Few desserts evoke the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day quite like chocolate Guinness cake. Dark, rich and crowned with a cloud of creamy frosting, the cake mirrors the look of a freshly poured pint of Guinness.
Though rooted in Ireland’s love of stout, the chocolate Guinness cake itself is a relatively modern classic that has found fans around the world. Rich, moist and chocolatey, the cake gets added depth from stout, which enhances the cocoa flavour without tasting noticeably of beer.
Its popularity has grown well beyond Ireland, appearing in cookbooks and kitchens from celebrated chefs like Nigella Lawson to Yotam Otttolenghi. For many bakers, it has become a go-to dessert for March celebrations — comforting, dramatic and surprisingly easy to make.
Classic Chocolate Guinness Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 cup Guinness stout
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- ¾ cup cocoa powder
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ⅔ cup sour cream
- 2 large eggs
- 2½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 2½ teaspoons baking soda
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 10 oz about 1¼ cups cream cheese, softened
- 1¼ cups icing sugar
- 2 tsps cornstarch
- ½ cup whipping cream 35%
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Butter and line a 9 inch springform tin.
- Pour the Guinness into a large wide saucepan, add the butter — in spoons or slices — and heat over medium-high until butter is melted. Whisk in the cocoa and sugar. Turn temperature to low.
- In a separate bowl, beat the sour cream with the eggs and vanilla. Slowly stir contents into the saucepan and gently whisk in flour and baking soda.
- Pour the cake batter into the greased and lined tin and bake for 45 minutes to an hour. Leave to cool completely in the tin on a cooling rack.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Lightly whip the cream cheese until smooth, sieve over the icing sugar and cornstarch and then beat to combine.
- If using double cream, add it and beat until you have a spreadable consistency. If using whipping cream, whisk first to soft peaks, add a couple of spoonfuls into the cream cheese mixture and once this is combined, fold in the rest.
- Ice the top of the cooled cake so that it resembles the frothy top of the famous pint.
Where to try Chocolate Guinness Cake in Ireland
For travellers exploring Ireland’s food scene, tasting the cake locally adds another layer to the experience (no pun intended). Across the country, cafés and bakeries reinterpret the dessert, blending traditional baking with Ireland’s most famous stout.
Teach Nan Phaidí – Inis Mór
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On Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, visitors can find chocolate Guinness cake at the charming café Teach Nan Phaidí. Reaching the island requires a ferry or a short flight from nearby Connemara — a journey that feels wonderfully remote. After exploring ancient stone forts and windswept cliffs, sitting down for a slice of rich chocolate cake in a cosy cottage café feels like the perfect reward.
Teach Nan Phaidí
Kilmurvey, Inis Mor
Aran Islands
Anantara at The Marker – Dublin
In Dublin, a more polished take can be found at Anantara at The Marker. Their “Poetry and Places” afternoon tea celebrates Irish culture through elegant pastries and desserts. One highlight is a chocolate Guinness cake crafted to resemble a perfect pint of the famous stout — a playful tribute to Ireland’s iconic brew.
Anantara at the Marker
Grand Canal Quay
Docklands, Dublin
Alchemy Café – Cork
Meanwhile in Cork — often called Ireland’s unofficial food capital — Alchemy Coffee pairs its chocolate Guinness cake with specialty coffee in a creative, art-filled space. Located on Barrack Street, the café and bookstore has built a loyal local following thanks to its handmade baking and community-focused vibe.
Alchemy Coffee and Bookstore
123 Barrack St
The Lough, Cork
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