Description
A Dark Chocolate Guinness Cake is a dense, moist chocolate cake that uses Guinness stout as a primary liquid ingredient. For those who might be skeptical about putting beer in a dessert, it is important to understand that the final product does not taste like a pint of ale. Instead, the stout acts as a flavor enhancer. The natural coffee and chocolate notes found in Guinness amplify the cocoa powder, creating a depth of flavor that is impossible to achieve with water or milk alone.
Ingredients
Cake
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1 cup (240 ml) Guinness stout
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1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter
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3/4 cup (75 g) unsweetened cocoa powder (Dutch-process preferred)
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2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
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2 cups (400 g) sugar
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1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
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3/4 teaspoon salt
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2 large eggs
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2/3 cup (160 ml) sour cream
Cream Cheese Topping (Optional but Classic)
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8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened
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1 cup powdered sugar
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1/2 cup heavy cream
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
1. Prepare the batter
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9-inch (23 cm) springform pan.
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In a saucepan, heat Guinness and butter over medium heat until butter melts. Remove from heat.
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Whisk in cocoa powder until smooth. Let cool slightly.
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In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
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In another bowl, beat eggs and sour cream until smooth.
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Add the Guinness–chocolate mixture to the egg mixture, then combine with dry ingredients until just mixed.
2. Bake
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Pour batter into prepared pan.
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Bake 45–50 minutes, until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.
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Cool completely in the pan.
Cream Cheese Topping
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Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth.
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Add heavy cream and vanilla; beat until thick but pourable.
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Spread over cooled cake, letting it gently drip over the edges (for the classic “foamy head” look).
Notes
This rich, moist cake is even better the next day as the flavors deepen. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or a drizzle of chocolate ganache for an extra indulgent touch. You can also add a sprinkle of espresso powder to enhance the chocolate flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Irish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1slice
- Calories: 420kcal