This from scratch Baileys Irish Cream Chocolate Layer Cake recipe is so moist and full of flavor! It starts with a rich chocolate cake then is coated with a decadent Bailey's Irish Cream buttercream frosting.
Every year I am shocked when March rolls around so quickly. It's like we go from December to March in the blink of an eye! St. Patrick's Day is almost here, and this delicious Bailey's Irish Cream Chocolate Cake is just the recipe that you need to celebrate with! Let's be honest though, do we really only want to eat this cake once a year? The answer is a simple no, it's too good for that! It's delicious even in warmer weather.
Pair this cake with some Guinness Risotto and Beer Bread for a feast!
WHY WE LOVE THIS BAILEYS CHOCOLATE CAKE
- Rich cake with an amazing flavor- chocolate and baileys are a match made in heaven The creaminess of the alcohol mixture blends perfectly into the cake. It's the perfect Irish chocolate cake for your St. Patrick's Day Party!
- This amazing cake can be made in stages- make the cake layers and wrap in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months, then make the baileys buttercream frosting up to 2 days before using! Assemble and refrigerate up to 1 day before serving.
- Easy recipe to make! This is one of our best chocolate cake recipes because it comes together in minutes and doesn't even require a mixer!
INGREDIENTS TO MAKE THIS HOMEMADE CAKE
Simple ingredients blended together to create a show stopping dessert that will having you singing The Fields of Athenry with every bite!
Chocolate Cake Layers-
- All-Purpose Flour
- Dark unsweetened cocoa powder
- Granulated white sugar
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Large eggs
- Buttermilk, or whole milk or sour cream
- Baileys Irish Cream
- Vegetable oil
- Vanilla extract
- Hot freshly brewed coffee, or hot boiling water
Baileys Irish Cream Buttercream-
- Salted butter, softened
- Powdered sugar
- Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur
- Milk or heavy cream
Chocolate Ganache
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate
- Heavy whipping cream
- Chocolate Jimmies, for garnish
HOW TO MAKE THIS BAILEY'S CHOCOLATE CAKE
Follow the directions below for our favorite chocolate cake with Irish cream flavor!
STEP ONE- Make the Cake LayersStart by preheating your oven to 350°F and grease and flour three 6-inch or two 8-inch round baking pans. PRO TIP- For extra ease, line the bottom of the pan with a parchment paper round.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add eggs, milk, Baileys Irish Cream, oil, and vanilla; whisk until wet ingredients are incorporated into the dry ingredients. Stir in hot coffee; whisk until smooth then pour batter into the prepared pans. PRO TIP- The batter will be runny. Bake for 25-27 minutes until a toothpick is inserted in the center of the cake and comes out clean. Cool cakes for 10 minutes then remove from pans and transfer to wire racks. Cool completely.
STEP TWO- Make the Irish Cream Frosting Cream the softened butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until smooth and fluffy. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until fully incorporated.Beat in vanilla extract and Baileys. Add milk and beat for an additional 3 to 4 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
STEP THREE- Assemble To assemble the cake place the first cake layer on a serving plate or cardboard cake board. Spread about a ½ cup of frosting into an even layer on top of the cake.Top the frosting with the second layer of cake, then repeat another layer of frosting. Top the cake with the final layer of cake, then frost the outside of the cake.
STEP FOUR- Garnish With The GanacheTo make the ganache, heat cream in a microwave safe bowl for 1 minute. Once hot, add chocolate chips and let sit for 5 minutes then stir until smooth. Drizzle cake with ganache. Top with remaining frosting swirls and jimmies, if desired.
TIPS AND SUBSTITUTIONS
- Chocolate Cake Mix- as usual, if you are short on time, you can swap out the homemade recipe for a cake box mix. Simply follow the directions on the box and add 2 tablespoons of Baileys to the batter.
- Moooar Chocolate!- Add a cup of mini chocolate chips to the cake batter for the extra chocolate lovers.
- Unsalted butter- If using unsalted butter in the buttercream, add an ⅛ teaspoon of salt with the powdered sugar. This will help counteract the sweetness of the buttercream and round out the flavors.
- Crumb Coat- For a smooth buttercream finish, apply a thin layer of frosting around the cake to create a crumb coating and refrigerate for 15 minutes. Then, frost the cake and scrape smooth. Place remaining frosting in a piping bag and pie swirls over cooled ganache.
- Skip the Buttercream- If you aren't a fan of buttercream, skip it and make a whipped cream frosting instead.
FAQs
What kind of alcohol is in Baileys?
Baileys Irish Cream is a delicious Irish cream liqueur which consists of cream, cocoa, and Irish whiskey. The Bailey's brand is considered the original Irish Cream, and has been produced in Ireland since the early 1970s. It is often combined with coffee or chocolate, but we love adding it to baked goods!
Can kids have this Bailey's Irish Cream Cake?
Although this is a personal preference, we would say yes. The alcohol in the cake layers bakes off. There is still a bit in the frosting, but it's not very much.
How to store this chocolate Bailey's Cake?
Once the cake has been cut, you can cut into individual cake slices and wrap in plastic wrap. The slices can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
MORE ST. PATRICKS DAY TREATS WE THINK YOU'LL LOVE
- 2 cups All-Purpose Cake Flour
- ¾ cup cocoa powder
- 2 cups granulated white sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup buttermilk or whole milk or sour cream
- ¾ cup Baileys Irish Cream
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup hot freshly brewed coffee or hot water
- 1 ½ cups salted butter softened
- 9 cups powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons Baileys Irish Cream
- 4 Tablespoons milk or cream
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- Chocolate Jimmies for garnish
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Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour three 6-inch or two 8-inch round baking pans.
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Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
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Add eggs, milk, Baileys Irish Cream, oil, and vanilla; whisk until wet ingredients are incorporated into the dry ingredients.
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Stir in hot coffee; whisk until smooth. Batter will be runny.
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Pour batter into prepared pans.
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Bake for 25-27 minutes until a toothpick is inserted in the center of the cake and comes out clean.
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Cool cakes for 10 minutes then remove from pans and transfer to wire racks. Cool completely.
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Cream butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until smooth and fluffy.
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Gradually beat in powdered sugar until fully incorporated.
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Beat in vanilla extract and Baileys.
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Add milk and beat for an additional 3 to 4 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
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To assemble the cake place the first cake layer on a serving plate or cardboard cake board. Spread about a ½ cup of frosting into an even layer on top of the cake. Top the frosting with the second layer of cake, then repeat another layer of frosting. Top the cake with the final layer of cake, then frost the outside of the cake.
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To make the ganache, heat cream in a microwave safe bowl for 1 minute. Once hot, add chocolate chips and let sit for 5 minutes then stir until smooth. Drizzle cake with ganache. Top with remaining frosting swirls and jimmies, if desired.
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