so here it is…

i think this is a 12 inch but you could use smaller..

then:

butter – 250gms. (you dont need a small child with a green knife to cut it) but cut it up into small chunks..

melt in a saucepan on a fairly low heat with the 

you need 250ml of Guiness, i use the draught…but have used guiness stout before, it works out ok. Problem in my house is getting it into the cake before it gets put in a pint glass and drunk!

doesnt that look awesome..er..yes i know it is in a baby bottle..just for measuring..they are handy for that you know ;P

once you have melted the butter and guiness in the pan, take off the heat and add 400gms of caster sugar..yes 400gms..this cake is not going to make it onto the weightwatchers list im afraid and 75gms of cocoa powder (use the for cooking stuff not the drinking chocolate, it has added sugar and takes away from the chocolaty-ness)

once the sugar is dissolved. Beat (in a separate bowl)142ml sour cream, 2 eggs and 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract…so it goes from something like this..

to this:

then add to the beery buttery mixture:

you probably want to dip you finger in have a little taste right about now…..unless you are allergic to raw egg…

then…

it would be bad….

now measure out 275gms of plain flour and 2and a half teaspoons of bicarb of soda.

and then add it to your mixture and mix it in…

to something like this..it looks very bubbly..i think its probably the guiness but it might just be the way i mix it. either way a bit of air in there is good.

pour into your prepared tin and then stick in the oven for 45 mins (ish) at about 180degrees/gas mark 4. once out, leave to cool in tin. 

yum yum…black chocolate perfectness…

you can leave it without the topping but i think the topping really makes it. You want to start this really once the cake is cold. Best to get it straight on.

you need 300gms cream cheese.

whisk into a creamy consistency..

then add 150gms of sifted icing sugar..

whisk together until smooth

then add 125ml double cream or whipping cream..

yes yes yes..i do actually have 'actual' measuring jugs, i think one of them has no numbers left on it thanks to mr dishwasher and the other was full of frothy milk thanks to mr coffee maker…

should eventually look a bit like this…

then all thats left to do, if you can stop eating great spoonfuls of it, is put it on the cake

a bit like this to resemble the great pint itself..but have to say you should probably just stop with the fancy stuff, get a huge brew and dig right in…

and there you have it…chocolate guiness cake. Perfect for a fantastic treat or when you want to bless someone who might need a big extra special chocolate cake kinda hug…you know the sort i mean…

quick run through of the ingredients…

250ml guiness

250gm butter unsalted

75g cocoa powder

400g caster sugar

142ml sour cream ( if you cant get one of that exact amount, use about half ish of a 300ml one..if it goes over a bit just makes the cake that much more moist!)

2 eggs

1 tablespoon of vanilla extract

275g plain flour

2and half teaspoons of bicarb of soda

topping

300ml cream cheese ( i used a normal shop brand one but philly is probably best but the others work just as well so budgets go for the cheaper!)

150gm icing sugar

125mls double or whipping cream.

enjoy!