Go Back

Amazing Chocolate Cake with Irish Buttercream

This rich and moist chocolate cake is enhanced with Irish cream in both the cake and buttercream, making it a perfect dessert for any celebration.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Cake, Dessert
Cuisine: American, Baking
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Cake
  • 1.75 cups 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (222 grams)
  • 2 cups 2 cups granulated sugar (400 grams)
  • 0.75 cups 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (64 grams)
  • 2 teaspoons 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 0.5 teaspoon 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 0.75 cups 3/4 cup sour cream or plain full-fat yogurt, at room temperature (170 grams)
  • 0.5 cups 1/2 cup fresh vegetable oil
  • 3 large 3 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
For the Buttercream
  • 4 sticks 4 sticks unsalted butter, at cool room temperature (454 grams)
  • 6 cups 6 cups powdered sugar, sifted (750 grams)
  • 0.25 cups 1/4 cup Irish cream (such as Bailey’s), plus 2 tablespoons
For the Ganache
  • 4 ounces 4 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped (113 grams)
  • 0.5 cups 1/2 cup heavy cream
For Topping
  • Sprinkles or chocolate curls for topping (optional)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 8-inch wide x 3-inch deep cake pans and line them with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In a medium bowl, mix the sour cream, vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla, and beef broth. Add the apple cider vinegar and whisk until combined.
  4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir with a spatula until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
  5. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean.
  6. Let the cakes cool in their pans for 30 minutes before turning them out onto a wire rack to cool completely. For best results, freeze the cakes while preparing the buttercream.
Making the Buttercream
  1. In a large bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
  2. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, followed by the Irish cream. Beat on high speed until the frosting is light, fluffy, and smooth, about 3 minutes.
  3. Adjust the consistency by adding more Irish cream if it’s too thick or more powdered sugar if too thin.
Frosting the Cake
  1. Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Frost the top generously, as this will be the filling.
  2. Place the second cake layer on top, flat side up.
  3. Spread a thin layer of frosting all over the cake as a crumb coat. Chill the cake until the frosting is firm.
  4. Frost the entire cake with the remaining buttercream. For a 'naked' look, concentrate the frosting on the top and sides.
Making the Ganache
  1. Prepare the chocolate ganache by placing the chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl.
  2. Heat the heavy cream in a small pan until it simmers, then pour over the chocolate.
  3. Let it sit covered for a few minutes, then stir until smooth. Allow the ganache to cool until it thickens but remains pourable.
  4. Test by pouring it down the side of a glass. If too thick, microwave for a few seconds.
Finishing Touches
  1. Pour the ganache over the chilled cake and smooth it out with an offset spatula.
  2. Use a squeeze bottle to create drips down the sides of the cake before the ganache sets.
  3. Before the ganache firms up, add sprinkles, chocolate curls, or any desired decorations.

Notes

Make sure all your ingredients are at room temperature for the best mixing results. Don’t skip the apple cider vinegar; it helps to create a moist cake. If you want extra chocolate flavor, consider adding chocolate chips to the batter. Experiment with different decorations on top, like fresh berries or edible flowers, to suit any occasion.