Easy Air Fryer Guinness Chocolate Cake (Print Version)

Rich chocolate cake with deep Guinness stout flavors, made effortlessly in the air fryer for a moist, decadent dessert.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour (125 grams)
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar (200 grams)
03 - 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (35 grams)
04 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
05 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

06 - 1/2 cup Guinness stout, room temperature (120 milliliters)
07 - 1/2 cup buttermilk, room temperature (120 milliliters)
08 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled (115 grams)
09 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Optional Topping

11 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar for dusting (60 grams)
12 - Whipped cream or chocolate ganache for serving

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat your air fryer to 320°F for 5 minutes before preparing the batter.
02 - Grease and line a 7-inch round cake pan that fits your air fryer basket with parchment paper.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until well blended.
04 - In a separate bowl, combine Guinness, buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. Whisk until fully incorporated.
05 - Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not overmix—the batter should remain slightly thick.
06 - Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
07 - Place the pan into the preheated air fryer basket. Cook for 23 to 27 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
08 - Remove the cake from the air fryer and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Dust generously with powdered sugar before serving, or top with whipped cream or chocolate ganache if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The air fryer creates an incredibly moist crumb without heating up your entire kitchen
  • Guinness adds subtle coffee notes that make the chocolate flavor sing without tasting like beer
  • From cupboard to plate in under an hour, this dessert feels fancy but comes together on a weeknight
02 -
  • Overmixing the batter will make your cake tough, stop as soon as you no longer see streaks of flour
  • Every air fryer heats differently so start checking at 23 minutes, better to test early than to overbake
  • The cake continues cooking slightly as it cools in the pan, so do not worry if it seems a little soft when you first pull it out
03 -
  • Measure your flour by weight if possible, 125 grams is more accurate than 1 cup
  • The cake is done when the edges pull slightly away from the pan and a toothpick shows moist crumbs
  • Let all your ingredients come to room temperature before starting, this ensures proper emulsification

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