Guinness Chocolate Cake is a dessert of Irish origin made with dark beer and cocoa, filled with a rich, rich mascarpone cream. It has a moist, chocolatey texture, reminiscent of fudge cake, but is characterized by a slightly toasted, bitter aftertaste, imparted by the beloved beverage. Dramatic and impressive, it's perfect for a snack or to serve during St. Patrick's Day.
The cake's dark crust and dense, white cream are reminiscent of a pint of Guinness, from which the dessert takes its name. It's very simple to make, and from the first bite, you'll feel like you've been transported to a traditional Irish coffee shop on St. Patrick's Day. Brown sugar and butter are whipped together until fluffy and creamy; then add eggs, plenty of cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, and finally the indispensable Guinness.
Once baked, the cake is left to cool, then cut in half and filled with a generous layer of mascarpone, cream cheese, and powdered sugar. The final coating doesn't need to be precise, but spread irregularly to simulate the foam of a drink.
Where Did Guinness Cake Originate?
Guinness cake is a relatively modern dessert inspired by Ireland’s most famous stout. The recipe likely emerged in the late 20th century, when cooks began experimenting with using dark beer in baking to enhance chocolate desserts. Guinness, with its roasted malt flavor and slightly bitter notes, pairs naturally with cocoa, giving cakes a deeper, richer taste. While the dessert isn’t an old traditional Irish recipe, it became widely popular through British and Irish cookbooks and television chefs—most notably Nigella Lawson, whose chocolate Guinness cake helped introduce the idea to a broader audience. Today, it’s often associated with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, combining the iconic Irish stout with the familiar comfort of a rich chocolate cake.
Is Guinness Cake Alcoholic?
Guinness cake is not considered alcoholic once it’s baked. The batter typically includes Guinness stout, but during baking the alcohol largely evaporates because of the high oven temperature and the length of cooking time. What remains is the beer’s flavor — the roasted, slightly bitter notes that deepen the taste of chocolate in the cake. In other words, Guinness in the recipe works more like a flavoring ingredient than an alcoholic component, which is why the dessert is generally treated the same way as other baked goods that use beer or wine in the batter.
What Type of Beer is Best for Guinness Cake?
The best beer for a Guinness cake is a stout, ideally Guinness itself, because its flavor profile is exactly what the recipe is designed around. Guinness is a dry Irish stout, known for its roasted barley notes, mild bitterness, and hints of coffee and chocolate, flavors that pair naturally with cocoa in the cake batter and deepen the overall taste.
If Guinness isn’t available, other dark stouts or porters can work as substitutes. Look for beers with similar roasted, malty characteristics rather than anything too sweet or heavily flavored. Classic examples include Irish stout, milk stout, or a balanced chocolate stout. The key is choosing a beer that adds richness and complexity without overpowering the dessert.
Ingredients
How to Make Chocolate Guinness Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting
Sift the flour, cocoa and baking powder.
Sift the flour, cocoa and baking powder.
In a bowl, place the soft butter and the brown sugar.
In a bowl, place the soft butter and the brown sugar.
Beat with an electric whisk or a stand mixer until the mixture becomes frothy.
Beat with an electric whisk or a stand mixer until the mixture becomes frothy.
Add the eggs one at a time and continue beating with an electric whisk..
Add the eggs one at a time and continue beating with an electric whisk..
Add the sifted powders and continue mixing with the whisk or with a hand spatula.
Add the sifted powders and continue mixing with the whisk or with a hand spatula.
Pour the beer.
Pour the beer.
The Guinness cake batter is well mixed.
The Guinness cake batter is well mixed.
Pour the mixture into a round mold, buttered and dusted with cocoa.
Pour the mixture into a round mold, buttered and dusted with cocoa.
The Guinness cake is ready to be baked at 355°F/180°C for about 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.
The Guinness cake is ready to be baked at 355°F/180°C for about 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.
In a bowl, combine the mascarpone with the spreadable cheese and the icing sugar.
In a bowl, combine the mascarpone with the spreadable cheese and the icing sugar.
Mix until you get a compact and fluffy cream.
Mix until you get a compact and fluffy cream.
Divide the cake in half.
Divide the cake in half.
Spread the filling evenly over the base of the cake.
Spread the filling evenly over the base of the cake.
Cover with the other half of the cake.
Cover with the other half of the cake.
Using a spatula, spread the cream cheese creating a sort of tufts that simulate foam.
Using a spatula, spread the cream cheese creating a sort of tufts that simulate foam.
Let the Guinness cake rest for an hour in the refrigerator.
Let the Guinness cake rest for an hour in the refrigerator.
Slice and enjoy!
Slice and enjoy!
Storage Instructions
Guinness cake can be stored at room temperature for 3 days before filling. Once decorated, you can store it in the refrigerator, in an airtight container, for 2 days.
Can I Freeze Chocolate Guinness Cake?
Yes, Guinness cake freezes very well, which makes it a good make-ahead dessert. Let the cake cool completely first, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and place it in an airtight container or freezer bag. Stored this way, it can keep in the freezer for up to about 2–3 months without losing much quality. It's best to add the cream cheese frosting upon thawing!
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