chocolate guinness cake

when I heard nigella lawson on npr describing her chocolate guinness cake, I knew I had to try it out for st. patty's day.  it was surprisingly delicious, with a hint of guinness flavor. I iced the top only so that it would resemble a pint of guinness. I might just make this a tradition every st. patrick's day.                                                                                                                    

chocolate guinness cake by nigella lawson

ingredients for the cake:

1 cup guinness
1 stick plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups superfine sugar
3/4 cup sour cream
2 eggs
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

ingredients for the frosting:

8 oz  cream cheese
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar (sifted)
1/2 cup heavy cream

preheat the over to 350 F, and butter and line a 9 inch springform pan.

pour the guinness into a large wide saucepan, add the butter and heat until the butter's melted. next, whisk in the cocoa and sugar. beat the sour cream with the eggs and vanilla and then pour into the pan. after that is mixed, whisk in the flour and baking soda. make sure all the lumps are out.

pour the cake batter into the greased and lined pan and bake for 45 minutes to an hour. let cool completely in the pan on a cooling rack.

to make the frosting, lightly whip the cream cheese until smooth, sift the confectioner's sugar and then beat them both together.

add the cream and beat again until it makes a spreadable consistency. ice the top of the cake so that it resembles the frothy top of a pint of guinness.

Makes about 12 slices