Yes, I Like Booze and Chocolate. WHY DO YOU ASK?

I don't like beer.

For drinking, that is. I love it in food, particularly baked goods-type food. And yeah, I know; Guinness isn't beer. It's Guinness. But still! It's a malty beverage; it sort of counts.

I've made this cake several times over the last few weeks. I love it to bits, and it only gets better if you let it age for a day or two. I also like it best when it's unfrosted, though a simple chocolate ganache or coconut rum cream cheese frosting work beautifully, too.

Adapted from Nigella Lawson, I give you:

Chocolate Guinness Cake

Ingredients:

1 c Guinness stout
1 stick unsalted butter
3/4 c cocoa powder (the darker and higher quality, the more delicious the cake)
2 c granulated sugar (Lawson calls for superfine; regular granulated works just as well)
3/4 c sour cream (or plain/Greek style yogurt works well, too)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla (Lawson calls for 1 Tbs; I don't use that much)
2 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda (Lawson calls for 2 1/2 tsp; I think that's waaaaay too much)
1 c chocolate chips (optional - I like this option Very Much)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch cake pan. (Lawson says to use a springform with parchment paper, but meh. I use a regular cake pan and am generous with the butter; it works fine.)
2. Microwave butter and Guinness until butter is mostly melted; whisk until butter is completely melted and incorporated with Guinness. (Lawson calls for a saucepan, but again with the meh.) Whisk in cocoa powder and sugar.
3. Add in sour cream and vanilla; whisk until thoroughly mixed. Add in eggs. Mix like a mad mixy thing. Woot. (Lawson has you do the eggs, sour cream, and vanilla together in a separate bowl and then pour into the cocoa-stout mixture. Again, MEH.)
4. Whisk in flour and baking soda. And add the chocolate chips, should you decide to go that route.
5. Pour into pan. Bake for 45 minutes to an hour (check at the 45-minute mark). Let the cake cool completely in the pan on a cooling rack.
6. When the cake is cold, get it out of the pan using your favorite method. (I like to run a plastic fork around the edges and then tip it upside down.)
7. If you want to frost it, frost it. Otherwise, slice and eat. Slice more. Aaaand maybe just a smidge more. Undo the top button of your jeans and beach yourself on the couch for a while so you can digest.

Enjoy!