Guinness Beer Chocolate Cake

The three-layer dessert right here definitely catches everyone's attention around the Thanksgiving table. Thanksgiving isn't always about turkeys, mashed potato, cranberry sauce and bean casserole! I started my thanksgiving day cooking with this beautiful Stout Chocolate Cake. The stout acts merely as an additional bittersweet taste to it as the alcohol evaporates during the process. It was my first attempt to bake it, but it turned out really moist and soft even though I did not set a bowl of water during the baking process. I got this recipe from ouichefnetwork.com. Although this one does not appear to be as sturdy as the ouichefnetwork cake, I'm pretty satisfied with this one.

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

• 2 cups whipping cream

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

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Butter three 8-inch round cake pans with 2-inch-high sides. Line with parchment paper. Butter paper.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.

For the icing:

1. 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.
2. 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.

Source:
http://www.ouichefnetwork.com/oui_chef/2012/01/3-layer-guinness-chocolate-cake.html

Icing the second tier

I did not bother cutting the rounded top of each tear, because I was running out of time. But cutting them off would definitely help fixing its appearance and posture.

Final product

Choco and Booze!

Alice