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–+ servings
Cake with slices removed on wood cake stand with bottle of baileys in background.
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Baileys Chocolate Cake
Prep Time
35 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
 
This from scratch Baileys Irish Cream Chocolate Layer Cake recipe is so moist and flavorful! It starts with a rich chocolate cake then is coated with a decadent Bailey's Irish Cream buttercream frosting.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baileys irish cream chocolate cake, st. patricks day cakes
Servings: 12 Servings
Author: Jackie
Ingredients
Cake Layers-
  • 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
Baileys Irish Cream Buttercream-
  • 1 ½ cups salted butter softened
  • 9 cups powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons Baileys Irish Cream
  • 4 Tablespoons milk or cream
Chocolate Ganache
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • Chocolate Jimmies for garnish
Instructions
Make the cake layers-
  1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour three 6-inch or two 8-inch round baking pans.
  2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
  3. Add eggs, milk, Baileys Irish Cream, oil, and vanilla; whisk until wet ingredients are incorporated into the dry ingredients.
  4. Stir in hot coffee; whisk until smooth. Batter will be runny.
  5. Pour batter into prepared pans.
  6. Bake for 25-27 minutes until a toothpick is inserted in the center of the cake and comes out clean.
  7. Cool cakes for 10 minutes then remove from pans and transfer to wire racks. Cool completely.
To make the frosting-
  1. Cream butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until smooth and fluffy.
  2. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until fully incorporated.
  3. Beat in vanilla extract and Baileys.
  4. Add milk and beat for an additional 3 to 4 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
For Assembly-
  1. 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.
To make the Ganache-
  1. 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.