<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.remain-silent.com/cm/myplate/chocguinesscake/chocguinesscake.jpg" alt="Choc guiness cake" width="400" height="255" /></p>
While I was on holiday the dear coquette and dove blogged about an <a href="http://cravenmaven.wordpress.com/2010/07/01/guest-post-afternoon-tea-with-coquette-dove/">English afternoon tea</a>. One of the treats she recommended was a chocolate Guinness cake...so this past week I decided to take a crack at it, following <a href="http://www.cheftalk.com/forum/thread/11349/recipe-for-guiness-chocolate-cake">this recipe</a>.

<em>Ingredients:</em>

<em>225 9 (8 oz) unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
350 9 (12 oz) soft brown sugar
2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda
4 eggs, beaten
400 ml (14 fl oz) stout (Guinness) - I didn't have any so used Brooklyn Brown Ale!!
225 9 (8 oz) plain flour
100g (4 oz) cocoa </em>

<em>Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/350°F /gas 4. Butter a 20-25 cm (8-10 in) deep cake tin. </em>

<em> </em>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.remain-silent.com/cm/myplate/chocguinesscake/cgc-1.jpg" alt="cream butter and brown sugar" width="300" height="293" /></p>
Cream together the butter with the soft brown sugar.
<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.remain-silent.com/cm/myplate/chocguinesscake/cgc-2.jpg" alt="Slowly add egg" width="300" height="293" /></p>
Gradually add the beaten eggs.
<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.remain-silent.com/cm/myplate/chocguinesscake/cgc-3.jpg" alt="Sift flour and dry goods mix cocoa and guinness" width="300" height="293" /></p>
Sift together the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda. Mix the stout with the cocoa powder.
<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.remain-silent.com/cm/myplate/chocguinesscake/cgc-4.jpg" alt="add dry ingredients" width="300" height="293" /></p>
Now add the flour...
<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.remain-silent.com/cm/myplate/chocguinesscake/cgc-5.jpg" alt="Add some of the guiness cocoa mix" width="300" height="293" /></p>
,,,and stout mixes alternately to the butter and eggs...
<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.remain-silent.com/cm/myplate/chocguinesscake/cgc-6.jpg" alt="Add more dry ingredients" width="300" height="293" /></p>
...and flour until completely and evenly bound.
<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.remain-silent.com/cm/myplate/chocguinesscake/cgc-7.jpg" alt="add last of cocoa guinness mix and combine" width="300" height="293" /></p>
You will find the consistency to be quite soft.
<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.remain-silent.com/cm/myplate/chocguinesscake/cgc-8.jpg" alt="sneak in a handful of semi-sweet chocolate chips" width="300" height="293" /></p>
I snuck in a couple handfuls of semi-sweet chocolate chips!
<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.remain-silent.com/cm/myplate/chocguinesscake/cgc-9.jpg" alt="Put in a greased 8 inch pan" width="300" height="293" /></p>
Spoon into the prepared tin and bake in the oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until set.

<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.remain-silent.com/cm/myplate/chocguinesscake/cgc-10.jpg" alt="remove from oven and cool on a tray" width="300" height="293" /></p>
You may need to cover with a piece of brown paper after an hour to prevent it browning too much.Allow to cool before removing from the tin. The stout cake is now ready - add icing if desired!

The result is a rich boozy smelling cake. Great with tea, coffee, or a dollop of whipped or clotted cream. Yum! Why don't you have a crack at it this weekend? You won't regret it!

Have a good one folks!

<i>cake image atop by<a href="http://bakingforthecure.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/chocolate-stout-cake/"> baking for the cure</a></i>