Chocolate Guinness Cake

Kick up your chocolate cake with Guinness with this easy dark chocolate Guinness cake frosted with Bailey’s Irish Cream buttercream frosting.

 

A few years ago I got to spend almost an entire summer in Ireland completing a graduate studies program. I got to, for a short time, live in Galway, Ireland. Basically a dream come true. After the program was over I stayed a little longer and headed over to Dublin and while I was there I had chance to visit the Guinness factory and learn to pour a Guinness like a pro. Ok, maybe I wasn’t a pro by the end, but sure was tasty trying. 

In fact I got my certificate to say I can officially pour a Guinness properly. Yup it’s official. So I thought why not show off my pouring skills and pour some right into a cake. Chocolate + Beer = One happy girl. I mean I made a Guinness Brown Bread,  why not a Guinness cake right?!

But why stop there. I thought this cake would be really good with some Bailey’s. Like in the frosting? Yup, mmhmm…that was a good decision. So Guinness chocolate cake with Bailey’s frosting was born.

Does this cake taste like beer?

It does have a hint of coffee and a malty flavor but I don’t think it is overpowering. In fact, I think it helps to bring out the chocolate flavor in the cake. And makes it super moist! 

See Also:

• If you’re looking for a showstopping cake, this Milk Bar cake is the perfect dessert to make for a birthday!
• Calling all peanut butter lovers with this super easy peanut butter cream cheese frosting to use on all your favorite cake recipes!
• This easy vanilla cupcake recipe uses melted butter so it comes together in minutes and no mixer is needed!
• When it’s summertime then you have to make these S’mores cupcakes with toasted meringue frosting and graham cracker bottom!
• Get a mixing bowl and make the easiest cake ever! This Tornado cake recipe (aka do nothing cake) made with crushed pineapple, coconut, and pecans!

Why you will love this cake for St. Patrick’s Day!

• Cake is wonderfully moist (sorry not sorry!) and has a tender crumb
• Making the cake batter is super simple and there’s no need for an electric mixer (except to make the frosting)
• You can easily make the cake and buttercream ahead of time.
• Buttercream is silky smooth and quick to make.
• Showstopper of a dessert to celebrate with!

Note: The entire recipe, with ingredient quantities and recipe directions can be found at the bottom of the page. Scroll to the bottom or click “Jump To Recipe” button at the top of the post.

Guinness Chocolate Cake Ingredient

• Dry ingredients: I used all purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• Wet ingredients: For these I used granulated sugar, vegetable oil,  whole milk, eggs, vanilla extract, and Guinness.
• Frosting: Butter, powdered sugar, Bailey’s, heavy cream, and vanilla. 

How To Make This Chocolate Guinness Cake

This chocolate Guinness cake is a variation of these easy chocolate cupcakes that are adapted from Hershey’s Kitchens. I decided to use Guinness instead of the hot boiling water for a fun twist for a delicious St. Patrick’s Day dessert!

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour three 8-inch cake pans (or two 9-inch cake pans).
2. Stir with a rubber spatula together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl.
3. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; and whisk together. Stir in Guinness beer (batter will be thin).
4. Pour batter into prepared pan.
5. Bake until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.
6. While the cake cools, make the frosting. And frost the layer cake.

Frosting The Cake

Once your cakes have cooled it’s time to make the frosting and frost your cake. The Bailey’s Irish cream frosting is pretty simple to make: 

1. Combine the butter and confectioners sugar in the bowl of your stand mixer. 
2. Mix on low speed at first, then increase the speed until combined. 
3. Start with your mixer off, and then add in your heavy cream, Bailey’s and vanilla extract. Start on low at first so it doesn’t just splash out of the bowl and mix on medium to high speed for 8 minutes until light and creamy. 

Before frosting you may need to use a serrated knife and cut off the top of the cake if it’s not flat. It’s not totally necessary but helps so you don’t have a domed cake in the end. 

Once the frosting is made, I start with piping a layer of frosting on my bottom layer. I like to use a piping bag and round tip as opposed to a spatula because I find I get an even amount of frosting across the layer this way. Then I put the next layer on, and I repeat piping a layer of frosting on the top and sides. 

I then take a pastry scraper to scrape off the buttercream leaving behind a small amount of frosting. This is known as a crumb coat. It’s a thin layer of frosting that helps to seal in the crumbs. I will then chill the cake for 30 minutes, and then do my final layer of frosting. I will use an off-set spatula to help me achieve the final smooth layer. 

I dip my spatula in a glass of hot water and quick wipe it off to help smooth the frosting. And then I used a French star tip and did a rope pattern but you can off course frost the top how you like! And of course chocolate sprinkles. Because, why not! 

Tips For Making This Guinness Cake

• Be sure to measure your flour correctly. You can read this post on how to measure your flour. You can also use a kitchen scale for best accuracy. But overmeasured flour will result in a cake that is dense instead of light and fluffy.
• Don’t overmix your batter. You want to mix the cake batter just until the ingredients are combined. 
• Use a toothpick or cake tester to check for doneness. Testing for doneness on a chocolate can be difficult so be sure to check with a skewer and look for moist crumbs.
• Do a crumb coat. If you’re frosting your layer cake like mine, then I recommend do a crumb coat, which is basically a thin layer of frosting and then refrigerate the cake for 30 minutes before you do the final layer. 

Recipe Variations

• Use a different frosting. You can use my cream cheese frosting and add some Bailey’s Irish cream to it!
• Use a different beer– If you can’t use Guinness stout, you can use another dark stout beer.
• Add some chocolate ganache. Whip up some ganache, stir in some Irish cream and pour over the cake layers instead. Or just make a regular ganache and drip over the irish buttercream for a beautiful finish!

Recipe FAQs

Can I Use A Different Pan?

You absolutely can. Make the recipe as directed and then you can make it into a sheet cake, layer cake or cupcakes!

• To make a 9-inch layer cake: Use two cake pans and bake for 30 to 35 minutes.
• To make as a sheet cake: Use a 9×13 pan. Bake 35 to 40 minutes.
• To make as a layer cake: Grease and flour three 8-inch round baking pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. 
• To make into cupcakes: Line muffin cups with paper bake cups. Fill cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake 22 to 25 minutes.
• To make a bundt:  Grease and flour 12-cup bundt pan. Bake 50 to 55 minutes. 

Throwing a St. Patrick’s Day Party? Try these recipes!

If you’re looking for more fun recipes to pair with this cake here are a fun few other desserts and breads to make on St. Patrick’s Day!

• Irish Soda Bread
• Guinness Bread
• Irish Apple Cake
• Chocolate Irish Cream Pie
• Chocolate Guinness Donuts

Grab some Guinness.  Just reserve one for this cake and learn how to pour the rest…

Until next time, happy baking!