Guinness Chocolate Cake
Posted by Janeen Leynes on Monday, March 2nd, 2009Tags for this Article: beer, cake, chocolate, dessert, guinness, stout
I’m always up for an adventure, especially when that adventure includes eating probably one of the best chocolate cakes I have ever had. I was very curious about what cake with beer in it would taste like, but you can’t taste the beer at all, and it really only enhances the richness of the cake. The icing needs to be refrigerated for at least 2 hours, so this recipe does require some planning ahead. The cake is very moist, and when it’s covered in this silky smooth ganache it gets even better. With St. Patrick’s Day coming up this is a fun one to make for a dinner party, just be sure to warn your guests ahead of time to save lots of room for dessert.
Cake
- 2 cups stout (such as Guinness)
- 2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch-process)
- 4 cups sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 4 large eggs
- 1 1/3 cups sour cream
- 4 cups all purpose flour
Icing
- 2 cups whipping cream
- 1 pound bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
For cake:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter three 8-inch round cake pans with 2-inch-high sides. Line with parchment paper. Butter paper. Bring 2 cups stout and 2 cups butter to simmer in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.
Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in large bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sour cream in another large bowl to blend. Add stout-chocolate mixture to egg mixture and beat just to combine. Add flour mixture and beat briefly on slow speed. Using rubber spatula, fold batter until completely combined. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Transfer cakes to rack; cool 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto rack and cool completely.
For icing:
Bring cream to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chopped chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Refrigerate until icing is spreadable, stirring frequently, about 2 hours.
Place 1 cake layer on plate. Spread 2/3 cup icing over. Top with second cake layer. Spread
2/3 cup icing over. Top with third cake layer. Spread remaining icing
over top and sides of cake.
Recipe Source: Epicurious
Posted on March 2nd, 2009
vy says:
This looks like an awesome chocolate cake recipe..I would love to try it out at home but the recipe in the posting seems to be missing the measurements for the dry ingredients…
Posted on March 3rd, 2009
Janeen Leynes says:
Thanks,
Just added in the 4 cups of flour, that was the missing ingredient. Enjoy!
Posted on March 4th, 2009
Sazerac says:
This is my go to chocolate cake recipe. For an added flair, top with cream cheese for that Guinness pint effect ;)
Posted on March 9th, 2009
vy says:
I made this chocolate cake this weekend and it was a great hit with all my friends…thanks for the post, it was a very easy recipe!!! The cake was very moist but I don’t taste the beer at all. I only put in 3 1/2 cups of sugar so it’s not too sweet. I have had it three days in a row now and still loving it! :)
Posted on March 14th, 2009
Celia says:
I want to go to there.
Posted on March 18th, 2009
Karen G says:
This looks absolutely sinfully heavenly. I hope someone has a birthday soon so that I can make this!
Posted on November 25th, 2009
René says:
Try that recipe with the beer named Simple Malt Imperiale Stout. Its chocolate palate and flavours are amazing.
Posted on January 1st, 2010
Kelly says:
this cake was so decadent, I wouldn’t make it every week but definitely on special occasions!!
Posted on February 6th, 2010
angela says:
I made this last weekend for a dinner party and then brought it to work the next day. It tasted even better after being refrigerated overnight.
DELICIOUS! Sinfully delicious.
Posted on April 27th, 2010
tykayius josh and derek says:
wuz gud homies diz be josh and 2 otha ug peeps
Posted on April 27th, 2010
tykayius josh and derek says:
thz cake was so delicus!i didnt make it but it looks goood!
Posted on October 1st, 2010
Hilary says:
I’m going to make this cake with my kids for a surprise party for my husband today. I’m a little nervous about how it will turn out. It looks so good, and it’s a bit unusual, so I have to make it. My husband is a foodie, so I hope he likes it. Wish me some of that Irish luck;)
Posted on October 9th, 2010
Raye Desko says:
Hi, I tried this cake recipe few hours ago but somehow couldn’t achieve the same result as you, my cake clearly wasn’t looking that good (atleast it tasted good). What kind of chocolate are you using? Maybe it’s coming from the flour I used, I have a gluten intolerance so I used chickpea flour instead of usual wheat flour.
Posted on April 6th, 2011
hoytou says:
This cake is delicious
Posted on February 3rd, 2012
Maddie says:
I made this for my debate team and they were all quiet. That, in and of itself, speaks volumes. I actually made it into cupcakes and they turned out perfect! SO moist and rich… I might just have to go make another batch.