Chocolate Stout Cake

My aunt, uncle, and cousin just got back from a really remarkable trip to South Africa, complete with ostrich rides and fence-free rhino sightings. We went over to their house for dinner recently -- an African-themed dinner which was roundly wonderful, but whose highlight, for me, was the peanut sweet potato soup. I don't think I've ever had peanuts in quite that way and it was terrific. Inspiration for a future post...

For dessert, I made and brought this cake. And, an aside: I really need a cake carrier. Riding with this uncovered on my lap from the West Side to the North Side was kind of harrowing.

It was a really chocolatey cake. Dense, moist, with depth. And beer-as-secret-ingredient made it novel and fun.

I made the Smitten Kitchen version with just two variations: whole grain pastry flour instead of AP and an organic chocolate stout from the Green Grocer in place of Guinness.