Chocolate Guinness Cake
Nothing says indulgence like a rich and moist Chocolate Guinness Cake topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting. The deep, malty notes of Guinness enhance the chocolate flavor, creating a beautifully balanced cake that’s perfect for any occasion.
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- Deep chocolate flavor – The Guinness enhances the cocoa, giving the cake a rich depth of flavor.
- Easy to make – Simple ingredients and a straightforward process make this a no-fuss dessert.
- Dreamy cream cheese frosting – Tangy and smooth, the frosting perfectly complements the cake’s richness and adds just the right amount of sweetness.
If you love boozy desserts, you must try my Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce, Bacardi Rum Cake, and Baileys & Coffee Cupcakes. If you love beer in baking, try my Homemade Beer Bread and Guinness Cupcakes with Maple Cinnamon Frosting.
Ingredients you’ll need:
- unsalted butter & cream cheese
- Guinness or any stout beer
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- whole milk or buttermilk
- large eggs
- vanilla extract
- all-purpose flour
- baking soda & salt
How to make Chocolate Guinness Cake:
(The full written and printable recipe is further below.)
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat and whisk in the beer and cocoa powder until smooth. Then whisk in the sugar, milk, and eggs.
- In a large mixing bowl, toss together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Pour in the chocolate mixture and gently mix until combined.
- Transfer the batter into a 9×5″ loaf pan lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350F for 40-50 minutes.
- Once the cake is completely cooled. Beat the butter and cream cheese until combined. Mix in the powdered sugar until smooth.
- Spread the frosting on top of the cake and dust with cocoa powder before serving.
Delicious variations:
- 🔥Spiced Guinness Loaf – Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg to the batter for a warm, spiced depth.
- ☕️Mocha Guinness Cake – Stir 1 teaspoon of instant espresso powder along with the cocoa powder to enhance the chocolate flavor.
- 🍊Chocolate Orange Guinness Cake – Add 1 tablespoon of orange zest to the batter for a citrusy contrast.
- 🍫Double Chocolate Guinness Cake – Stir in ½ cup of chocolate chips for extra melty goodness.
Storage & freezing instructions:
Storing – Keep the frosted cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and bring to room temperature before serving. If unfrosted, store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Freezing – Wrap the completely cooled, unfrosted cake tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 3 months. For frosted cake, freeze uncovered for 1 hour, then wrap tightly and store in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for 1-2 hours before serving.
Recipe FAQs:
Yes! You can substitute Guinness with strongly brewed coffee or Coca-Cola for a similar depth of flavor without the alcohol.
No, the Guinness enhances the chocolate flavor, making it richer and more complex, but you won’t taste the beer itself.
Absolutely! A simple chocolate ganache, whipped cream, or even a Baileys-infused frosting would pair beautifully with this cake.
Yes! You can bake it in an 8-inch round cake pan or a muffin tin for cupcakes—just adjust the baking time accordingly (about 30-35 minutes for a round cake, 18-22 minutes for cupcakes).
If you’ve tried this Chocolate Guinness Cake Recipe or any other recipe on my blog please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Chocolate Guinness Cake
Ingredients
For The Cake:
- 1/2 cup (114g) unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup (120ml) Guinness beer
- 1/2 cup (40g) unsweetened cocoa powder, plus more for dusting
- 1 cup (200g)brown sugar, lightly packed
- 1/2 cup (120ml) whole milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 & 1/2 cups (190g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
For The Frosting:
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups (240g) powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Butter and line a 9×5" loaf pan with parchment paper with overhang sides for easy removal.
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat and whisk in the beer and cocoa powder until smooth.1/2 cup (114g) unsalted butter, 1/2 cup (120ml) Guinness beer, 1/2 cup (40g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- Then whisk in the sugar, milk, eggs, and vanilla. Set aside.1 cup (200g)brown sugar, 1/2 cup (120ml) whole milk, 2 large eggs, 1 tsp vanilla extract
- In a large mixing bowl, toss together the flour, baking soda, and salt.1 & 1/2 cups (190g) all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp salt
- Pour in the chocolate mixture and gently whisk until combined. Transfer the batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before carefully lifting out to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Once the cake is completely cooled. Beat the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla until combined. Mix in the powdered sugar until smooth.4 oz cream cheese, 1/4 cup unsalted butter, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 2 cups (240g) powdered sugar
- Spread the frosting on top of the cake and dust with cocoa powder before serving.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Sainsbury’s Magazine
