The Best Chocolate Baileys Irish Cream Cake Recipe

Chocolate and Irish cream are a flavor match made in heaven. Whether you’re on the hunt for the perfect recipe to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, searching for a show-stopping cake for a birthday or other special occasion, or you’re looking for a fun weekend baking project, this Baileys Irish Cream Cake recipe is just what you need. Rich, chocolatey cake is layered with silky, indulgent chocolate ganache, and a creamy, dreamy (Baileys-spiked) cream cheese frosting for the most delightful gourmet dessert you’ve had in a minute. Your friends and family won’t be able to stop swooning!

Why You’ll Love This Baileys Irish Cream Cake Recipe

• So much chocolate: There’s so much deep, rich cocoa flavor in each and every bite.

• The moist, creamy texture: With the influx of boozy Baileys Irish Cream, fluffy cream cheese frosting, and a moist, tender cake crumb, this cake will win fans all over the place.

• A seasonal show-stopper: This amazing cake is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations thanks to the mix of Irish whiskey, the unique sweetness of the Irish cream liqueur, and chocolate!

Let’s Talk Cake

This isn’t your basic chocolate cake. This rich chocolate cake is deeply flavorful and perfectly moist. The secret? A touch of hot water at the end to make sure everything bakes up like a dream.

Ingredients:

• 678g all-purpose flour

• 220g cocoa powder

• 15g salt

• 15g baking powder

• 22g baking soda

• 988g sugar

• 248g whole eggs

• 594g milk

• 272g vegetable oil (or canola oil or vegetable oil blend)

• 6g vanilla extract

• 584g hot water

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Butter and flour two cake pans and line with parchment paper. Then, butter and flour the parchment paper. Set the pans aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat sugar and eggs until light and fluffy.

4. Scale the milk, oil, and vanilla together.

5. Alternate adding the dry and wet ingredients into the sugar-egg mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients.

6. Turn the electric mixer speed to low and whisk in the hot water until just combined.

7. Evenly divide the batter into your prepared pans.

8. Bake for about 25-30 minutes, rotating after 15 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (or with just a few crumbs).

Let’s Talk Filling

There’s no better filling for this Baileys Irish Cream cake than this rich fudge icing with an extra-special addition (hint: it's an authentic Irish liqueur).

Ingredients:

• 700g dark chocolate chips

• 20g vanilla

• 5g salt

• 600g heavy cream

• 20g butter

• A generous glug of Baileys Irish Cream

Instructions:

1. Scale the chocolate, vanilla, and salt into a large bowl (the bowl should be metal!).

2. Heat the heavy cream just to a boil in a large saucepan, then pour over the chocolate.

3. Whisk until smooth, then add the butter and Baileys. Whisk again, then use an immersion blender to blend until smooth.

Let’s Talk Frosting

This frosting is a bit of a heavier lift than your standard cream cheese frosting recipe because it requires that you first make a batch of ECBG’s favorite Italian meringue buttercream, but it’s so worth it for the slightly sweet, super silky finished product that really is the cherry on top of the cake here.

Buttercream Ingredients:

• 620g sugar

• 158g water

• 300g egg whites

• 908g butter

• 20g vanilla

• 2g salt

Buttercream Instructions:

1. Scale egg whites, vanilla, and salt into your mixer.

2. In a saucepan, add the water, then sugar and heat to 240°F on a candy thermometer.

3. While the sugar syrup is heating, start whisking the egg whites on low speed.

4. Once the sugar reaches temp, turn the mixer to medium and pour it into the egg whites while mixing.

5. Beat for 10 minutes, then add the butter one chunk at a time until smooth. Turn the mixer back down to low, then whip the frosting for 1 more minute.

6. Transfer the buttercream to an airtight container. If moving on to the cream cheese frosting, do not wash the bowl or the whisk attachment.

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:

• 720g Italian meringue buttercream

• 600g cream cheese

• A generous glug of Baileys Irish Cream

Cream Cheese Frosting Instructions:

1. Beat the cream cheese with a paddle attachment until smooth. NOTE: the cream cheese doesn’t have to be softened before using.

2. Add the buttercream a few scoops at a time, mixing well. Add the Baileys.

3. Once combined, scrape sides and bottom of the bowl. Mix for another minute until smooth.

Time to Assemble the Cake

To build your Baileys Irish cream cake:

1. Level the cakes so that the top of each cake layer is flat.

2. Layer your cakes with ganache as the filling.

3. Frost the outside with Baileys cream cheese frosting.

4. If you’d like, drizzle the exterior with extra ganache or put some of the cream cheese frosting in a piping back and pipe Irish cream rosettes on top for even more drama.

Our Best Tips for Baileys Irish Cream Cake Success

• Use the best chocolate you can get your hands on: Because this cake is all about that rich, chocolatey flavor, you’ll want to use the highest quality chocolate and cocoa powder you can. The flavor of the chocolate cake is so dependent on the flavor of the chocolate ingredients you're using, so you won’t regret springing for the good stuff.

• Use a kitchen scale: I know, a lot of American bakers don’t want to weigh out their ingredients, but weighing your ingredients with a kitchen scale gives you much more accurate measurements than using measuring cups and spoons. It’s well worth the trouble of getting an affordable kitchen scale. Pro tip: make sure you put your bowl on the scale and then zero it out before adding your ingredients or your measurement will be off!

• The hot water matters: Make sure the water you’re using in your cake batter is hot. It’ll help keep your cake moist even after baked.

• Bring your ingredients to room temperature unless otherwise directed: Of course, this doesn’t apply to the hot water or the cream cheese that can be used cold, but it’s a good idea to work with room temperature ingredients when baking so that your final product will be at its best.

• Make sure you scrape down the bowl: Whether you’re making the cake batter, ganache, buttercream, or cream cheese frosting, make sure you scrape down the sides of the bowl while you’re mixing to make sure that the ingredients are all well combined.

• Never frost a warm cake: If your cake layers aren’t completely cooled before you start to put together the cake, you’re going to end up with a melty, crumbly mess. Make sure the layers of chocolate cake are cool before you try to frost anything (better yet, chill the cake layers for a bit before filling and frosting your cake).

• Want to make the cake ahead of time? No problem! If you’re going to make your cake layers in advance, make sure they’re completely cooled, then wrap them tightly with plastic wrap and freeze for up to three months. Ganache and buttercream can also be made ahead of time. Store it in airtight containers and freeze. When you’re ready to assemble your cake, pull any frozen components out of the freezer and thaw before using.

FAQs

• How can I make this cake alcohol-free?

  If you’d like to make this cake without alcohol, you have a few choices. You can either make a homemade non-alcoholic Irish cream like this one from our pals at BBC Good Food, or you can use heavy cream or even skim milk (if it's all you have on hand) in place of the Baileys.

• Can this moist devil's food cake be made in advance?

  Yes, it can. You can make the cake layers a day or two in advance and, once completely cooled, wrap them in plastic wrap and store them at room temperature. The frosting and ganache can be made in advance and stored in airtight containers in the fridge. All of this can also be frozen. Make sure to bring the components back to room temperature before assembling your cake.

• How should I store my Baileys Irish Cream cake?

  Tightly wrap the cake with plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. When you’re ready to eat, take it out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes before serving.

• Do I have to use cream cheese frosting for this cake?

  If you don’t like cream cheese frosting (or don’t want to make it), you can just use a classic Italian meringue buttercream (with or without Baileys). You could also use a rich chocolate buttercream if you really want to lean into the chocolate flavor.

• Can I make a different filling?

  Sure - try a vanilla pastry cream for a delicious alternative to rich, chocolatey ganache.

• What kind of chocolate should I use for the ganache?

  Go for a high-quality dark chocolate (at least 60% cacao) for the best flavor. Cheap chocolate chips won’t give you that silky smooth ganache.

• Can I use any other cake recipes to make this Baileys chocolate cake?

  You can. If there's a chocolate cake recipe you prefer (like one that uses mayo, sour cream, buttermilk, or a cup of coffee to bring out the flavor of the chocolate or add moisture), feel free to use that one in place of this cake recipe. It'll still be delicious! You could even use a cake mix, though we always recommend making your cake from scratch. That's what will taste best.

• I don't want to make the ganache and the frosting. Can I frost the cake with something else?

  Sure! You can use the ganache either as the filling of glaze over the top and then add whipped topping for a creamy touch.

• Can I make this a single-layer cake?

  ​Sure, but you'll need to make a couple. Use round cake pans or make a bundt cake if you just want one layer. Top with the ganache, or brush your cake with Baileys and then finish with a confectioner's glaze.

This delicious cake is so rich and decadent. Whether you’re baking for a crowd on St Patrick's Day, making a special birthday cake, or just looking for the perfect gourmet cake for your next weekend bake, you’ve got to try this one.

Want to leave things to the pros? Shop our Cake Shop or reach out to chat about custom cakes or wedding cakes.

Ready to add to your cake decorating skillset? Try one of our virtual or in-person classes!

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