Chocolate Guinness Cake

By Nigella Lawson

Updated May 1, 2024

Chocolate Guinness Cake
Sang An for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
1 hour 15 minutes
Rating
5(11,118)
Comments
Read comments

For me, a chocolate cake is the basic unit of celebration. The chocolate Guinness cake here is simple but deeply pleasurable, and has earned its place as a stand-alone treat.

Featured in: AT MY TABLE; A Feast for a Holiday, Or Everyday Exulting

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Ingredients

Yield:One 9-inch cake or 12 servings

    For the Cake

    • Butter, for the pan
    • 1cup Guinness stout
    • 10tablespoons (1 stick plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter (see Tip)
    • ¾cup unsweetened cocoa
    • 2cups superfine sugar
    • ¾cup sour cream
    • 2large eggs
    • 1tablespoon vanilla extract
    • 2cups all-purpose flour
    • 2½teaspoons baking soda

    For the Topping

    • 1¼cups confectioners' sugar
    • 8ounces cream cheese at room temperature
    • ½cup heavy cream
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (12 servings)

512 calories; 26 grams fat; 15 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 7 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 66 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 46 grams sugars; 6 grams protein; 345 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    For the cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and line with parchment paper. In a large saucepan, combine Guinness and butter. Place over medium-low heat until butter melts, then remove from heat. Add cocoa and superfine sugar, and whisk to blend.

  2. Step 2

    In a small bowl, combine sour cream, eggs and vanilla; mix well. Add to Guinness mixture. Add flour and baking soda, and whisk again until smooth. Pour into buttered pan, and bake until risen and firm, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Place pan on a wire rack and cool completely in pan.

  3. Step 3

    For the topping: Using a food processor or by hand, mix confectioners' sugar to break up lumps. Add cream cheese and blend until smooth. Add heavy cream, and mix until smooth and spreadable.

  4. Step 4

    Remove cake from pan and place on a platter or cake stand. Ice top of cake only, so that it resembles a frothy pint of Guinness.

Tip
  • The recipe for this cake in Nigella Lawson's cookbook "Feast: Food to Celebrate Life" (Hyperion, 2004) calls for 18 tablespoons (2 sticks plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
11,118 user ratings
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Comments

JM

By volume, a 9" springform pan is 10 cups. You can use 2 "standard" 8" or 9" pans instead. Or make 18-24 cup cakes.

I used a 9" square pan and made 6 cupcakes as well (the 9" square has a volume of about 8 cups). I baked the cupcakes for about 25 minutes and the cake for 45.

Patrick

We make this cake one day in advance. It tastes better and it's a little more moist. We release the spring form after about an hour in the cooling process so the sides don't stick the next day. We prepare the frosting the day we plan to serve.
In a side by side taste test with my family of 19 tasters... this was a clear winner over the epicurious three layer Guinness cake.

maria

Love this cake. I do think a little Bailey's in the frosting does wonders.

TT

Incredible cake recipe, but I cannot imagine making this without one modification - sub half of the heavy cream in the frosting with Bailey’s. Takes it to next level.

Lisa

I just entered this cake in the California State Fair competition for frosted, refrigerated cakes. It only won a second place because of two reasons: the first was the judge said, although it is supposed to be moist, I under cooked it. The second reason was that she thought the frosting was too sweet for the less sweet cake and suggested that I add some Guinness to the frosting. Not sure how much to add. Any suggestions? I see that some else added Bailey's which is also sweet. Thoughts?

Stephanie

Best cake my husband, son, and I have ever had! Absolutely a winner!

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