Guinness Chocolate Cake: 1 Recipe…

Name: Guinness Chocolate Cake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: Irish
Ingredients: 1 cup Guinness; 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter; ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 2 cups granulated sugar; 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda; ¾ teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 2 large eggs; ½ cup buttermilk; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; Cream Cheese Frosting: 8 ounces cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar, ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Author: Olivia Bexley

December 5, 2025

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It’s hard to resist a good chocolate cake, right? That rich, fudgy, decadent slice of heaven is pure comfort food. I was always a sucker for a classic, but let me tell you, friends, I’ve found something *extra* special: Guinness Chocolate Cake. Yep, you heard me! This beauty infuses that lovely, dark Irish stout into a chocolate cake that’s just out of this world. It’s a total game-changer, and it’s perfect for any occasion. Seriously, the flavors are incredible – deep chocolate notes perfectly balanced with a hint of that signature Guinness character.

I first tasted this cake at a St. Patrick’s Day party years ago. A friend brought it, and, wow, I was hooked. I immediately needed the recipe! And now, I’m sharing it with you. So, ditch that boring dessert and get ready to bake something truly amazing. You won’t regret it!

Why You’ll Love This Guinness Chocolate Cake

Okay, listen up! This Guinness Chocolate Cake is going to become your new favorite. Here’s why:

Seriously delicious. The flavor is out of this world! Imagine a deep, rich chocolate taste with a hint of that Guinness magic.
It’s easier to make than you think! No crazy techniques or complicated steps here, I promise.
Perfect for any celebration! Birthdays, holidays, or just because – this cake is a total crowd-pleaser. Trust me.
That cream cheese frosting! Oh. My. Goodness. It’s the perfect complement to the chocolate and Guinness.

A slice of delicious Guinness Chocolate Cake with creamy white frosting on a white plate.

Ingredients for the Perfect Guinness Chocolate Cake

Alright, let’s get down to business! You’ll want to grab these ingredients before we get started on this insanely delicious Guinness Chocolate Cake. First up, we’ve got the cake part itself:

1 cup Guinness (that dark, lovely stuff!)
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened.
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I love a good dark one!)
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
¾ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs.
½ cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Next up, the frosting – you really can’t skip this part! Trust me:

Cream Cheese Frosting: 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar (sifted, if you want it super smooth!)
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Equipment You’ll Need

Okay, so before we dive in, let’s make sure you’ve got all your gear ready to go! You don’t want to get halfway through and realize you’re missing something, right? Trust me, I know! You’ll need these things for this epic Guinness Chocolate Cake:

9×13 inch baking pan (I love my trusty metal one!)
Medium saucepan
Large mixing bowl
Whisk
Electric mixer (hand mixer or stand mixer – whatever you’ve got!)
Rubber spatula

That’s it! Now we’re ready to get baking!

Step-by-Step Instructions: Making the Guinness Chocolate Cake

Alright, friends, let’s get this party started! Making this Guinness Chocolate Cake is super easy, I promise. Just follow these steps, and you’ll be enjoying a slice of heaven in no time. So, here we go:

First things first: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Seriously, don’t skip this! You want that oven nice and toasty before you even think about putting the cake in. Then, grease and flour your 9×13 inch baking pan. Make sure you get every nook and cranny. You don’t want the cake sticking!
In a medium saucepan, pour in the Guinness and add the butter. Put it over medium heat, and let the butter melt, stirring occasionally. Be careful, it can bubble up, so keep an eye on it! Then, once melted, whisk in the cocoa powder until it’s a smooth, gorgeous, chocolatey liquid.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Make sure it’s all mixed well – we don’t want any lumps!
Pour the lovely Guinness mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir just until everything is combined. Don’t overmix!
Add the eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract. Now, mix until the batter is smooth. Get rid of those pesky lumps, but don’t go crazy.
Pour the batter into your prepared pan. And bake it for 30-35 minutes. Check it with a toothpick – if it comes out clean (or with just a few moist crumbs), it’s done!
Let the cake cool completely before frosting. This is important! Trust me, hot cake + frosting = disaster. Patience, my friend!
For the frosting, beat the cream cheese and butter with your electric mixer until it’s smooth and perfectly blended. Then gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Mix until it’s, again, smooth and creamy.
Frost the cooled cake! And then… enjoy!

A delicious slice of Guinness Chocolate Cake on a white plate, showing layers and frosting.

Tips for Baking Success

Okay, so here are a few little tricks to make sure your Guinness Chocolate Cake comes out absolutely perfect. First, all your ingredients should ideally be at room temperature, especially the eggs and buttermilk. This helps everything mix together nicely and evenly. Make sure your oven is calibrated – sometimes ovens can be a little off. And finally, don’t overbake the cake! Nobody likes a dry cake. Trust your toothpick test!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Guinness Chocolate Cake

Okay, let’s chat about some of these ingredients, because a few are extra important! First, the Guinness itself. You *have* to use the real deal, friends. I know, it sounds obvious, but it’s the heart of this cake! It adds that lovely depth of flavor and keeps the cake moist. Now, on to cocoa powder. I always reach for a good quality unsweetened cocoa powder – the darker, the better! You get a richer chocolate flavor that way. If you only have Dutch-processed cocoa powder, that’ll work too, but the taste will be slightly different.

And then there’s the buttermilk. Seriously, don’t skip this one! It adds so much tenderness to the cake. If you don’t have any, you can make a quick substitute! Just add a tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to a cup of milk, let it sit for a few minutes, and *voila*! Instant buttermilk! Easy peasy.

A slice of Guinness Chocolate Cake on a plate, showing layers of cake and frosting.

Make-Ahead and Storage Tips for Your Guinness Chocolate Cake

Okay, so, life gets busy, and sometimes you can’t bake the cake right before you need it! No worries! This Guinness Chocolate Cake is totally make-ahead friendly. You can totally bake the cake a day (or two!) in advance. Just make sure it’s completely cooled, and then store it in an airtight container at room temperature. Don’t frost it until you’re ready to serve – it’ll stay fresher that way.

The frosting? You can whip that up a day ahead, too! Store it in the fridge in an airtight container, and give it a quick whisk before you frost the cake. And guess what? This cake also freezes beautifully! Wrap unfrosted cake layers tightly, and freeze for up to three months. Just thaw them in the fridge before frosting. Seriously, this recipe is a lifesaver!

Variations to Elevate Your Guinness Chocolate Cake

Okay, so we’ve got a fantastic base, but let’s have some fun! You can totally jazz up this Guinness Chocolate Cake however you like. Need some ideas? How about adding a layer of chocolate ganache between the cake layers? Sounds heavenly, right?

Or try adding a handful of chocolate chips or chopped walnuts into the batter for a little extra texture. For the frosting, add a tablespoon of instant espresso powder for a mocha twist! Mmm, now we are talking! Get creative, and make it your own! You really can’t go wrong.

Close-up of a slice of Guinness Chocolate Cake with creamy frosting on a wooden board.

Estimated Nutritional Information for Guinness Chocolate Cake

Okay, so, listen up! The nutritional info below is just an estimate, okay? It can vary depending on which brands of ingredients you use (and how big those slices are!). This is a treat, so enjoy it!

Here’s a rough idea, per slice:

Calories: Approximately 350
Fat: Around 20g
Saturated Fat: About 12g
Sugar: Roughly 35g
Sodium: Around 200mg
Protein: About 5g
Carbohydrates: Around 40g

Remember, these are estimates, and they’re not the most important thing. Just enjoy that delicious cake!

Frequently Asked Questions About Guinness Chocolate Cake

Got questions about this fabulous *Guinness Chocolate Cake*? I bet you do! It’s good to be prepared, so here are a few of the ones I hear most often. Hope this helps!

Can I taste the Guinness in this cake?

Oh yes! You absolutely taste it! Don’t worry, it doesn’t taste like straight-up beer, though! The Guinness adds a deep, almost coffee-like flavor, and it enhances the chocolate beautifully. It’s subtle yet essential. It gives the best depth of flavor!

What if I don’t have buttermilk?

No buttermilk? No problem! As I said before, you can totally make a substitute. Just add a tablespoon of either lemon juice or white vinegar to a cup of regular milk. Let it sit for a few minutes, and *boom*! You have something that works great!

Can I use a different kind of stout?

While the recipe works best with Guinness, you certainly can experiment! The key is to find a dark stout with a similar flavor profile. Just keep in mind that the flavor might vary slightly depending, naturally!