Sea Salt Red Ale Chocolate Cake

I love a good rich chocolate cake! And I really love sea salt with it. I think it brightens up the bitter sweetness of dark chocolate.

I was inspired by various cakes that I saw made with Guinness beer. As I had a can of Irish red ale on hand, I used that.

The icing has a hint of the beer in it as well, though you can omit that if you prefer. I garnished my cake with Maldon sea salt.

I did not feel like bringing out any mixers, so I simply used a whisk and a wooden spoon. So no need for any machines for this recipe.

Let me know if you try it!

Ingredients:

For the cake

1 cup red ale

2 sticks unsalted butter

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

2 cups sugar

2/3 cup sour cream

2 large eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

For the icing

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

3 tbsp cocoa powder

2 tbsp of melted butter

3 tbsp of hot water

1 tbsp of red ale (or vanilla extract)

(Add a little more water if it’s too thick)

Flaked sea salt for garnish

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 F. Butter and flour a 9 inch springform pan.

Melt the butter in a pan. Add the beer & simmer that. Add the cocoa powder & sugar. Stir it till it comes together as one.

In a small bowl, whisk sour cream, eggs, vanilla. Set aside.

In a large bowl add flour & baking soda. Mix those together to incorporate.

Pour the chocolate mixture into the flour mixture and stir with a wooden spoon. Then stir in the sour cream egg mixture till completely incorporated.

Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Let it completely cool before slicing or frosting. (My oven usually needs a full hour)

Frosting:

Sift the powdered sugar & cocoa powder. Melt the butter. Add to the sugar mixture. Add the water & red ale a tbsp at a time, whisking it together.

Garnish with flaked sea salt.

Spread it over the cake & garnish with sea salt if you like.

Can be stored at room temperature.

Kali Oreksi!