Three words: Guinness Chocolate Cake. A rich cake infused with a deep dark stout that’s imbued with subtle hints of coffee and chocolate. Resulting in a harmoniously moist crumb! Topped with a simple Glossy Cream Cheese Frosting, it pairs perfectly with the slightly bitter bite. Served up with a frosty pint of Guinness, and you have a seriously memorable dessert.
If you love a chocolate cake that isn’t too sweet but has an incredible depth of flavor then this is your cake. Not overly sugary and more complex in taste and tone. Certainly an excellent dessert for St. Patrick’s Day or any special day for that matter!
No you can make an 8-9 inch cake as well. We made mini cakes here with springform pans that measure 4.4″ diameter x 1.8″ H sold by Wilton (this is not an advertisement) they cook perfectly in about 20 minutes time. However, you can also use an 8 or 9-inch springform pan and bake for about 45-60 minutes in a 350°F/175°C oven. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick or cake tester into the center of the cake, when it comes out clean the cake is done.
Tips for Making the Best Guinness Cake
- Be sure to mix the batter by hand, it’s super simple and comes together quickly. Blend until just combined, don’t over mix. You’ll notice this is a markedly thin batter, don’t worry it’s normal. Much like our Bakery Style Cupcakes, this batter rises nice and high and holds it’s dome.
- Don’t overbeat the frosting either, when you combine the room temp cream cheese and powdered sugar start out on low speed to combine. Then add the cream and vanilla and beat about 40 seconds on medium speed until glossy.
Please note you can also beat the cream cheese first and then add the powdered sugar. We just happened to whip them at the same time while shooting.
Safely Storing Cream Cheese Frosting
Refrigeration: Store cream cheese frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Ensure the container is tightly sealed to prevent the frosting from absorbing odors from other foods in the fridge.
Use Within Timeframe: Consume the cream cheese frosting within 3 to 5 days for optimal freshness and food safety. Discard any leftover frosting beyond this timeframe.
Avoid Room Temperature: Do not leave cream cheese frosting at room temperature for an extended period, especially in warm conditions, as it can lead to bacterial growth and spoilage.
Freezing (Optional): If you need to store cream cheese frosting for a longer period, you can freeze it. Place the frosting in a freezer-safe container and ensure it’s tightly sealed to prevent freezer burn. Frozen cream cheese frosting can last for up to 3 months.
Thawing: When ready to use frozen cream cheese frosting, transfer it to the refrigerator to thaw overnight. Avoid thawing at room temperature to minimize the risk of bacterial growth.
By following these storage guidelines, you can keep your cream cheese frosting safe to enjoy on your favorite baked treats.
Please Pin to Make & Share!📌
How to Make Guinness Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 cup (119 ml) Guinness Extra Stout
- 1/3 cup (76 grams) butter
- 1 cup (100 grams) natural cocoa, unsweetened
- 1 1/2 cups (300 grams) sugar
- 1/2 cup (90 grams) dark brown sugar, packed firmly but not to firmly
- 3/4 cup (213 grams) Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 2 large eggs
- 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups (240 grams) all-purpose flour, unbleached
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon Pink Himalayan sea salt or Kosher sea salt, finely ground
Glossy Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1 package (8 oz/225 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups (200 grams) confectioners' sugar (powdered sugar)
- 1/2 cup (158 ml) heavy cream
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350°F/175°C. Grease 6 mini pans or an 8 or 9-inch springform pan with butter or Crisco and line the bottoms with rounds of parchment paper.
- In a small heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat the Guinness and butter until butter is melted.
- Remove from the heat; whisk in sugar and cocoa until blended.
- Combine the eggs, sour cream and vanilla and mix by hand until well blended.
- Whish the egg mixture into the saucepan and stir until combined.
- Blend flour and baking soda; whisk into beer mixture until smooth.
- Pour batter into prepared pan(s) and bake for 20 minutes in small pans. If using 8 or 9-inch springform pans bake up to 60 minutes.
- Remove from oven and cool on wire rack for 20 minutes. Remove from Springform pans and allow them to sit until thoroughly cooled.
Glossy Cream Cheese Frosting
- In a large bowl beat the cream cheese and frosting on medium-low until fluffy. Pour in the cream and vanilla. Then beat until glossy about 40 seconds.
- Ice the top of the cakes to resemble a frothy pint of Guinness! We topped ours off with a bit of shaved dark chocolate.
Notes
- Prep time is approximate.
- Allow to cool completely and then frost and serve.
- Leftover instructions can be found up top in this post.
Creative Recipe Inspiration
Our Bakery Style Chocolate Cupcakes are high-top cupcakes too! Moist, delicious and and perfect for any occasion.
Chocolate Storm Cake is taste bud revolution! Our most popular and pinned 5-Star cake! Chocolate Cake.
Step Into My Kitchen!
Hey there, fellow food enthusiast! Welcome to Mean Green Chef, where every dish tells a story and every recipe is a labor of love. I’m thrilled to share a bit about myself and the journey that led me here, stirring pots and sprinkling spices for over three decades!
Love this recipe and the mini-ness of the servings. Perfect for a March Afternoon Tea!!! Pinned it…twice I think. Thanks
So glad that you like our recipe, Beth! Thanks for visiting 🙂
What a great St Patrick’s Day dessert-yummy! Also great if you are preparing a trip to Dublin.
Thank you, Cindy, it is the perfect St. Paddy’s Day dessert!
Another amazing recipe! Looks so delicious and easy to make!! Thank you!
Much appreciated, Holly! It’s super easy to make and eat lol thank you so much for visiting!
wow these look so delicious! can you make these for my wedding? 🤣
Lol, Lucy, no but you can! Congrats hope your big day is amazing!
Good Lord, I gained 2 pounds just reading this…. I also actually salivated so guess what I’m going to make now….
LOL, Jen, this is why the gym is a must! Thanks so much for visiting 🙂
Wow, that looks amazing!
Thanks, Debbie!
These look so yummy! I am sending these to my daughter the baker so she can make them for our next holiday!
Yeah for daughters who bake! Make sure you take a pic to share, thanks, Tricia! 🙂
Wow! These look delicious. Will the recipe act the same with gluten free flour?
Great question, Tim! Try Bob’s Red Mill all-purpose gluten-free flour, add 1 teaspoon of xanthan gum. It may not be exact but the consistency will be close. We appreciate you visiting!
These look so wonderful! We cannot wait to try them!
Awesome, Lisa, be sure to share your results please! 🙂
This looks amazing! Yum!
Thanks, Lisa! 🙂
Oh how yummy looking! Chocolate is my weaknes!
You and me both, Debbie! Currently fasting and the chocolate cake in the kitchen is a real test of willpower! Thanks for visiting 🙂
Who does not love chocolate. Made me hungry for chocolate cake thank you for sharing.
Thanks so much, Jody!
Looks and sounds delish! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for visiting, Katherine!
Yummmm I am going to try and make these for St. Paddy’s Day. I will make sure to bake on the day I have a long run scheduled. Oh my.. such yummy goodness.
Awesome, Heather! Let me know if you have any questions and I’ll be happy to help out 🙂
Oh geeze, I love Guinness – I have to make these!
You’ll be surprised at the depth of flavor Guinness adds to chocolate, Sandi! Thanks so much for stopping by to visit 🙂
These are just darling. The chocolate is so rich and everything is better with cream cheese frosting!
Agreed, Angela, cream cheese frosting really does make everything better! 🙂
The chocolate cake looks delicious. I’d probably swap out the Guinness, even though it looks like it adds its looks.
You can swap out the Guinness for hot black coffee, Jennifer! 🙂
Yeasss Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day!!!
Lol, Liz, so glad that you like our recipe!
This looks so delicious! I need to make these
Thanks, Brianna, I hope you do make them!
These look great! And it’s the perfect dessert for St Patrick’s Day!
Thank you, Sydney, they really do make a great dessert for St. Paddy’s! 🙂
OMG, Angela! You are not good for my waistline. These look moist and have everything I love in one cake!
LOL, Suzan so glad that you like our recipe! 🙂
Wow looks delicious! Must try to make this for my family!
Thanks so much, Jill! It’s an easy cake recipe and perfect for St. Paddy’s Day!
It’s my favorite time of the year where Guinness and Irish Cream is infused everywhere! I pinned this recipe for another way to spread the Irish love. I just made cake brownies and substituted the water with a coffee/baileys mix and the oil with applesauce. Then I put a dollop of baileys frosting on top YUM! In the recipe I have, I swapped milk for baileys – it was so creamy! This will be my next recipe!
Thanks for pinning, Judean! Your recipe sounds delish too 😛
This is something to try this St Patricks holiday! Yum!
Thanks, Tiffany! 🙂
Look scrumdidilyumptions!
It is that, Christina! 🙂
These look amazing, and I love cream cheese frosting!
Thanks, Noelle!
This sounds amazing! I have a German chocolate cake family recipe I absolutely love. This sounds very similar! I will have to give it a try sometime soon!
I love German Chocolate Cake too, Liz! 😛
What a yummy dessert! Great for a party idea.
Thanks, Lisa 🙂
I missed out on a lot of your yummy posts. Looks like I have a lot of catching to do.
Love love chocolates. And this desert looks so delicious. 😋🤤🤤🤤
Thanks so much, Jane! Glad to see you are back from your travels (for now)! I love love chocolate too! 🙂
Chocolate is my achilles heel and I’m salivating right now just looking at it. 🤤🤤
Lol, Jane Chocolate is a must in life! 🙂
How you come up with amazing recipes amazes me! I love love chocolate and the fact that there’s a twist to it (Guinness) is even better.
Guinness really does elevate the chocolate flavor to new levels, thanks so much Jane!
I made an 8 inch version of this amazing cake for St. Patrick’s Day (Irish-German here) and then again for my husband’s birthday, recipe halved and 3 mini versions. We absolutely love this easy cake recipe for its depth of flavor and not being too sweet. It’s about as perfect a cake recipe as I’ve ever found! Thank you!
Thank you so much, Ceejay!