Name: Fudge Caramel Stout Cake
Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 2 cups granulated sugar; 3/4 cup dark cocoa; 2 teaspoons baking soda; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/4 cup vegetable oil; 3/4 cup sour cream; 1 and 1/2 cups chocolate stout beer*, measured without foam; 2 large eggs, lightly beaten; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted and cooled; 1 and 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened; 1/3 cup dark cocoa; 3/4 cup powdered sugar; milk, if needed to thin out the frosting; 1 (12-ounce) jar thick caramel topping; 1 cup dark chocolate chips, for decorating

A fudgy, stout-spiked cake layered with fudge icing and oozing with caramel. This Fudge Caramel Stout Cake is nothing short of amazing!

A slice of chocolate fudge caramel 3 layer cake on its side on a small white dessert plate.

Intensely Delicious 3-Layer Cake

Fudgy stout-spiked cake layered with fudge icing and oozing with caramel! This Fudge Caramel Stout Cake is as easy to make as it is spectacular to serve. Studded with chocolate chips and just dripping with thick caramel, it’s three layers of deliciousness that’s sure to wow your crowd!

A chocolate cake with caramel drizzle dripping down the sides on a white cake plate.

A Cake for Celebrating!

I created this crazy delicious cake to go along with the beer theme of Brandon’s surprise birthday party. It’s a recreation of a cake that we had from a bakery in Oklahoma. And it’s nothing short of AMAZING!!!

Once Brandon saw this cake, he was all smiles and ready to celebrate! It’s the kind of cake most men would dream to have on their birthday and that’s exactly why I made it for Brandon this weekend! Only the best for the best!

What Do I Need to Make a Fudge Caramel Stout Cake?

(see recipe card for measurements and details)

All-purpose flour
Granulated sugar
Dark cocoa
Baking soda
Baking powder
Salt
Vegetable oil
Sour cream
Chocolate stout beer
Large eggs
Pure vanilla extract
Sweet chocolate chips
Unsalted butter, softened
Powdered sugar (confectioner’s sugar)
Milk (if needed)
Thick caramel topping
Dark chocolate chips, for decorating
3 (8-inch) round cake pans
Nonstick cooking spray

Ingredients to make a fudge caramel stout cake in small white bowls on a white marble counter.

Do I have to use Chocolate Stout?

Nope! It’s not necessary to use chocolate stout in this cake recipe. Regular stout works just as well. But it’s not necessary to use beer at all. You can opt to use coffee or just plain water in place of the chocolate stout.

How to Make Fudge Caramel Stout Cake

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of three 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper and spray the bottom and sides with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
Add the vegetable oil, sour cream, stout, eggs and vanilla. Stir until just combined.

Divide batter evenly among prepared cake pans.
Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean. Let cool in pans on a wire rack for 30 minutes before inverting onto the wire racks to cool completely.
To make the frosting, melt the chocolate chips in a large microwave safe bowl for about 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until completely melted. Set aside to cool.
In the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter until smooth. Add the cocoa powder and powdered sugar and beat until well combined.

Add the melted chocolate and beat until thick yet spreadable. If the frosting is too thick to spread, beat in a few tablespoons of milk to thin it out.
Level each cake layer with a knife or leveler, if needed. Place one cake, bottom side up, on a cake stand or platter and spread with a generous layer of frosting.
Then spread with 1/4 cup caramel topping. Place another cake layer, bottom side up, on the caramel and spread with more frosting and another 1/4 cup caramel. Place the final layer, bottom side up, on the top of the other layers.

Place the final layer, bottom side up, on the top of the other layers. Spread the remaining frosting on the top and sides of all layers.

Top view of a fully iced chocolate cake on a white serving plate.

Decorate the bottom of the cake with two layers of dark chocolate chips.

An iced chocolate layer cake with two rows of chocolate chips pressed into the bottom all the way around.

Spread the remaining caramel topping on the top of the cake.

A metal spoon coated in caramel held vertically over a chocolate layer cake.

Add caramel until it flows down the sides of the cake.

More Layered Desserts You’ll Love

Layered Chocolate Pudding Dessert: Layered Chocolate Pudding Dessert takes a sweet cookie crust and piles on layers of smooth whipped cream cheese, chocolaty pudding, and creamy whipped topping! It’s an easy and delicious dessert recipe that everyone will love!
Triple Threat Brownies: Chocolate chip cookie dough, Oreo cookies and brownie batter bake into decadent Triple Threat Brownies that will become your newest obsession. They’re three layers of goodness you won’t be able to resist!
S’mores Ice Cream Cake: No campfire needed to make this S’mores Ice Cream Cake with layer upon layer of frozen s’mores goodness. So yummy you’ll be begging for s’more!
Brownie Baklava: Crunchy layers of phyllo dough filled with fudgy cinnamon-spiked walnut brownie and soaked in sweet honey to become Brownie Baklava bliss!
The Best Banana Pudding: Layers of vanilla wafers, fresh bananas and creamy vanilla pudding come together in The Best Banana Pudding you’ll ever make!
Peanut Butter Cup Stuffed Brookies: A chocolate peanut butter cup baked in the middle of a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie and a rich chocolate brownie! These Peanut Butter Cup Stuffed Brookies pretty much define deliciousness!

How to Store Fudge Caramel Stout Cake

To keep the caramel from running, I recommend keeping this cake chilled so it holds up better and longer. Remove from the refrigerator just before serving.

Cover and store leftover cake in the refrigerator for up to four days.

A chocolate three layer cake on a white serving platter.

If you make this Fudge Caramel Stout Cake, be sure to snap a picture and share it with me or tag me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can see. 😍 I love seeing how inspired and creative y’all get with the recipes I share. Enjoy!

xoxo,