Irresistible Guinness Cake Recipe: Rich & Moist Perfection

Guinness chocolate cake enhances ordinary baking into an extraordinary culinary adventure that beckons passionate dessert lovers.

Dark, velvety textures merge with complex brewing traditions in this decadent creation.

The robust beer introduces unexpected depth and moisture to traditional chocolate recipes.

Malty undertones weave through each tender crumb, creating a sophisticated sensory experience.

Creamy Irish buttercream crowns the cake with silky elegance, complementing its intense chocolate character.

Unexpected flavor combinations elevate this dessert from simple sweet treat to gourmet masterpiece.

Prepare to indulge in a slice that promises pure deliciousness.

Guinness Chocolate Cake with Irish Buttercream: A Decadent Irish-Inspired Treat

• Unlock Bold Flavor Fusion: Guinness beer infuses deep, rich chocolate notes into the cake, creating an unexpectedly complex and sophisticated dessert that transforms ordinary baking into a gourmet experience.
• Indulge in Luxurious Texture Contrast: Moist, dense chocolate cake meets silky smooth Irish cream buttercream, delivering a decadent mouthfeel that seamlessly blends velvety softness with intense chocolate depth.
• Master Quick Impressive Baking: This recipe offers professional-looking results with surprisingly simple steps, allowing home bakers to create a stunning celebration cake in under two hours without advanced pastry skills.
• Celebrate Cultural Culinary Creativity: Combines traditional Irish ingredients like Guinness and Irish cream into a modern dessert that tells a delicious story of cultural fusion and innovative baking techniques.

What You Need for Guinness Chocolate Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: Fine white flour essential for cake structure and tender crumb.
• Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps with cakes moisture and texture.
• Cocoa Powder: Rich dark chocolate base that deepens cakes flavor and color.
• Baking Soda, Baking Powder: Leavening agents that help cake rise and become fluffy.

• Guinness Stout, Sour Cream: Adds moisture, richness, and subtle beer complexity to the cake.
• Vegetable Oil: Ensures cake remains soft and prevents dryness.
• Large Eggs: Binds ingredients and provides structure to the cake.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor and adds depth to chocolate notes.

• Unsalted Butter: Creamy base for smooth, rich buttercream frosting.
• Powdered Sugar: Creates smooth, sweet frosting with perfect spreading consistency.
• Irish Cream Liqueur: Adds distinctive flavor and creamy richness to buttercream.
• Dark Chocolate: Used for creating elegant drip decoration with deep chocolate flavor.

How to Make Guinness Chocolate Cake with Irish Buttercream

Step 1: Prepare Baking Equipment

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 8-inch round cake pans and line with parchment paper for easy removal.

Step 2: Mix Dry Cake Ingredients

• Flour
• Cocoa powder
• Sugar
• Baking soda
• Salt

Whisk ingredients together until well blended.

Step 3: Combine Wet Ingredients

• Sour cream
• Vegetable oil
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract
• Guinness beer

Stir until smooth and fully incorporated.

Step 4: Create Cake Batter

Gently fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Mix until just combined, avoiding overmixing to keep cake tender.

Step 5: Bake Cake Layers

Divide batter evenly between prepared cake pans. Bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Step 6: Cool Cake Layers

Let cakes cool in pans for 30 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Step 7: Chill Cake Layers

Place cake layers in freezer while preparing buttercream frosting.

Step 8: Prepare Irish Cream Buttercream

Beat softened butter until light and fluffy.

Step 9: Create Buttercream Frosting

• Powdered sugar
• Irish cream liqueur

Mix until smooth and creamy.

Step 10: Frost Cake

Apply a crumb coat to cake layers. Chill for 15 minutes.

Step 11: Final Frosting

Spread remaining buttercream evenly over cake.

Step 12: Decorate Cake

Create chocolate drip and add decorative elements as desired.

Tips for Baking a Moist and Rich Chocolate Cake

• Boost Guinness Flavor: Add an extra splash of Guinness to the batter for a deeper, more intense chocolate and beer undertone.
• Prevent Dry Cake: Do not overmix the batter, as this can lead to a dense, tough texture; stir just until ingredients are combined.
• Achieve Smooth Buttercream: Ensure butter is at room temperature and sifted powdered sugar prevents lumps for a silky, creamy frosting.
• Create Perfect Drip: Allow cake to chill completely before adding chocolate drip, and use a squeeze bottle for precise, even application.
• Enhance Moisture: Brush cake layers with extra Guinness while cooling to intensify flavor and keep the cake incredibly moist.

Storing Your Guinness Chocolate Cake for Maximum Freshness

• Refrigerate cake in an airtight container to maintain freshness for 3-4 days. Cover loosely with plastic wrap or place in a cake carrier to prevent drying out. Keep away from strong-smelling foods that might affect the delicate chocolate and Irish cream flavors. When ready to enjoy again, remove cake from refrigerator 30 minutes before serving to allow it to come to room temperature naturally. This helps restore the soft, moist texture and brings out the rich Guinness chocolate taste. For individual slices, use a gentle microwave method: heat for 10-15 seconds on 50% power to warm slightly without compromising the cake's delicate structure. Pro tip: Never store this cake at room temperature for more than 2 hours due to the buttercream's dairy content.

Pair Your Cake with These Perfect Drinks

• Pair with Irish Coffee: Complement the rich chocolate and Guinness cake with a classic Irish coffee, blending hot coffee, whiskey, and whipped cream for a warming, boozy experience that echoes the cake's Irish cream buttercream.
• Match with Dark Fruit Accompaniment: Serve alongside fresh blackberries or raspberries to cut through the cake's dense chocolate flavor, providing a tart contrast and refreshing palate cleanser between bites.
• Enhance with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Top a slice with a scoop of creamy vanilla bean ice cream, creating a cool, smooth counterpoint to the cake's deep, robust chocolate and stout notes, balancing temperature and texture.
• Sip Aged Irish Whiskey: Pour a small glass of smooth, aged Irish whiskey like Redbreast or Jameson to highlight the cake's malty undertones and create a sophisticated dessert pairing that celebrates Irish culinary traditions.

Add a Twist to Your Guinness Chocolate Cake Recipe

• Stout Chocolate Cupcakes: Transform the cake into individual cupcakes by using a muffin tin. Reduce baking time to 18-22 minutes and top with a swirl of Irish cream buttercream.
• Gluten-Free Beer Cake: Swap all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend and use a gluten-free stout. Maintain the same rich chocolate flavor and moist texture.
• Dairy-Free Dark Chocolate Version: Replace butter with vegan margarine and use coconut cream instead of sour cream. Select a dairy-free Irish cream alternative for the buttercream to keep the signature flavor profile.
• Mini Chocolate Bundt Cakes: Pour batter into mini bundt pans for elegant individual servings. Drizzle with chocolate ganache and sprinkle with cocoa powder for a sophisticated presentation.

Guinness Cake Recipe

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• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Guinness chocolate cake brings Irish spirit to dessert tables with rich, deep chocolate flavors melding perfectly with smooth stout. Dark and luscious layers embrace classic buttercream, delivering a memorable slice of Ireland’s culinary charm you’ll savor to the last crumb.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup Guinness beer
• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¾ cup sour cream or plain full-fat yogurt

Leavening and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon fine salt
• ½ teaspoon baking powder

Wet and Flavor Ingredients:

• 3 large eggs
• ½ cup fresh vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Irish Buttercream Ingredients:

• 4 sticks (1 pound / 454 grams) unsalted butter
• 6 cups powdered sugar
• ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons Irish cream

Chocolate Drip Ingredients:

• 4 ounces (113 grams) semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
• ½ cup heavy cream

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Instructions

1. Prepare workspace by heating oven to 350°F (175°C) and positioning rack in center.
2. Thoroughly coat two 8-inch round cake pans with butter, then dust with flour. Line bottom with parchment paper for easy removal.
3. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl to eliminate potential lumps and ensure even distribution.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together sour cream, vegetable oil, large eggs, pure vanilla extract, and Guinness stout until smoothly combined.
5. Gradually fold liquid mixture into dry ingredients, stirring gently until just incorporated. Avoid overmixing to maintain cake’s delicate texture.
6. Evenly distribute batter between prepared cake pans, using a spatula to smooth surfaces.
7. Bake in preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, rotating pans halfway through to ensure uniform cooking. Test doneness by inserting a toothpick that comes out clean.
8. Remove cakes and let rest in pans for 15 minutes to stabilize structure.
9. Carefully transfer layers to wire cooling rack, allowing complete cooling for approximately 1 hour.
10. Place cooled cake layers in freezer for 30 minutes to facilitate easier frosting.
11. Cream softened unsalted butter in a stand mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 3-4 minutes.
12. Incrementally add powdered sugar, mixing on low speed to prevent sugar clouds.
13. Pour Irish cream liqueur into buttercream, blending until silky and consistent.
14. Apply initial thin crumb coat to cake layers, then refrigerate for 15 minutes to set.
15. Generously frost cake with remaining buttercream, creating smooth, even layers.
16. Prepare chocolate ganache drip by warming heavy cream and mixing with dark chocolate.
17. Carefully drip ganache around cake edges, allowing elegant cascading effect.
18. Garnish with optional chocolate shavings or decorative elements as desired.

Notes

• Capture the rich, malty depth of Guinness by ensuring all ingredients are at room temperature for seamless blending.
• Prevent dry cake by avoiding overmixing, which can develop tough gluten structures and compromise the tender crumb.
• Enhance chocolate intensity by using high-quality dark cocoa powder and allowing cake layers to cool completely before frosting.
• Store leftover cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, bringing to room temperature before serving for optimal flavor and texture.
• Create clean cake layers by using a serrated knife to level tops and ensuring even frosting application for a professional finish.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Drinks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Irish

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 738 kcal
• Sugar: 72g
• Sodium: 375mg
• Fat: 49g
• Saturated Fat: 30g
• Unsaturated Fat: 19g
• Trans Fat: 0.5g
• Carbohydrates: 83g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 6g
• Cholesterol: 112mg