Those cupcakes look wonderful. I want to make the root beer bundt that is in Baked.
Rhonda says
How much root beer extract would you use in place of the root beer? I am making these upon my sons request for his birthday 🙂
Thanks Peabody!
Peabody says
@Rhonda the amount of extract is in the recipe. It’s just that I didn’t use it.
Lora says
Harrods is incredible and Root beer is probably one of my favorite things in the world. I am heartbroken that they don’t seem to have it in France especially since my friend from South Africa has never tried it! Tragic, I know.
Jill C says
As much as I love rootbeer- I think I enjoy the sarcasm in your posts more. I love the way you tell a story- it’s honest, fun, you make a point and you crack me up every time. (Oh- & I learn a great new recipe too!) Thanks!
Melinda says
I haven’t had a chance to read this post until we got back to the UK yesterday.
Thank you for driving all the way in to meet me and have lunch together. I loved the cupcakes just the way you made them. I also loved looking around Sur le Table with you. I should have bought the squirrel cookie cutter that really was a golf bag! What a hoot!
Now having met you, I only wish you were someone I could meet up with more regularly. Darn it. And for the record, I am glad you are not an axe murderer but just funny crazy instead! X