St. Patrick’s Day is coming up, and you don’t have to be Irish to enjoy some good Irish recipes. This moist and fudgy Irish Guinness chocolate cake recipe will make you look forward to St. Patrick Day! Serve up a slice of this heavenly cake after some of your favorite Irish mains for a perfect holiday meal!
What is Guinness beer?
Guinness beer is an Irish dry stout that originated in Irland in 1759. One of the most popular beers in Irland, Guinness beer is used in many different ways in cooking. Some of the ways it’s used are in cakes, stews, cheese dips, bread, and even nuts! Alcohol makes a great addition when cooking because of the deep, rich flavors it brings. Guinness beer in this recipe replaces the black coffee in a cake used for many generations in my family. It is my all-time favorite chocolate cake recipe!
Do I have to make a bundt cake?
You can use many different types of cake pans with this cake. I have made variations of this chocolate cake over the years and used many different pans. Other than a bundt cake pan you can use 2 standard round cake pans. If you do this you can divide the ganache icing in between the layers of the cake and on top. You can also use an old-fashioned sheet cake pan. Originally, this chocolate cake was made in a sheet cake pan and works well that way. This recipe is fluffy enough to make nice cupcakes too. Just divide the batter up into cupcake tins lined with paper baking cups and have some delicious Guinness beer cupcakes! My favorite way to make this cake is a bundt cake pan. It’s easy and pretty!
Easy Ganache to top the Irish Guinness chocolate cake
I needed this to be easy. Even though ganache is easy to make it’s delicious! This recipe is as simple as heating and stirring! All you will need is some heavy cream and semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips. I poured the chocolate chips into a mixing bowl then heated the heavy cream and beer in a saucepan. When it was heated to where little bubbles formed around the edges, I poured it over the chocolate chips. After setting a couple of minutes I whisked together the chocolate chips, cream, and beer until smooth. I drizzled the ganache onto the bundt cake and then on each piece before serving. I drizzled it on warm, but you can also allow it to thicken in the fridge for a thicker ganache.
I can’t wait for you to serve up this delicious cake for your St. Patrick’s Day celebration!
For other bundt cake recipes check these out!
For some of my favorite dessert recipes check out:
Spiced apple pie with crumb topping
No-bake blueberry cheesecake cups
Irish Guinness Chocolate Cake
Equipment
- Bundt cake pan
Ingredients
- 2 cups cake flour or unbleached flour
- 4 tbsp cacao powder
- 1 tsp of each baking soda, and baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 stick room temperature butter
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup boiling water
- 3/4 cup Guinness stout beer room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Chocolate Guinness Ganache
- 4 oz semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup of heavy cream
- 3 tbsp Guinness beer
- a couple of pinches of salt
Instructions
- Spray or oil the bundt cake pan. Sprinkle with a little flour or cacao powder. Dust any excess off and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350.
- In a medium bowl sift together flour, cacao powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, use a mixer to cream together the butter and sugar.
- Add the eggs and the milk. Mix until completely incorporated.
- With a rubber spatula mix the dry ingredients 1/2 at a time into the wet. (I like to do this so the mixer doesn't cause the flour to get everywhere.)
- After you mix it together with the spatula. With your mixer on low pour in the 1/4 cup of boiling water and 3/4 cup of Guinness. Add the vanilla extract. Mix until smooth on medium speed about 1-2 minutes,
- Pour cake batter into the oiled cake pan and bake for about 45-55 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool for a bit, then remove by running a rubber spatula along the edges to loosen.
Chocolate Guinness Ganache
- Pour chocolate chips into a heat-safe bowl.
- In a small saucepan heat the cream and beer on medium-low until small bubbles start to form around the edges.
- Pour the hot mix over the chocolate chips and let sit for a couple of minutes.
- Add a couple of pinches of salt and whisk everything together until smooth. Drizzle the ganache over the cake warm or allow to cool and thicken before putting on the cake. You can also drizzle each individual piece before serving.
Leave a Reply