For The Chocolate Guinness Cake What Temperature Should The Guinness Be?

Our answer

Nigella's Chocolate Guinness Cake (from FEAST) is a moist sponge cake that is topped with a frothy cream cheese icing. The cake is made using a one-pan melt and mix method.

As the Guinness is initially heated with the butter, it doesn't really matter if the Guinness is chilled or at room temprature when you start, though it is easier to heat it if you start with room temperature Guinness. You only want to heat the mixture just until the butter has melted and don't let it boil. If the Guinness and butter mixture is too hot when you add the eggs and sour cream then it could curdle the cream and eggs. It may help to take the pan off the heat while there are still a few small nuggets of unmelted butter in the pan. The butter will melt in the residual heat and it will help to prevent the mixture from becoming too hot.