Three-Layer Guiness Chocolate Cake- Cooking with Evie

My grandson, Graham, turned 5 this year .  He had quite a celebration since his birthday is so close to the Fourth of July.  His birthday cake was spectacular, also,

A Three-Layer Chocolate Cake.

My daughter, Evie, is a fabulous cook.  She is always cooking  great recipes she discovers on line and on Pinterest.  Just take a look at this cake.  

It tastes even better than it looks!

3 Layer Guinness-Chocolate Cake
by: Barrington Brewery, Great Barrington, MA - as seen in Bon Appetit September 2002
(from ouichefnetwork.com)

Ingredients for the cake:
2 cups stout (such as Guinness)

2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter

1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch-process)

4 cups all purpose flour

4 cups sugar

1 tablespoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

4 large eggs

1 1/3 cups sour cream

 for the icing:

2 cups whipping cream

1 pound bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped

Method:

For the cake:

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease three 8-inch round cake pans with 2-inch-high sides.

Bring 2 cups stout and 2 cups butter to simmer in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.

Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in large bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sour cream in another large bowl to blend. Add stout-chocolate mixture to egg mixture and beat just to combine. Add flour mixture and beat briefly on slow speed. Using rubber spatula, fold batter until completely combined. Divide batter equally among prepared pans.

Bake cakes until tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Transfer cakes to rack; cool 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto rack and cool completely.

For the icing:

Bring cream to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chopped chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Refrigerate until icing is spreadable, stirring frequently, about 2 hours.

Place 1 cake layer on plate. Spread 2/3 cup icing over. Top with second cake layer. Spread 2/3 cup icing over. Top with third cake layer. Spread remaining icing over top of cake.

Makes (at least) 12 servings!

Printable version: Three-Layer Guiness Chocolate Cake

This recipe has several steps, but it is well worth the extra effort.

 Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl to blend.

 Beat eggs and sour cream in another large bowl to blend.

 Melt 2 cups butter over medium heat.

 Add 2 cups stout to sauce pan,

Simmer over medium heat.

 Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth.  Set aside to cool slightly.

 Set up electric mixer with egg mixture that was set aside.

 Add stout-chocolate mixture to egg mixture and beat until just combined.

 Add flour mixture gradually and beat after each addition.

 Continue adding flour about 1/3 at a time.

 Fold batter until completely combined.

 Divide batter into three pans, and bake about 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

 Recruit a good dish washer.  (Again, it is well worth the effort.)

Cool cake completely.

For the frosting:

Bring cream to a simmer in a heavy, medium sized sauce pan.

Add chocolate pieces.

Remove from heat.

Whisk until melted and smooth.

Refrigerate until icing is spreadable, stirring frequently, about 2 hours.

Place one cake layer on plate, and spread 2/3 cup icing over.
Top with second cake layer, and spread with another 2/3 cup icing.
Then, top with third layer and spread remaining icing over cake.

Happy Birthday to Graham!

Enjoy!

 Evie and Ceci.

 Evie and family.

Happy Birthday!