When the weather gets chilly and the only reasonable plan is hunkering down indoors with something warm, sweet, and wildly comforting… this recipe has your back. Made with our very own Firehouse Brown Ale, these cupcakes are rich, chocolatey, and a guaranteed hit with anyone lucky enough to snag one. Our queen bee Audrey whipped this one up straight from her home kitchen, and trust us – it does not disappoint. Here’s her Firehouse-infused chocolate cake recipe!
ABOUT FIREHOUSE BROWN ALE
It would only make sense for us to dedicate the name of this beer to our flagship brewery and tap room located in a century old firehall in downtown Kenora. Chocolate malt provides the colour and aroma of this amber coloured ale. Classic English hop profiles balance this malt forward Pub Style Brown Ale – a simple ale but true to style with a roasted nut finish. Now imagine this in cake form!
Ingredients
2 ½ cup all-purpose flour
3 cups white sugar
1 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3 large eggs
1 ½ cups buttermilk
12 oz Lake of the Woods Brewing Company Firehouse Amber Ale
¾ cup vegetable oil
4 oz (113g) dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line desired pans or cupcake trays: if using 8” or 9” pans divide the batter evenly.
- Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix well to ensure all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Pour 12 oz of “Firehouse Ale” into a saucepan and reduce to 8 oz – add the dark chocolate and mix until it is dissolved.
- Wet Ingredients: Eggs, beat until light and fluffy, add buttermilk, oil, and vanilla extract, add chocolate and beer mixture and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes until the batter is smooth.
- Bake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean — time depends on type of pan used.
- Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
- Frosting: Frost as desired with your favourite frosting. A classic chocolate buttercream or cream cheese frosting works wonderfully with this cake.
