Guinness Chocolate Cake Recipe: Rich Irish Beer Dessert 2026

This Guinness chocolate cake is a dream for anyone who loves deep, dark chocolate. The stout brings incredible moisture to the crumb, boosts the cocoa flavor, and intensifies the color, giving you a sponge that is dense without being heavy and wonderfully wet.

What makes it so special is the look: it resembles a pint of stout, so we crown it with a light frosting that imitates that signature creamy foam. It comes together in just 45 minutes and is impossible to resist.

Ingredients for Guinness Chocolate Cake

Makes 12 servings

• 130 g unsalted butter
• 120 g Guinness stout
• 25 g unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 medium eggs
• 150 g white sugar
• 90 g crème fraîche
• 140 g all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Half a teaspoon salt
• 200 g cold heavy cream (at least 35% fat)
• 100 g cold crème fraîche
• 80 g sifted powdered sugar

How to Make Guinness Chocolate Cake Step by Step

1. Grease the pan and preheat the oven

Grease a 20 cm (8-inch) diameter pan with butter and set it aside. Preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F) with heat from both top and bottom.

2. Heat the butter with the beer

Place 130 grams of unsalted butter and 120 grams of Guinness stout in a saucepan and bring to medium heat until the butter melts completely.

3. Add the cocoa and mix

Remove from the heat and pour in 25 grams of unsweetened cocoa powder. Whisk until no lumps remain, then let this mixture cool completely.

4. Mix the eggs with the sugar and crème fraîche

In a bowl, mix 2 medium eggs, 150 grams of white sugar, and 90 grams of crème fraîche until well combined.

5. Add the beer mixture and mix well

Once the beer mixture has cooled, pour it over the egg mixture and stir to combine.

6. Sift the dry ingredients

Sift 140 grams of all-purpose flour together with 1 teaspoon of baking soda and half a teaspoon of salt. Fold it fully into the batter.

7. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes

Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.

8. Let it cool completely on a rack

Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Then transfer it to a wire rack and let it cool completely.

9. Make the frosting

Once the cake has cooled, make the frosting. Put 200 grams of cold heavy cream, 100 grams of cold crème fraîche, and 80 grams of sifted powdered sugar in a bowl. Whip with a whisk at medium speed for about 5 minutes until you have a firm cream.

10. Cover the cake with the frosting

Spread the frosting generously over the top of the cooled cake, swirling it so it looks like the foam on a pint of stout.

11. Serve

Slice and serve the cake, or chill it briefly so the frosting sets before cutting.

Tips for the Best Guinness Chocolate Cake

Let the beer mixture cool fully

Cool the butter and beer mixture completely before pouring it over the eggs, or the heat could cook them. Patience here keeps the batter smooth and even.

Try a lighter frosting

This cream and crème fraîche frosting is lighter and less sweet than a classic cream cheese topping, which balances the dense chocolate sponge beautifully. You can also serve the cake without any frosting, and it is still delicious.

Make it a day ahead

You can serve the cake right after making it, but it improves enormously if made a day ahead, as the flavors settle and it becomes even richer. In that case, keep the frosting in the fridge and add it to the cake just before serving.

30 Top Dishes I Enjoy Cooking at Home

Much like me, you probably like having a rotation of fuss-free comfort dishes, well-known global plates, and desserts that please a crowd.

When a rich, indulgent treat is what I'm after, I tend to reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And any time a fruity, cozy dessert sounds good, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my go-to.

On mornings when I want something quick and on lighter days, I'll whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple to keep in the pantry, I'm fond of making this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe.

For tapas nights and Mediterranean flavors, I switch between this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crunchy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion calls for something a bit fancier.

Come lunchtime cravings or a cozy evening meal, I'm quick to suggest this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. Should I be after something more substantial, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Any time street-food style or party-ready plates are calling, I'll usually fix this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine to set out as a light starter or snack.

And when drinks plus a whole spread are on the agenda for company, I'll typically serve dinner alongside this cooling Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. Then to fill out the table, I like to add this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side or finish things off with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Additional Tasty Recipes to Cook for Loved Ones

After years of trying and tweaking recipes in my own kitchen, I've come to see that the greatest dishes balance ease, dependable methods, and big flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the very ones I keep coming back to, time and again—whether I'm throwing together a fast meal just for me or putting on something memorable for friends and family.

For a sweet finish, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I turn to whenever I want something elegant yet effortless. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, inspired by the famous Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe shows exactly how I make it at home.

Whenever something light and uncomplicated is what I'm craving, I reach for the familiar Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For fuller comfort meals, I'm quick to point to the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm equally fond of passing along dishes rooted in tradition from across the globe, among them the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crisp Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the timeless Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I return to often, since it cuts down on time while still delivering excellent texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that baked pasta classics can still be indulgent, cheesy, and deeply satisfying minus the gluten.

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