Chocolate Guinness cake

Chocolate Guinness cake is a rich and intense dessert, where the bitter note of the famous Irish dark beer marries beautifully with the flavor of cocoa. Here is a version with an Italian touch of this exquisite cake.

Ingredients

• 250 ml of Guinness beer
• 250 g of unsalted butter
• 75 g of cocoa powder
• 400 g of caster sugar
• 140 ml of sour cream
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
• 280 g of flour
• 2 teaspoons of baking soda
• 1 pinch of salt

For the icing:

• 150 g of cream cheese (like Philadelphia)
• 50 g of soft butter
• 150 g of icing sugar
• 2 tablespoons of sour cream

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C. Butter and flour a round springform cake tin about 23 cm in diameter.
2. Pour the Guinness into a saucepan and add the butter in pieces. Heat over medium-low heat until the butter melts, then remove from heat.
3. Add the cocoa and sugar to the beer and butter mixture and mix well until you have a homogeneous mixture.
4. In a separate bowl, lightly beat the sour cream with the eggs and vanilla extract, then add to the chocolate mixture.
5. In another bowl, mix the flour with the baking soda and salt. Incorporate these dry ingredients into the liquid mixture, mixing well until you have a smooth and lump-free batter.
6. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for about 45-60 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
7. Let the cake cool completely on a wire rack.
8. For the icing, beat the cream cheese with the soft butter, then incorporate the icing sugar and sour cream until you have a smooth and spreadable mixture.
9. When the cake is cold, spread the icing on the surface, creating a smooth or wavy effect, as you like.

Trivia

The Guinness cake is a classic of Irish pastry and is often prepared for St. Patrick’s Day. The white icing represents the “foam” of the beer and contrasts beautifully with the dark base of the dessert.

To match something Italian and add a more personal touch, you could decorate with candied orange peels, whose citrus aroma pairs well with the depth of the chocolate and beer.