Irresistible Guinness Cake Recipe: A Sweet Irish Delight

Dark, rich, and impossibly moist, this guinness cake recipe delivers a decadent chocolate experience that will stop you in your tracks.

The deep, robust flavors of Ireland’s famous stout meld perfectly with deep chocolate notes.

guinness adds an unexpected depth to every single bite of this remarkable dessert.

Each slice promises a velvety texture that melts on your tongue with complex, sophisticated taste.

Layers of chocolate and hints of malty goodness create a truly memorable treat.

This cake isn’t just a dessert—it’s a celebration of Irish baking tradition that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Let’s find out a slice of pure indulgence that transforms an ordinary evening into something extraordinary.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Calories: 540 kcal

Servings: 13

Ingredients for Guinness Chocolate Cake with Irish Buttercream

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and gives the cake a tender crumb with soft texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps create a moist, golden-brown crust.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Delivers rich, deep chocolate flavor and dark color.
• Baking Soda, Baking Powder: Essential leavening agents that help the cake rise and become fluffy.
• Fine Salt: Enhances and balances all the sweet flavors in the cake.

• Eggs: Bind ingredients together and add richness and structure to the cake.
• Guinness Beer: Adds moisture, depth, and subtle malty flavor that complements chocolate.
• Sour Cream, Plain Full-Fat Yogurt: Creates incredible tenderness and tangy undertone.
• Vegetable Oil: Ensures a super moist cake with smooth, soft texture.
• Vanilla Extract: Amplifies chocolate flavor and adds warm, aromatic notes.

• Unsalted Butter: Creates creamy, smooth buttercream with rich, luxurious texture.
• Powdered Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps stabilize the frosting.
• Irish Cream: Introduces delightful boozy flavor and silky consistency to buttercream.
• Semisweet or Bittersweet Chocolate: Delivers intense chocolate flavor for drip.
• Heavy Cream: Helps create smooth, glossy chocolate drip with perfect consistency.

Baking Gear for Irish Buttercream and Guinness Cake

• Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer: Essential for creating fluffy buttercream and beating ingredients smoothly.
• Large Mixing Bowls: Perfect for combining dry and wet cake ingredients.
• 8-inch Round Cake Pans: Needed for baking the chocolate Guinness cake layers.
• Parchment Paper: Helps prevent cake from sticking and ensures easy removal.
• Whisk: Great for mixing dry ingredients and creating smooth batter.
• Spatula: Useful for scraping bowls and spreading frosting evenly.
• Cooling Rack: Allows cakes to cool completely without getting soggy.
• Offset Spatula: Helps create smooth frosting and apply crumb coat.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient measurements.

Crafting Guinness Chocolate Cake Like a Baker

• Preparation

Gather all cooking tools and ingredients for a smooth baking adventure. Set up a clean workspace with mixing bowls, cake pans, and electric mixer.

• Dry Mixture

Blend flour, cocoa powder, and sugar in a large bowl, creating a rich chocolate base that will form the cake’s foundation.

• Liquid Fusion

Combine Guinness beer with creamy ingredients like sour cream and eggs, whisking until smooth and integrated. This liquid blend will give the cake its unique moisture and depth.

• Batter Creation

Gently fold liquid mixture into dry ingredients, stirring just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the cake tender and light.

• Baking Process

Pour batter into greased cake pans and bake in a preheated oven. Watch for a perfect rise and rich chocolate color that signals the cake is ready.

• Buttercream Magic

Whip butter until fluffy, then slowly incorporate powdered sugar and Irish cream liqueur. Create a silky smooth frosting that complements the deep chocolate flavor.

• Cake Assembly

Cool cake layers completely, then generously frost with Irish cream buttercream. Add a decadent chocolate drizzle for an extra touch of indulgence.

Tips That Elevate This Chocolate Stout Cake

• Add a pinch of espresso powder to intensify the chocolate's richness and deepen the cake's complex flavor profile.
• Let ingredients like eggs and butter sit at room temperature for smoother mixing and a more tender cake crumb.
• Wrapped tightly, this cake stays moist for 3-4 days at room temperature or up to a week in the refrigerator.
• Brush cake layers with extra Irish cream liqueur before frosting for an enhanced, more intense alcohol-infused experience.

How to Serve Guinness Cake with Style

• Festive Party Centerpiece: Place this decadent Guinness chocolate cake on a rustic wooden board surrounded by fresh mint leaves and cocoa powder dusting for a stunning dessert display that captures Irish charm.
• Pairing Paradise: Serve alongside a small glass of Irish cream liqueur or a rich espresso to complement the cake's deep chocolate and Guinness flavors, creating a luxurious after-dinner experience.
• Adult Celebration Special: Perfect for St. Patrick's Day gatherings, birthday parties, or intimate dinner events where guests appreciate gourmet desserts with a sophisticated alcohol-infused twist.
• Gifting Delight: Wrap individual slices in parchment paper with a ribbon for a thoughtful homemade treat that showcases your baking skills and shares a bit of Irish culinary magic with friends and family.

Keeping Your Irish Cake Moist and Flavorful

• Slice Smart: Cut cake into individual portions before storing. Wrap each slice separately in plastic wrap to maintain moisture and prevent freezer burn. Keeps perfectly in refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Chilled Delight: Store buttercream cake in an airtight container inside the refrigerator. Place wax paper between layers to prevent sticking. Enjoy within a week for maximum freshness and flavor intensity.
• Freezer Friendly: Wrap entire unfrosted cake layers tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before decorating and serving. Helps maintain cake's rich texture and deep chocolate notes.
• Room Temperature Tips: Remove cake from refrigerator 30 minutes before serving. Allows buttercream to soften and flavors to develop. Brings out the subtle Guinness and chocolate nuances, creating a more indulgent dessert experience.

Decadent Guinness Cake Recipe

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• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Rich chocolate Guinness cake delivers deep, malty flavors with Irish whiskey frosting. Dark layers promise intense indulgence for bakers craving a memorable dessert experience.

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Ingredients

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• 1 cup Guinness beer
• 3 large eggs
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¾ cup sour cream or plain full-fat yogurt
• ½ cup fresh vegetable oil
• 4 sticks (1 lb / 454 g) unsalted butter
• 6 cups powdered sugar
• 4 oz (113 g) semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ¼ cup plus 2 tbsps Irish cream
• 2 tsps baking soda
• 1 tsp fine salt
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and position rack centrally. Generously butter and flour two 8-inch round cake pans, lining bottoms with parchment paper for seamless removal.
2. Dry Ingredients: Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl, ensuring uniform texture and eliminating potential lumps.
3. Wet Ingredients: Whisk sour cream, vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla extract, and Guinness stout until perfectly blended and smooth.
4. Batter Creation: Gently fold liquid mixture into dry ingredients, stirring minimally to maintain the cake’s delicate crumb. Distribute batter evenly between prepared pans, smoothing surfaces with a spatula.
5. Baking Process: Bake for 35-40 minutes, rotating pans midway to guarantee even cooking. Verify doneness by inserting a toothpick that emerges clean. Allow cakes to rest in pans for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
6. Cake Preparation: Chill layers in freezer for 30 minutes to facilitate easier frosting. Cream butter in a stand mixer until light and airy, gradually incorporating powdered sugar on low speed.
7. Buttercream Crafting: Integrate Irish cream liqueur into buttercream, blending until silky and consistent. Apply a thin crumb coat to cake layers, refrigerate for 15 minutes to set.
8. Final Decoration: Generously frost cake with remaining buttercream, creating smooth, even layers. Prepare chocolate ganache by warming heavy cream and combining with dark chocolate.
9. Finishing Touches: Carefully cascade ganache around cake edges for an elegant drip effect. Optionally garnish with chocolate shavings or decorative elements to enhance visual appeal.

Notes

• Chill Cake Layers: Freezing cake for 30 minutes creates firmer surface, preventing crumbs from mixing into frosting and enabling smoother decoration.
• Prevent Overmixing: Gently fold batter until just combined to maintain cake’s tender, light texture and avoid developing tough gluten structures.
• Control Sugar Integration: Add powdered sugar slowly and mix on low speed to prevent messy sugar clouds and ensure smooth, creamy buttercream consistency.
• Achieve Clean Edges: Use parchment paper when lining cake pans for effortless cake removal and perfect round shapes without stuck edges.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 540
• Sugar: 53 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 32 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 61 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg