Have I mentioned how much of a sucker I am for buying magazines in the grocery store checkout line? Why don’t I just subscribe? Because if I did, my mailbox would be FULL OF MAGAZINES every day!!!! So I have tried to trim it down to buying one per week. One of my favorites is Taste Of Home. And I’m giving away a one year’s subscription to Taste Of Home! See details at the bottom of this post on how to enter. 
As I was thumbing through the magazine, I spotted a recipe for a chocolate cake baked with Guinness stout……how perfect for St. Patrick’s Day! Guinness is a popular Irish stout ……a little too strong for my taste to drink, but it rocks in a cake!
It was just as fun making it as it was eating it (well, almost). There was something about the combination of the rich chocolate flavor and the stout that was incredible; you’ll have to make it and taste it for yourself because I just can’t explain it!
But since I’m giving something away today I feel like it’s okay if I rant a little about St. Patrick’s Day. You see, St. Patrick’s Day hasn’t been too “lucky” for me in the past & I try to overlook that it’s just a “date”.
One St. Patrick’s Day I was released from the hospital after a horrific pneumonia that lingered for months. Little did I know exactly one year later (to the day) my beloved boxer doggy “Ginger” would go to the Rainbow Bridge (yep, March 17th).
BOTH years were pretty tough times in my life and I wasn’t feeling too “lucky”. What I was (and still am) blessed with, though, is a few good true friends and family. So a big “shout out” to my peeps and family members who helped me. You know who you are.
Seeing a hot plate of food at dinner time when I was too short of breath to barely shower meant the UNIVERSE to me (and my hubby!). Kind words, cards, flowers & visiting touched my soul when I lost Ginger. I love you guys!
I vowed not to let those memories spoil any future St. Patrick’s holidays & I’m sticking to it! So let’s BAKE A BEER CAKE from Taste of Home Magazine!
Start with greasing a springform pan and placing parchment paper on the bottom part of the pan.
I greased the bottom of the pan also; it helped the parchment paper to “stick” better. I learned this trick to cutting parchment paper in a perfect “circle” for your pan here. Pretty nifty!
Set it aside & let’s get to the good stuff….you know the beer’s up next!
Melt a stick of cubed butter in 1 cup of Guinness beer over medium heat in a saucepan until it’s melted.
Taste of Home instructions were to use a SMALL saucepan but I soon found out that I would need a large one. So do yourself a favor & use a LARGER sized saucepan.
Once the beer and butter is melted, remove from heat and add sugar and cocoa powder. Using a whisk, stir well until it’s combined and not lumpy. Mix eggs, sour cream and vanilla in a bowl, then add to the cocoa mixture and stir well with the whisk again. Slowly add flour and baking soda; stirring away with the whisk until it’s combined and blended well.
Those little “bubbles” you see are from the beer–no lumpy batter! Bake at 350 degrees F for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle is removed clean. Cool completely and remove sides from the springform pan before frosting.
Meanwhile, make the cream cheese icing using your electric mixer…..you will blend cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, & heavy whipping cream. Details are on the recipe card below.
I just frosted the top of the cake and let it drizzle a little on the sides like I saw in the picture. Oh, and I added a little St. Patty’s festive bling with some pretty green sprinkles.
Now for the giveaway info…
This giveaway is open to participants with a USA address only. Winner will be chosen via random.org on Friday, March 16, 2012.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Guinness beer
- 1 stick of butter, cut into cubes
- 2 cups sugar
- 3/4 cup cocoa
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 2/3 cup sour cream
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- (1) 8 ounce package softened cream cheese
- 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spray springform pan with cooking spray & line bottom of pan with parchment paper.
- Over medium heat, heat butter and beer in a large saucepan until butter is completely melted; remove from heat.
- Using a whisk, stir in butter and sugar. Mix well.
- In a small bowl, mix eggs, sour cream and vanilla until blended.
- Pour egg mixture into saucepan and mix well; stirring with whisk.
- Add flour and baking soda Using whisk, stir until smooth.
- Bake for 45 minutes, or until toothpick inserted is removed clean.
- Place cake on wire rack & cool.
- Remove sides from springform pan and frost cake.
- Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese until fluffy.
- Add confectioners' sugar and heavy whipping cream.
- Beat on medium speed until blended well.
Source: Taste of Home
OK… Got you on this one… I am a Guinness FANATIC. I have one every night at 6:30. To say “stout beer” is like saying “beer beer” since stout IS a beer, albeit the best beer in the whole damn world… So erase the words “beer” and insert the words “stout” to be accurate…
I am, of course, rattling your cage. I don’t like chocolate but LOVE Guinness so may have to try this.
We were on a cruise last St. Patty’s day and they made an Irish Stew with Guinness and it was to die for. Got the recipe…
Also, on one of your “referral sites” I got a recipe for Rio Chicken that I made Sunday and it is to die for. I made a few slight changes but HIGHLY recommend…
Keep up the good work. I loved the commentary (sad, but good) with this recipe.
Happy Stout to You…
Leon
Yes Sir Dr. M!
You got me! I’d love to try the Irish stew. Thanks, I just somehow had to add that since it was so “coincidental” about St. Patrick’s Day. I’ll get the “beer” off…..LOL!
my favorite saint patrick’s day, when we took our son travis to the emerald isle festival about 15 years ago.
being irish we love st. patty’s day! growing up we had corn beef and cabbage. green frosted cupcakes or cookies are pretty typical in our home now! pop over to my page and sign up for a free 15 count box of LUNA bars! offer expires 3/30/12!
Taste of Home is my favorite food magazine! Great choice for your giveaway! Birds & Blooms and Taste of Home are the only 2 that I save for future reference. Will have to try this stout chocolate cake recipe, granddaddy Morton was 1/2 Irish. Sad to say he “over-indulged” till his last days, lol!
Love love taste of home magazine. Got it for my daughter and best friend! Navy wives!! Love the cake can’t wait too try it ..seems like I should do it tomorrow so it can sit a day and get happy!!
Sorry I’m late on posting the winner; we’re on the boat & it is such a beautiful morning! Congratulations Susan Bradshaw, lucky #5# generated by random.org! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!