Chocolate Guinness Cake


By Nigella Lawson


Total Time
1 hour 15 minutes

For me, a chocolate cake is the basic unit of celebration. The chocolate Guinness cake here is simple but deeply pleasurable, and has earned its place as a stand-alone treat


Ingredients

Yield:One 9-inch cake or 12 servings

    For the Cake

    • Butter, for the pan
    • 1 cup Guinness stout
    • 10 tablespoons (1 stick plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter (see Tip)
    • ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa
    • 2 cups superfine sugar
    • ¾ cup sour cream
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 2½ teaspoons baking soda

    For the Topping

    • 1¼ cups confectioners' sugar
    • 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
    • ½ cup heavy cream

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    For the cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and line with parchment paper. In a large saucepan, combine Guinness and butter. Place over medium-low heat until butter melts, then remove from heat. Add cocoa and superfine sugar, and whisk to blend.

  2. Step 2

    In a small bowl, combine sour cream, eggs and vanilla; mix well. Add to Guinness mixture. Add flour and baking soda, and whisk again until smooth. Pour into buttered pan, and bake until risen and firm, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Place pan on a wire rack and cool completely in pan.

  3. Step 3

    For the topping: Using a food processor or by hand, mix confectioners' sugar to break up lumps. Add cream cheese and blend until smooth. Add heavy cream, and mix until smooth and spreadable.

  4. Step 4

    Remove cake from pan and place on a platter or cake stand. Ice top of cake only, so that it resembles a frothy pint of Guinness.

Tip
  • The recipe for this cake in Nigella Lawson's cookbook "Feast: Food to Celebrate Life" (Hyperion, 2004) calls for 18 tablespoons (2 sticks plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter.
Nutritional analysis per serving (12 servings)

512 calories; 26 grams fat; 15 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 7 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 66 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 46 grams sugars; 6 grams protein; 345 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.