Chocolate Guinness Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

While definitely a cake inspired by St. Patrick’s Day, this insanely delicious cake is worthy of every celebration. It’s my birthday cake of choice and should be yours and everyone you love too.

Recipe:

• 1 cup/ 250ml Guinness

• 2 stick + 1 tablespoon/250g unsalted butter

• 1 cup/80g cocoa powder

• 2 cups/ 400g superfine or regular sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 cup +1 tablespoon/ 140ml buttermilk

• 2 cups/ 280g cake flour or all-purpose flour ( sifted before

• 2 teaspoons baking soda

• ½ teaspoon baking powder

• ½ teaspoon fine sea salt

Cream Cheese frosting:

• 5oz/ 140g full-fat cream cheese

• 1/2 stick/ 60g salted butter, softened

• 3 cups 300g sifted icing sugar / confectioners’ sugar, sifted

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• A splash of milk or cream

Preheat the oven to 375°F/180°C. Butter a 9” cake pan or springform pan and place a round of parchment on the bottom of the pan.

Place the Guinness and butter in a saucepan and bring to a simmer until the butter is melted. Set aside to cool.

In a bowl, whisk the sugar and cocoa powder together. Pour in the Guinness and butter mixture and whisk until well combined. In a measuring jug, measure the buttermilk and add the eggs and vanilla extract. Whisk until well combined and then whisk into the sugar/ butter mixture. Place the flour, baking soda and powder and salt in a stand mixer, add the liquid mixture slowly and mix until just combined. Pour the cake batter into the prepared cake pan. Bake for 40 minutes (check at 35minutes). Cool completely before icing.

For the icing:

Whisk the butter and cream cheese together in a stand mixer using the whisk attachment. Add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla extract and a splash of cream and beat again.