Serves 12

INGREDIENTS

For the cake

2 cups Guinness
2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter
1½ cups unsweetened cocoa powder
4 cups all purpose flour
4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking soda
1½ teaspoon salt
4 large eggs
1¹⁄₃ cups sour cream

For the icing

2 cups cream cheese, softened
½ cup (1 stick) butter, softened
¼ cup Irish Cream liqueur
4 cups powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS

For the 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 Guinness 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 1½ teaspoons salt in large bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sour cream in another large bowl to blend. Add Guinness-chocolate mixture to egg mixture and beat just to combine. Add flour mixture and beat briefly on slow speed. Using a 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 the icing

In a large bowl, mix the cream cheese, butter, and Irish Cream. Slowly add the powdered sugar while mixing.

Place 1 cake layer on a 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.