Three years of blogging… Yesterday, actually (but, decided to postpone celebrating for the #SOPASTRIKE).
Some days it seems as though I’ve been blogging forever. Other days, I feel like it was just yesterday that I decided to start this online recipe journal. But, not a day goes by that I’m not grateful for the community I joined when I started blogging.
I don’t really intend to take you on a tour of everything I’ve written over the past few years… Though, things have certainly changed a bit around here over the years. Don’t believe me? Just take a look at one of my oldest blog posts. The photos are lousy, and the writing isn’t much better. You can judge for yourself.
Though I’d like to think that my photography and writing have both improved over the years, when I look back, I feel that the effect that the blogging community has had on me is far more important than recipes, photos, and blog posts. I’ve met some of my best friends. I’ve seen the community rally together to help friends in need. I’m happy to be able to say that I’ve been a part of the food blogging community for 3 years!
So, today I’d love for you all to join me in celebrating… And, there’s no better way to celebrate than with cake!
I’ve seen variations of a chocolate stoudt cake with Irish cream frosting featured on blogs, in magazines, and on restaurant menus over the past few years. Until recently, though, I had never made one. But, it seemed like the perfect decadent cake to feature here on my 3 year blog anniversary. I’m not sure what took me so long!
For the cake, I used a recipe that I saw featured in Bon Appétit a few years ago. I followed the recipe pretty closely, but I did add in some espresso powder (as I often do when I make chocolate cake). I also decided to make four layers instead of three… After all, four layers is much more fabulous than three. It worked out beautifully! To frost the cake, I whipped up a white chocolate butter cream spiked with a good dose of Bailey’s Irish cream. The combination was perfect.
This is definitely a cake that I will be making again and again. The cake layers stayed nice and moist, and had a great, rich chocolatey flavor. I chose to just stack the layers of cake with frosting between them, leaving the sides of the cake unfrosted. I thought the balance of cake and frosting was just right… And, I liked the slightly rustic look of the cake. Enjoy!
Chocolate Stoudt Cake with White Chocolate Bailey’s Frosting
Makes one 9-inch cake, serves 12 – 14
(Cake recipe slightly adapted from Bon Appétit)
For the cake:
- 2 cups stoudt (I used Guinness)
- 2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups dark cocoa
- 4 cups all purpose flour
- 4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 4 eggs
- 1 1/3 cups sour cream
For the frosting:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 12 ounces white chocolate, melted and slightly cooled
- 1/4 cup tablespoons Bailey’s Irish cream
- 3 – 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease and flour 4 8-inch cake pans.
To prepare the cake, combine the stoudt and the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and stir to make sure all of the butter is melted. Remove from the heat and whisk in the cocoa powder. Cool slightly.
Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, espresso powder, and salt.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs and sour cream. Whisk vigorously until the mixture is smooth. Add in the cooled cocoa mixture and whisk to combine. Add the dry ingredients and fold to combine.
Transfer the batter to the 4 prepared cake pans, dividing evenly among the pans. Bake for about 30 – 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then invert onto wire racks to cool completely.
To prepare the frosting, place the unsalted butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the beater blade. Beat on medium speed until the butter is light and fluffy. Gradually add the melted white chocolate, beating until smooth. Beat in the Bailey’s Irish cream.
Add the powdered sugar, about 1/2 cup at a time, beating after each addition. The icing should be fluffy and spreadable.
To assemble the cake, carefully slice any dome-shaped tops off of the cake layers so that they will sit flat. Place the first layer on a cake plate or serving plate. Smooth 1/4 of the icing on top of the cake layer. Place the next layer on top of the icing, and top with another 1/4 of the icing. Continue with all four layers of the cake.
Happy anniversary, Jen! I’m so glad blogging brought us together, you’re such a wonderful friend! I am truly grateful to have you in my life.
Ams x
Happy blog anniversary/birthday (whatever the technical term is)!!!!! I’ve enjoyed your blog for years, thank you for all your amazing talent and effort you put into it! Your cake is gorgeous, and I love that you added espresso powder, it makes chocolate so much more…chocolaty :)
Wow! Gorgeous! I love Guinness so much, and Bailey’s is a nice compliment for it!
If you’d make a ganache or something using Jameson Irish Whiskey, you could call this an Irish Carbomb Cake!
Happy Birthday MKA! Chocolate cake? Please and thank you.
It’s gorgeous! Happy 3rd anniversary to you, Jen. :)
Congratulations on your 3rd year of blogging Jen! This cake looks very impressive and quite delicious! I wish for you many, many more happy years of blogging with My Kitchen Addiction!
Sincere best wishes on this 3rd blogging anniversary Jen. Your cake is the perfect way to mark this wonderful occasion (and I’m all for anything with Bailey’s in it :)
I don’t know how your blog can possibly get any better but looking forward to you continuing to teach and inspire us with your wonderful recipes, stories and photographs.
Congrats on your three years!! We’ve all come such a long way, haven’t we? Your blog has always been one of my favorites :)
Congrats on 3 years of blogging! I love seeing how far people have come over the years. This cake looks like an amazing way to celebrate:-)
That is a beautiful cake, and I bet it tasted BETTER than it looks! I like that you did not frost the sides, it looks, somehow, even more scrumptious that way! Yum!
Happy 3 years! Absolutely gorgeous and mouth watering cake.
Congrats on 3 years of blogging Jen! I’d say that cake is a pretty fantastic way to celebrate! Wish I had a slice for dessert right now :)
Congrats Jen on 3 years of blogging. Certainly meeting YOU has been one of the highlights of my blogging career so far :) May there be many more years of deliciousness like this CAKE!!!
sounds good!
The cake looks delish!
I want a slice in front of me right now!! With two forks so I could share it with my stout-loving fiancé :) What a fantastic recipe for a great anniversary!
Gorgeous cake, and happy blogoversary!! I’m so glad you blog, and that we met and became friends! :-)
Not sure how I missed this post but this is one killer cake girlfriend. Wish I was enjoying a slice right now. This one is definitely going on my to-be-baked list.
Hey Jen…..I have just stumbled onto your site for the first time today. I was looking for a cake just like this one (how happy am I right now) as throwing a St Patricks Day Party, here in New Zealand on March 17th. I am going to do a trial run of your cake….but wanted to ask you (if you don’t mind) can I make the cake the day before? I am going to ” try ” to make 3 heart shaped cakes (2 tier only) and put them together to look like a shamrock…!!! Have 16 guests so have to do as much before hand as possible. I am worried about the frosting as I wanted the cakes really smooth and ” GREEN ” OBVOUSLY ha, ha. Can you recommend what would be best ………that can be made the day before….ie, white chocolate + buttermilk, or a ganache. Don’t bake often so don’t even know if I would have to keep them in the fridge (other than if using cream topping)or how this would affect the cakes and the moisture. Sorry Jen….I type ALMOST as much as I talk….whooooopsie. Need a smooth “green” option….can you help ?
Helen
Hi, Helen – I love your enthusiasm about the cake! Yes, you could absolutely make it the day before. I think the white chocolate frosting in the recipe would work just fine… Just add a few drops of food coloring to it. To help make the frosting nice and smooth, try dipping your spatula in hot water before smoothing the frosting… Especially on the sides! And, to keep it overnight, I’d frost it and then put the whole thing in the fridge. Hope that helps! I’d love to know how it turns out!
Happy blogging anniversary! The cake looks delicious, baileys frosting sounds divine!