Guinness Chocolate Cake – A lightly sweet and moist chocolate cake, with wonderfully interesting spicy notes from the stout Guinness Foreign Extra Beer. Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or for the chocolate lover in your life!
St. Patrick’s Day is coming up soon and we’re ready with this FANTASTIC Guinness Chocolate Cake. No worries if you’re not a fan of the “black stuff”, you probably won’t notice the subtle beer flavor. But you may notice the moist tender crumb, the rich chocolate flavor, and the wonderful light spicy notes in this addictive not-too-sweet black cake. Topped with a simple cream cheese icing adding richness without an over-the-top sugar rush, this is truly my new favorite cake.
I’ve made it twice already, once with icing and once without, and both have been well received by numerous taste-testers. The cake ages beautifully (maybe better the second day?) making it dangerous to keep in my refrigerator … I would be eating it for breakfast. I didn’t have a chance to test how it holds up in the freezer – but oh well! If you’re a chocoholic like me – save some carbs for this wonderful treat!
First of all, this cake is super simple to make. Melt the butter in a large mixing bowl in the microwave or a large wide-mouthed sauce pan on the stove top. Add the beer, sugar and cocoa. Whisk until blended. In a large measuring cup combine the eggs, vanilla and sour cream. While whisking the beer sugar mixture, slowly stream the sour cream and egg mixture into the bowl until combined. Add the flour, baking soda and salt and whisk until smooth. Bake in a 9.5 inch straight sided tube pan for 45-50 minutes. Cool and top with cream cheese icing.
The cake has interesting flecks of red from the dark stout Guinness.
The original recipe was posted by Nigella Lawson and recommends baking in a 9-inch springform pan. I tried baking my first cake in the springform pan but the center fell and I thought it might be because the cake is so thick. The center was fully baked but the outside seemed to be a little dry. I thought the tube pan would distribute the heat better – like it does in an Angel Food or Pound Cake. Success!
I guess you’re not surprised that I love this cake – because I’m a fan of Guinness … especially while in Ireland. We haven’t bought a lot of Guinness in the States but are thrilled with this full flavored version – the Guinness Foreign Extra. I think the extra stout beer made all the difference in the success of the cake.
This is a fun and interesting dessert – not the least bit weird or beery. It even goes well with a cold one making this a great “party” dessert for your St. Patrick’s Day get-togethers.
The cake is designed to mimic a pint of beer with a creamy white, frothy head – works for me!
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- 250 ml Stout Foreign Extra Guinness almost all of a 11oz bottle
- 2 sticks plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 3/4 cup all-natural cocoa powder measured before sifting
- 1 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2/3 cup (scant) sour cream
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 11 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup whipped cream, plus extra if needed for a smooth consistency
- For the Batter:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease the bottom of a straight sided tube pan (9.5 inches) and line with parchment paper cut into a circle to fit. Grease the sides, center tube, and parchment paper or spray with a non-stick cooking spray. Set aside
- Melt the butter and add to a large mixing bowl. Add the beer, sifted cocoa powder, and granulated sugar. Whisk until blended.
- In a small mixing bowl combine the sour cream, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk until smooth.
- While gently whisking the beer mixture, slowly pour the egg and sour cream mixture into the large mixing bowl.
- Combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Fold the flour into the egg and beer mixture and whisk until blended.
- Pour the batter into the greased and lined tube pan. Bake 45-50 minutes or until a wooden toothpick comes out with no raw dough - moist crumbs are okay.
- Cool completely before removing from the pan and icing.
- FOR THE ICING:
- Beat together the cream cheese and confectioners sugar. In a separate small cold bowl, beat the whipping cream until soft peaks form. Add the whipped cream to the cream cheese mixture and beat on low until combined. Add additional whipping cream to thin as needed for spreading consistency. Top the cake with dollops of icing to resemble the frothy head of a pint of Guinness.
Adapted from a recipe by Nigella Lawson.
Here are a few more wonderfully fun Irish-inspired desserts you might like:
- Irish Whiskey Ice Cream ~ from The View from Great Island
- Bailey’s Irish Cream Coffee Bars ~ from A Spicy Perspective
- Irish Whiskey Brownie Pie ~ from Well Plated
- Irish Blackberry Soup with Buttermilk Custard ~ from The Café Sucre Farine
Check out SRFD’s Irish archives for more delicious recipes:
- Irish Apple Crumble Cake with Apple Brandy Sauce
- Colcannon
- Dublin Coddle ~ an Irish Classic
- Guinness Beef Stew Recipe
- White Chocolate Irish Cream
- Brown Irish Soda Bread
- Spinach Tarts – an Irish Recipe
Finally, don’t forget to check out our Ireland Travel Posts for tips and tons of photos!
And now for the Motherly note: party responsibility – and don’t forget to arrange a designated driver to get you home safe and sound. Me? I’ll be home watching Downton Abbey or something equally relaxing, and maybe drinking a little something special. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Tricia
I’ve never been a fan of Guinness to drink, but it does make a lovely cake! This looks so chocolatey and delicious. I made a gingerbread stout bundt cake ages ago and the Guinness gave it such a lovely dark flavor that’s really hard to describe. Except for Good. I think my co-workers would love this next week, don’t you? 🙂
Guinness is so much better in Ireland and we were told it had to do with the way it is made and how well it travels. The version used in this recipe is very close to the taste we loved in the pubs. I know your coworkers are going to love it! Thanks Betty
Thought I had left a comment but I must have only read your post when I received the post by email. Duh! Gorgeous photos! The cake looks so moist and delicious that I’m drooling 🙂
Well thanks Susan! I do that all the time- hope you have a terrific weekend.
Tricia, this cake was DELICIOUS! I love when Ed brings your baked goods to work. I brought home a piece to my boyfriend, and when I said Guinness cake he gave me a funny look. I turned around for a minute and when I looked back, it was almost gone. I said didn’t like it all, did you? We both love this cake!
Thanks for being such a great taste-tester Linda and so happy you liked it. I have not heard one “less than enthusiastic” comment about this cake. We loved it and had to get it out of the house – haha – have a great weekend and thanks for the comment!
Hi Tricia, this cake looks so moist and delicious I know that my family would love this. Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to you!
Thanks Cheri! Have a wonderful weekend.
That’s an amazing dessert and not only for St.Patrick’ s celebration.
Love the combination with chocolate and Guinness. This sweet is on my bucket list.
Welcome back Daniela! I’ve already had requests to make this again. It is a yummy treat!
I haven’t had Guinness chocolate cake in ages. Years. You’ve smitten me with yours! It looks terrific. BTW, you have a really interest photo style — I really like how you’re using your lighting. Anyway, good post — thanks.
Thanks so much John. I always use natural light. In this photo I set up in front of my dining room window with afternoon sun. I put a white plastic shower curtain over the window to act as a defuser. I most always use a tripod for these shots where I have more time. Sometimes I use reflectors to bring light to the back or sides but in this shot I wanted the dark and interesting look. Thanks so much!
Tricia, these photos could be in a very luxuriously papered magazine! They are stunning! I’m in love with this cake and the Guinness and I haven’t even tasted it! Ha! Best St. Patty’s Day dessert I’ve ever seen… and with your “favorite” recommendation, it has to be a winner! Thank you! blessings ~ tanna
Oh my Tanna – you sure know how to make my day! Thank you so much.
I have yet to make this classic cake and I have seen many but I have to say that yours, with your beautiful, dark photography really looks the business! I must try this so I know how amazing it tastes. A gorgeous cake!
Hope you get the chance to give it a try Dom. It is a winner 🙂
Tricia, this dark beer chocolate cake looks splendid! I love how dark and moist it looks..an absolute beauty!
Thanks Angie – it is a wonderful, easy, tasty cake!
That’s a beautiful cake, it looks so moist and super decadent …. and DELICIOUS!!! By the way I made your muffins on Sunday and they were great! Just showed Debbie your cake, I will be making this one too! For the grand kids what do I use as a substitute for the Guinness? I use butter instead of the whip cream for my cream cheese icing!
Great photography too!! You should post this one on Instagram with the hashtags I emailed you! Your package will arrive tomorrow!!
Thanks so much Michael – I can’t wait to see my new scoop! I need to head over to Instagram – sometimes it just seems getting the posts done is all I can manage – haha! Have a wonderful week.
PERFECT way to say Happy St. Patrick’s Day. It’s really beautiful!
Thanks Maureen – have a wonderful week!
I really think you need to move back to Colorado! Now! This looks fabulous. I am envious that you get to eat it and drink it. I am going to buy Guinness right now! And Alex is coming home. I will make this cake!
Alex is going to love it! Enjoy!
Great to know a tube/bundt could work;)
it looks rich and delicious..
I think we have a small quandry..I follow you to see everything you share..but it doesn’t seem to work..could be a matter of time..
I am so patient.
I’m sorry Monique – this post will go out today at 6:30 – please let me know if you don’t get it!
This cake is an amazing idea! I would love to try this!
Hope you get to – it is so easy and really, really good. It was taste tested by at least 20 people. Rave reviews all around 🙂
What a perfect St Patrick’s day dessert! The cake is lovely paired with the cream cheese icing. I’ve used Guinness in gingerbread with great results.
That is so cool Beth. I will have to try this in gingerbread too – I’ve been dreaming of making a pan of warm gingerbread topped with whipped cream! Yum!
Looks insanely delicious…love how dark it is and you know I’m over the moon for anything with chocolate! I can see from the crumb how moist it is and how well it would keep…I love it when the cake is enough to satisfy me because I’m all about the cake (though that cream cheese frosting looks amazing on top)! It’s great you worked it out and tested it for us (love the tube pan tip). Great tribute to St. Patrick’s day and Ireland, Tricia!
I thought of you when I made this Monica 🙂 Chocolate rules! Guinness isn’t bad either
I have been waiting for you to post something extraordinary for St. Patrick’s Day – and this is it! Who doesn’t love chocolate and what a cool “party” cake to bring to a St Paddy’s get-together! Great idea.
Cheers!
Haha – you are too sweet! Cheers to you both as well. Hope you get to try this one day – it really is amazing. I think I’ll bake it annually – just to keep in the spirit. Have a wonderful week ladies!
You can really see how dense, moist and super decadent this cake is, Tricia. The icing looks like the kind I’d like to swipe my finger into when no one was looking. And how fun that it mimics a glass of stout beer!
It really is a tasty cake Chris. Very appropriate for St. Patrick’s day!
What a delicious-looking cake! So rich and chocolaty, mmmm 🙂 Love the addition of guinness…can’t go wrong with booze in chocolate cake!
Hope you give it a try June! Thanks for stopping by.