This Chocolate Beer Layer Cake is rich, dark, and impossibly moist — thanks to a generous pour of stout or porter baked right into the batter.

The beer deepens the chocolate flavor, adds subtle bitterness to balance the sweetness, and makes each bite ridiculously tender.

Frost it with whipped ganache or cream cheese frosting, stack it high, and serve it with a pint. This cake means business.

Ingredients

For two 9-inch cake layers

Dry:

• 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (Dutch-processed preferred)
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt

Wet:

• 1 cup stout beer (Guinness or chocolate stout recommended)
• ½ cup buttermilk
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract

Beer Tip: Go with a dry stout, chocolate porter, or oatmeal stout. No hoppy IPAs — they’ll clash with the chocolate.

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat & Prep

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Grease and line two 9″ round cake pans with parchment paper.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

Step 3: Mix Wet Ingredients

In a second bowl, whisk together beer, buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.

Step 4: Combine

Add the wet ingredients to the dry and whisk until just combined — batter will be thin.

Step 5: Bake

• Divide batter evenly between pans.
• Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.
• Cool completely before removing from pans and frosting.

Frosting Options

🥃 Stout Ganache Frosting

• 8 oz dark chocolate, chopped
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ¼ cup stout beer
• 2 tbsp butter

Heat cream, beer, and butter until just steaming. Pour over chocolate, let sit 2 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Chill until spreadable.

🍫 Cream Cheese Cocoa Frosting

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup butter, softened
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• 1–2 tbsp beer or milk to thin
• 1 tsp vanilla

Whip until fluffy and smooth. Slather generously between layers and over the top.

Serving Suggestions

• Top With:
  • Chocolate shavings
  • Crushed pretzels or sea salt flakes
  • Candied bacon or beer-caramel drizzle
• Serve With:
  • A glass of the same beer used in the cake
  • Espresso or bourbon
  • Vanilla bean ice cream

Beer Pairing

• In the cake:
  • Guinness
  • Milk stout
  • Chocolate or coffee porter
• In the glass:
  • Same beer as in the batter
  • Barrel-aged stout for intensity
  • Sweet porter for dessert harmony

🍰 Tasty Beer Desserts & Sweet Treats

From rich stouts to light lagers, beer brings depth, moisture, and a malty twist to desserts you never knew needed it. These recipes prove beer belongs at the end of the meal, too.

🍺 Beer Desserts & Sweets (Main Hub) – Cakes, donuts, floats, sauces, and more — all with a beer-kissed twist.

🍫 Chocolate, Cakes & Bakes

🍫 Stout Chocolate Brownies – Fudgy, dense, and dark with rich stout flavor.
🎂 Chocolate Beer Layer Cake – Decadent layers infused with malty beer.
🍰 Prairie Beer Cake – A rustic Midwestern classic made with golden ale.
🧁 Beer Cupcakes (Irish Car Bomb Style) – Guinness, whiskey, and Bailey’s-inspired cupcake magic.
🍪 Beer Cookies – Soft, chewy cookies with hoppy undertones.

🍮 Elegant, Creamy, or Custardy

🍮 Pumpkin Ale Crème Brûlée – Silky fall dessert with caramel crunch and spiced ale notes.
🍮 Stout Chocolate Crème Brûlée – Rich custard layered with stout and chocolate.
🥧 Lager Crust Apple Tart – A crisp tart shell made with lager for a flaky finish.
🍫 Guinness Chocolate Pudding – Dark, creamy, and decadently rich with roasted malt character.
🍺 Beer Jelly – Sweet and spreadable with a hint of hops.
🍺 Beer Caramel Sauce – Buttery, boozy drizzle for everything from ice cream to waffles.

🍩 Fried, Fluffy, & Breakfast-Inspired

🍩 Citrus Ricotta Beer Donuts – Bright, tangy, and irresistibly soft.
🍩 Beer Fried Dough with Cinnamon Sugar – Funnel cake vibes with beer-lifted dough.
🍺 Pale Ale Crepes with Lime Zest Whipped Cream – Light and airy crepes with a citrusy kick.

🍦 Frozen Treats & Floatable Fun

🍨 Stout Ice Cream – Creamy, dark, and slightly bitter — made for adults only.
🥤 Guinness Floats – The grown-up root beer float, bold and foamy.
🥤 Beer Milkshakes – Boozy, thick, and totally unexpected.

Final Thoughts

Chocolate Beer Layer Cake is dark, decadent, and layered with real depth — the kind of dessert that tastes as rich as it looks.

With moist crumb, bold cocoa, and beer-laced flavor in every bite, this cake is a celebration in itself.

Cheers to stacking your cake and drinking it too! 🍫🍺🎂

Explore Our Top Cooking-with-Beer Recipes 🍺 🍺

From crispy beer-battered classics to bold mains, cheesy dips, breads, and even desserts — these roundups bring together the best of beer-infused cooking. Whether you’re hosting a game day, planning a backyard BBQ, or just experimenting in the kitchen, there’s a beer recipe collection for every craving.

• 🍽️ Cooking with Beer (Main Hub) – Your ultimate guide to cooking with beer, from mains to apps and desserts.
• 🥨 Beer-Battered Appetizers and Sides – – Crispy onion rings, fried pickles, mushrooms, zucchini, & more pub-style favorites with a golden beer crunch.
• 🍞 Beer Bread Recipes – From 2-ingredient quick breads to jalapeño cheese loaves.
• 🧀 Beer Cheese & Dips – Beer cheese soup, queso, nachos, ranch dip & more.
• 🍖 Beer Can Chicken & Grilled Mains – Bold, juicy recipes straight from the grill.
• 🌶️ Beer Infused Chili’s – Hearty, bold, and slow-simmered beer-infused chili.
• 🍻 Beer Mac & Cheese – Creamy, quick& easy, made to impress.
• 🍰 Beer-Infused Desserts & Sweets – Sweet treats made better with beer.
• 🎉 Oktoberfest & Seasonal Ideas – Perfect pairings for parties, fall feasts, and festive gatherings.