Mid Twenties & Lovin' It

Happy Birthday Joe!! Ummm... not really.   Joe's birthday is in October and my birthday isn't until December, so why did I post a picture of a birthday cake?

1. Because this cake was the last 'real cake' that I made
2. Realization of the point above made me really sad today so I wanted to share it's beauty with you (like a proud mama), and
3.  My half birthday is coming up in 5 days.

That means that in 5 short days, I will be teetering on the edge of the second half of my 20's.  I don't feel so bad about it because no matter how old I am, Joe will always be older!   It's fun to pick on someone who is already sensitive about approaching the big 3-0 when he's only 28.  I'm not only younger, I'm also Asian... the odds will always be in my favor :)

So let's get back to the cake.  Most of the boys that I know are your typical boys' boys.  They love beer and no matter what it is that you are making, they will love it even more if you tell them there is beer baked/grilled/broiled/braised/boiled/poured into their food.   As someone who aims to please, someone who also enjoys the occasional brew, and someone who loves cake.. I was all too happy to oblige.   Guinness chocolate cake.  Try it.  You will love it.  I will say though, this cake is not for the faint of heart.   The Guinness chocolate cake layers have tons of flavor and the chocolate ganache packs more chocolate punch than you might anticipate.  I chose to include some vanilla frosting inside the cake to 'lighten' it up a bit.  Think about that for a second...  I added BUTTERcream icing in an attempt to LIGHTEN a cake... now stop thinking about calories and re-focus on delicious chocolate cake.  Cut small slices and consider yourself warned.  Rich, velvety, chocolaty, yum!

Also, it goes without saying in my kitchen but you never know... always use good chocolate.  It will change your life.  Oh, and if you need a cake and live in the northern Virginia area, let me know.  I need to bake more cakes, but that doesn't mean I need to eat them all.

Guinness Chocolate Cake w/ Chocolate Ganache
Cake
2 cups stout (such as Guinness)
2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch-process)
4 cups all purpose flour
4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
4 large eggs
1 1/3 cups sour cream
Icing
2 cups whipping cream
1 pound bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped

For cake:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter three 8-inch round cake pans with 2-inch-high sides. Line with parchment paper. Butter paper. Bring 2 cups stout and 2 cups butter to simmer in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.
Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in large bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sour cream in another large bowl to blend. Add stout-chocolate mixture to egg mixture and beat just to combine. Add flour mixture and beat briefly on slow speed. Using rubber spatula, fold batter until completely combined. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Transfer cakes to rack; cool 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto rack and cool completely.


For icing:
Bring cream to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chopped chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Refrigerate until icing is spreadable, stirring frequently, about 2 hours.
Place 1 cake layer on plate. Spread 2/3 cup icing over. Top with second cake layer. Spread 2/3 cup icing over. Top with third cake layer. Spread remaining icing over top and sides of cake