Satisfy your sweet cravings on St. Patrick’s Day or any day with this Chocolate Guinness Cake – a delectable dessert that brings together the bold flavors of Guinness Stout and the sumptuousness of chocolate.
Far from tasting like a pint of beer, this cake is deliciously dark malty, and super moist. Topped with a simple layer of cream cheese frosting, this is the easiest cake in the world to make and SO delicious!
This really is the easiest cake to make. It’s literally a one-bowl mix, straight to the cake pan, cover it in a frosting kind of situation. No cutting, no leveling, no fancy decoration. Just a good cake. And since Guinness has been vegan-friendly since 2016, there’s no concern there.
The mixture itself is extremely wet, almost like water, but don’t be alarmed, it will set as it cooks. The batter consistency creates a beautifully light and fluffy cake that is just addictive.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Prepare. This cake is almost a one-bowl recipe that is easy to prepare and bakes effortlessly.
- Unique Cake Flavor. The Guinness Draught gives this cake a moist malty flavor that’s worth trying.
- St. Patrick’s Day Cake. This cake is a fun way to celebrate Irish beer.
How to Make Chocolate Guinness Cake
Enjoy a rich moist chocolate cake with a Guinness twist. The full recipe is at the end of the blog post.
Key Ingredients
- Guinness Draught. Gives this cake a malty flavor.
- Cocoa Powder. Adds a rich chocolate taste.
- Buttermilk. Adds a tangy flavor to this cake.
- All-Purpose Flour. This flour keeps this cake light and tender.
- Cream Cheese. The tanginess of the cream cheese icing works perfectly with this moist chocolate cake.
- Granulated Sugar. Adds the perfect sweetness to this cake.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven. Line a round cake pan with parchment paper and preheat the oven.
2. Combine the Wet Ingredients. In a saucepan, add the Guinness and butter and heat until completely melted. Remove from heat and whisk in the granulated sugar and cocoa powder. Add the eggs, vanilla, and buttermilk.
3. Combine the Dry and Wet Ingredients. In a stand mixer, combine the remaining dry ingredients and add the Guinness mixture until well combined.
4. Bake the Cake. Pour the batter into the cake pan and bake until a toothpick can be inserted and come out clean. Place the baked cake on a cooling rack to cool.
5. Make the Frosting. Beat the butter and powdered sugar. Add the cream cheese and beat on high speed. Frost the cooled cake and dust it with cocoa powder before serving.
Recipe Tips, Variations, and Substitutions
- Out of buttermilk? Make a DIY version of buttermilk by using the same amount of regular milk mixed with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Let it sit for a minute before using it.
- Guinness Draught and Extra Stout can both be used. Guinness Draught is preferred because it is richer and creamier.
Storage Recommendations
Store this cake in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days or in the freezer for up to three months.
Try These Other Cake Recipes
- Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Orange Cream Cheese Frosting – Layered vanilla cake with a delightful chocolate orange frosting.
- Olive Oil Cake with Chocolate and Figs – A gluten-free cake filled with chopped figs, brandy, and cinnamon.
- Chocolate and Ginger Loaf Cake – Moist marbled cake with a combination of ginger and chocolate.
- Maple Glazed Olive Oil Pumpkin Cake – This pumpkin cake is incredibly moist, with deep pumpkin flavor, and a maple syrup glaze.
Chocolate Guinness Cake
Equipment
- 1 round cake pan 9-inch
- 1 saucepan
- 1 stand mixer
- 1 cooling rack
- 1 offset spatula
Ingredients
Cake
- 8.5 oz Guinness Stout
- 1 1/8 cups butter
- 3/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup buttermilk
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
Frosting
- 1/4 cups butter
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 4.4 oz. cream cheese full-fat
- cocoa powder for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Line a 9-inch round cake pan with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a saucepan, add the Guinness and butter and heat on low heat until the butter is completely melted. Take the pan off the heat and whisk in the granulated sugar and cocoa powder to cool the mixture down. Add the eggs, vanilla, and buttermilk and whisk until you have a smooth batter.
- In a stand mixer, combine the remaining dry ingredients and add the Guinness mixture until everything is smooth and well combined.
- Pour the batter into the cake pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick can be inserted and come out clean. Place the baked cake on a cooling rack to cool.
- When the cake is fully cool, make the frosting. To make the frosting, beat the butter and powdered sugar in a stand mixer until you have a fine crumb mixture. Add the cream cheese and beat on high speed for 2-3 minutes. Using an offset spatula, frost the cooled cake and dust it with cocoa powder before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe from The Hummingbird Bakery’s book “Cake Days.”
Is this cake firm enough to cover with sugerpaste? Want to shape into a rugby ball and cover in sugerpaste then decorate
Hi Davina, I don’t think it’s the ideal texture as it’s a very moist, soft cake, don’t think it would do too well as a rugby ball then fondant covered. Something like a madeira cake would work better for that. Maybe you could make this recipe into little cupcakes for the size and just reduce the cooking time?
Can this chocolate Guinness cake be frozen, I have to make it for a wedding.
Hi Sara, yes definitely just don’t frost it until you want to use it, otherwise the frosting will go a funny consistency when it defrosts. You can still make the frosting ahead and freeze it in an airtight container, but once it comes to room temperature give it another quick whip up before you frost the cake.
Probably best to let the cake come to room temperature overnight to avoid any dry or sogginess. Hope it goes well!
Is it draught or original guinness used in the chocolate guinness cake?
Thanks
I just checked my photos and it was a bottle of the Draught I used!