You guys… this cake. It’s my new favorite chocolate cake recipe. I honestly can’t believe I’m even saying this, but I am. I first decided to make this stout cake since I thought it would be festive for St. Patrick’s Day. But I never thought I’d end up loving it so much.
This cake is incredibly moist – and don’t worry if you don’t love stout, you can’t really taste it. It just gives the cake this intense chocolate flavor, without being overly sweet. I am usually a vanilla cake kind of girl, but oh my. I would take a piece of this cake any day.
And to make it even better? A cream cheese glaze. Yes, you read that right. I wasn’t looking to add too much frosting since I didn’t want anything to overpower the actual cake. The cream cheese glaze gives this just the right amount of sweetness and compliments the chocolate perfectly.
Bake this cake for St. Patrick’s Day, or really any occasion, and I have a feeling you’ll be a happy camper.
One slice = chocolate heaven. Just sayin.
Ingredients
- 1 cup stout (such as Guinness)
- 1 cup (16 tablespoons) unsalted butter
- ¾ cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- ⅔ cup sour cream
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 2 tablespoons stout (such as Guinness)
Instructions
- To make the cake - Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Generously spray a bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray or grease with butter, making sure to get in all the ridges of the pan. Set aside.
- In a large saucepan, add the stout and butter. Over medium heat, bring the mixture to a simmer, whisking occasionally. Once simmering, add in the cocoa powder and whisk until smooth. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool slightly, about 5 to 10 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the eggs and sour cream. Beat on medium speed until combined. Add in the stout/butter mixture and beat until just combined. Slowly add in the flour mixture and beat on low speed until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cool, carefully run a butter knife around the edges of the pan, then turn the cake out onto the wire rack or a serving platter.
- To make the glaze - In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Scrap down the sides of the bowl as needed. Alternating back and forth between the milk and stout, add each 1 tablespoon at a time, beating for 30 seconds to 1 minute after each addition on medium speed until the glaze is smooth. If needed, add additional milk or stout, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the glaze has reached your desired consistency. Drizzle the glaze over the cake and allow the glaze to set before serving.
Source:
Cake from Smitten Kitchen. Originally from the Barrington Brewery via Bon Appetit. Glaze adapted from Taste and Tell.
Made this on Sunday for St. Patty’s Day – with a couple alterations/additions. This is an awesome recipe…and everyone at our gathering loved it – so, thank you!!
Hi Liz! So so glad you liked it. It’s become an unexpected favorite at our house!
Again, this is such an unusual recipe (using stout in a chocolate cake) and it looks so gorgeous – I just have to try this! Pinned this too!
Thanks Julia! It’s such a good combination : )
Beautiful Bundt cake, Ashley! Though I have not yet done it, I’ve been thinking about trying a stout cake. I am really intrigued with how some flavors intensify others. You’ve convinced me.
Yes, try using stout! I didn’t think I’d like it any better than a regular chocolate cake … but it’s definitely now my new favorite!
Woah. This is gorgeous Ashley!!
Thanks Aimee!
YES! I have been anticipating this recipe since you mentioned it earlier this week, Ashley. Looks amazing and definitely may be my top pick for St. Patty’s Day baking! (We have, after all, already eaten our fair share of Guinnes cupcakes.
)
Your post has me wanting to make Guinness cupcakes too! : ) I’m obsessed now with putting it in cakes, etc… lol
I love chocolatey cake! This looks so decadent!
Oh wow, this looks so good! I’ve had a cake like this on my mind lately with St. Patrick’s Day coming soon. I’m pinning this pronto! BTW…I love your blog design. Do you mind my asking who did it for you?
Thanks Marcie! Not at all – I used Shay Bocks (http://shaybocks.com/). She was awesome : )
Thank you!
Ashley this is a stunning cake! Forget St. Patrick’s Day I want this every week!
Guinness takes chocolate cake from good to great! The chocolate flavor is so much more pronounced some of my favorite cakes are ones made with Guinness! And I am sure this one is spectacular especially with that cream cheese glaze! OH EM GEE!!
Agreed! I’m so mad I never tried it before now… I’m hooked!
this looks so yummy! And i love the idea of just a glaze rather than an overpowering frosting! Ill keep it in mind next time I’m making a cake where I want the flavour of the cake to shine through!xx
Thanks Katie!