• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Chef Dennis
  • Recipe Index
  • On the Road
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Cake Recipes

    Guinness Chocolate Cake – Irish Classic

    Published: Mar 9, 2021 · Modified: Aug 26, 2021 by Chef Dennis Littley

    483 shares
    • Facebook366
    • Yummly
    4.99 from 50 votes
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    Pinterest image for Guinness Chocolate Cake

    When it comes to dessert my Guinness Chocolate Cake will not disappoint! While traveling through Ireland I enjoyed quite a few slices of this delicious cake.

    And although it doesn’t quite resemble the original version of an Irish stout cake, it’s been adopted wholeheartedly by Irish restaurateurs and pub owners. And for that I am grateful!

    slice of Guinness chocolate cake with a fork on a cream colored plate with a pint of Guinness and another slice of cake behind it

    When you think of stout and the complex intensity of the brew, with its deep flavors, mixing it with chocolate, adds to the complexity and increases the depth of the chocolate….sigh. It’s a wonderful thing.

    What ingredients do I need to make a Guinness chocolate cake?

    ngredients to make guinness chocolate cake

    Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make a Guinness Chocolate Cake. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.

    Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed the up cooking process, but it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

    Do I have to use Guinness in the cake recipe?

    No, you can use any of your favorite dark beers or red wine to make this delicious cake. If you can’t have alcohol or would rather not include it in the recipe these are acceptable substitutes.

    • Root Beer
    • Black Coffee
    • Black Tea
    • Chocolate Milk

    **Coffee will be the closest substitute that will bring out the deep chocolate notes. The alcohol will all burn off, and I promise no one will get drunk from the cake.

    How do I make Guinness Chocolate Cake?

    Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F.

    overhead shot of mixing cocoa into beer mixture
    • Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the Guinness to the melted butter and bring to a simmer.
    • Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cocoa powder. Mix well and allow to cool for 10 minutes.

    Why is the cocoa added to the warm Guinness?

    By adding the cocoa to the warm Guinness and letting sit for a few minutes, were allowing the cocoa to bloom. This step brings out the cocoa’s deep chocolate notes and helps create the rich chocolate flavors that this cake is known for.

    Why do I melt the butter instead of creaming it with the sugar?

    This is a different technique than most cakes call for. By melting the butter and adding it to the Guinness and cocoa, the butter now reacts to the mixture like oil and produces a soft moist crumb.

    overhead shot of mixing chocolate mixture into egg mixture
    • Whisk together the Greek yogurt, eggs and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl.
    • Add the cooled cocoa mixture to the egg mixture and mix until well blended and smooth.
    overhead shot of mixing flour mixture into cake batter
    • In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugars, baking powder and salt. Set to the side until needed. **Combine all the ingredients using a wire whisk.
    • Add the flour to the chocolate mixture and stir until well incorporated. *Be careful not to overmix!
    cake batter in prepared springform pan

    Pour the chocolate batter into the prepared pan and place on the center rack of a 350 degree F. preheated oven.

    Ingredients to make frosting for Guinness chocolate cake

    While the cake is baking, you have time to make the frosting (vanilla is not pictured)

    Can I add a little Baileys Irish Cream to the Frosting?

    You sure can! Just swap out the heavy cream for the Baileys Irish Cream.

    whole frosted guinness chocolate cake with a pint of guinness in the back ground

    Cool the finished cake on a wire rack until cool to the touch. Transfer the cooled cake to a cake dish for frosting.

    Make sure to let the cake fully cool before frosting.

    Whole frosted Guinness chocolate cake on a cream colored platter with a pint of Guinness behind it

    When the frosting is smooth and the cake has cooled, frost the top of the cake with the frosting. The cake should resemble a pint of Guinness.

    Chef Dennis pouring a pint of Gunniess at Murphy's Bar in Killarney Ireland

    I actually learned the proper way to pour a pint of Guinness at Murphy’s Bar in Killarney, Ireland.

    overhead shot of Guinness chocolate cake sliced on a white platter with a slice on a small plate

    Wouldn’t you love a slice or two of this ah-mazingly delicious Guinness Chocolate Cake? I know your family would love to partake in this taste of Ireland.

    Baking Tools I use

    This post includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    • 9 -inch Springform Pan
    • offset spatula (essential for bakers)
    • 9-inch parchment cake circles
    • silicone spatulas
    • wire whisk
    • mixing bowls

    More Cakes I Know You’ll Love!

    • Best Chocolate Mousse Cake
    • Vegan Chocolate Fudge Cake Recipe made with Coconut Oil
    • Chocolate Cake with Strawberry Mousse Filling
    • Authentic Italian Chocolate Torte

    Delicious Irish Dishes To Try!

    • Cottage Pie aka Shepherd’s Pie
    • Guinness Beef Stew
    • Dublin Coddle with Chicken Sausage
    • Irish Whiskey Salmon

    Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

    Please SUBSCRIBE and FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST!

    whole frosted guinness chocolate cake with a pint of guinness in the back ground
    Print Recipe Save Saved!
    4.99 from 50 votes

    Guinness Chocolate Cake

    You don't have to wait for St. Patrick's Day to make my Guinness Chocolate Cake. Your family and friends will love this rich chocolaty dessert with a cream cheese frosting any time of year!
    Prep Time25 mins
    Cook Time45 mins
    Total Time1 hr 10 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Irish
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 544kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Equipment

    • 9 inch springform pan

    Ingredients

    Cake Pan

    • 2 tbsp butter
    • 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

    Guinness Chocolate Cake

    • 12 tbsp unsalted butter
    • 1 cup Guinness
    • ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 cup Greek yogurt full fat (plain or vanilla)
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1 cup brown sugar packed
    • 1 tablespoon baking powder
    • ¾ teaspoon sea salt

    Frosting

    • 8 ounce cream cheese softened
    • 2½ cups powdered sugar
    • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
    • 1 tsp vanilla
    US Customary – Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    Cake Pan

    • Butter a 9-inch spring form pan with 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter. Dust with 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder, tap out the excess cocoa powder and set off to the side.

    Guinness Chocolate Cake

    • Preheat your oven to 350°
    • Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the Gunniess to the melted butter and bring to a simmer.
    • Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cocoa powder. Mix well and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
    • Whisk together the Greek yogurt, eggs and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl.
    • Add the cooled cocoa mixture to the egg mixture and mix until well blended and smooth.
    • In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugars, baking powder and salt. Set to the side until needed.
      **Combine all the ingredients using a wire whisk.
    • Add the flour to the chocolate mixture and stir until well incorporated.
      *Be careful not to overmix!
    • Pour the chocolate batter into the prepared pan.
      **This is a thin batter, don't worry.
    • Bake on the middle rack of the preheated oven for 50 to 55 minutes or until a cake tester comes out with only a trace of batter attached.
    • Cool the finished cake on a wire rack until cool to the touch. Transfer the cooled cake to a cake dish for frosting.
      **Allow the cake to cool a little longer after removing it from the pan.

    Frosting

    • In the bowl of your stand mixer use the paddle attachment to beat the cream cheese until smooth.
    • Gradually add in the powdered sugar, the cream and vanilla.
      **Add more powdered sugar or cream as needed.
    • When the frosting is smooth and the cake has cooled, frost the top of the cake with the frosting.
      **The cake should resemble a pint of Guinness.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 544kcal | Carbohydrates: 86g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 327mg | Potassium: 173mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 65g | Vitamin A: 690IU | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

    More Restaurant-Style Cakes

    • Blueberry Coffee Cake
    • Double Chocolate Banana Bread
    • Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
    • Best Chocolate Cake Recipe

    About Chef Dennis

    Picture of Chef Dennis

    Chef Dennis is a semi-retired Chef, writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of A Culinary Journey with Chef Dennis aka Ask Chef Dennis®. Chef Dennis worked professionally in White Table Cloth Restaurants for 40 years and has been developing easy to make, restaurant-style recipes since 2009. The second phase of his reinvention from chef to blogger has earned him a place at the Worlds Dinner Table. Join him on his Culinary Journey enjoying his easy to make Restaurant Style recipes and travel adventures. For more details, check out his About page.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lois

      May 16, 2022 at 5:59 am

      Is the Greek yogurt plain flavored?

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        May 16, 2022 at 7:54 am

        plain or vanilla will work.

        Reply
    2. Marg

      March 18, 2022 at 1:12 pm

      5 stars
      Made this cake today & it’s delicious

      Thanks for sharing ur recipe

      Reply
    3. Emily

      March 16, 2022 at 5:41 pm

      4 stars
      Great recipe. I made it for work St patty’s day party. I did add a little vanilla to the icing. I felt it was lacking something.

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar


    My name is Dennis Littley or "Chef Dennis" as I'm known both at work and across the blogosphere. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

    More about me →

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Fan Favorites

    • Almost No-Knead Artisan Bread Recipe
    • Baked Maryland Crab Cakes Recipe
    • Chicken Parmesan Recipe
    • Best Baked Chicken Legs {Drumsticks}
    • German Bee Sting Cake (Bienenstich) Recipe
    • Best Tiramisu Recipe {step by step}
    • Easy Oven Baked Baby Back Ribs
    • Restaurant Style Veal Parm Recipe

    Featured In

    logos of all the places chef dennis has been featured

    Popular Posts

    • Best Baked Chicken Leg Quarters
    • Authentic Guinness Beef Stew Recipe
    • Maryland Style Jumbo Lump Crab Imperial
    • Best Chicken Salad – Deli Style
    • How to Make Restaurant Style Oysters Rockefeller
    • Easy Oven Baked Beef Brisket Recipe
    • Oven Roasted Rack of Pork {Pork Rib Roast}
    • Best Meatloaf Recipe

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    INFO

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    SUBSCRIBE

    Sign Up Today and start getting my easy-to-make restaurant-style recipes!

    CONTACT

    • About
    • Contact
    © 2009-2023 · Ask Chef Dennis ·

    Proud Member of:
    Mediavine Publisher Network
    483 shares
    • 366