Irish Porter Cake for St Patrick’s Day

Irish Porter Cake is a delicious and easy boiled fruit cake made with Irish Porter or Stout. It is one of those cakes that just gets better and better, the longer you can bear to keep it.  

Irish Porter Cake with glass of porter or stout

This is such a simple recipe with all the ingredients mixed in one saucepan. Irish Porter Cake is rich with butter, sugar and sweet dried fruits. All of this sweetness is tempered by the slight bitterness in the ale.

Irish Porter Cake buttered and more cake on cooling tray

Irish Porter Cake and St Patrick’s Day

There are many Irish recipes to make for St Patrick’s Day including Irish Soda Bread, Boxty – a type of potato pancake, and Irish Stew.

There are also a lot of recipes for green cupcakes featuring leprechauns and rainbows. However, I prefer this simple fruit cake featuring classic Irish porter and I think once you have tried it that you will prefer it too.

Celebrate St Patrick's Day

What is St Patrick’s Day?

St Patrick’s Day is a celebration of Irish culture and observes the death of  St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. St Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland during the fifth century. 

17 March Calendar for St Patrick's Day

When is St Patrick’s Day?

St Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on 17th March. It is a global celebration of Irish culture and wherever there are people of Irish descent there is likely to be a party going on to remember St Patrick.

Glass of Porter

What is Porter?

Porter is a dark style beer that tastes sweet, fruity and malty with a slight caramel flavour. Although this is an Irish Porter Cake, Porter is actually a London beer named after the street and river porters who liked to drink it.

Stout is a strong, extra, or ‘stout’ porter. The most famous being Guinness that classic Irish Stout. I’ve made Irish Porter Cake with Guinness West Indies Porter, and also with other kinds of stout. The increase in craft beer breweries means there is now even more choice of stout and any dark malted beer is perfect for this recipe.

How do I store Irish Porter Cake?

Store the completely cooled Irish Porter Cake wrapped in foil then put into an airtight tin or container. This cake one that actually improves if you keep it wrapped up for 2-3 days before eating. It will keep in an airtight container in a cool place for 7-10 days.

freezer with boxes

Can I freeze the Porter Cake?

Yes, cut the cake into slices and open freeze. Then store the sliced cake in a freezer-proof container for up to 3 months.

Irish Porter Cake buttered with bottle and glass in backbround

How to make Irish Porter Cake

Follow the simple step-by-step instructions for a this easy one-pot fruit cake.

Irish Porter Cake add stout to sugar and butter

Melt the butter and sugar

  • Put the porter (stout), dried fruit, peel, cherries, sugar, and bicarbonate of soda in a large saucepan.
  • Heat gently until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved.
Irish Porter cake, bring to boil

Boil the cake mixture

Bring to a boil and boil for 10 minutes. Stir the mixture occasionally so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.

Irish Porter Cake leave boiled mixture to cool

Leave to cool

Remove the pan from the heat and leave to cool (about 20 minutes). If you add the egg into a hot mixture it will scramble, so make sure the mixture is just warm and not hot.

Irish Porter Cake line baking tin

Line the baking tin

Preheat the oven and grease and line a 22cm/9 in square cake tin with baking parchment.

Add the remaining ingredients

Add the flour, eggs and baking powder and stir to mix thoroughly

Irish Porter Cake Mix in tin

Bake

  • Put the cake mixture into the tin
  • Bake for about 1 hour 10 minutes.
  • Check the cake after 1 hour as not all ovens are true to temperature.
Irish Porter Cake Baked in tin

Remove the cake from the oven

  • The cake is ready when it has risen and is firm to the touch.
  • Leave the Irish Porter Cake in the tin until it is completely cold.
  • Then remove from the tin, take off the parchment.
  • Wrap in foil and keep in an airtight container until you are ready to eat it.
Slices of Irish Porter Cake

How do I serve Irish Porter Cake?

Serve the cake in slices with or without butter. It’s a lovely cake to enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee and on St Patrick’s Day, I recommend serving this delicious cake with a glass of porter or stout for the ultimate Irish treat!

Irish Porter Cake is an ideal cake to include in your lunchbox because it holds together well and does not crumble.

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Irish Porter Cake with butter
Irish Porter Cake slices

Irish Porter Cake

Janice Pattie
Irish Porter Cake is a delicious and easy boiled fruit cake made with Irish Porter or Stout.
5 from 16 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Cooling Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Course Baking, Tea Time
Cuisine Irish
Servings 18
Calories 193 kcal

Ingredients

  • 300 millilitres (1.3 cups) Porter or Stout
  • 260 grams (1.75 cups) mixed dried fruit raisins, sultanas, currants
  • 20 grams (1.5 tablespoon) mixed peel
  • 20 grams (1.5 tablespoon) glace cherries halved
  • 200 grams butter
  • 300 grams (1.36 cups) soft brown sugar
  • 1.5 teaspoon (1.5 teaspoon) bicarbonate of soda
  • 2 large (2 large) eggs beaten
  • 350 grams (2.8 cups) plain (all-purpose) flour
  • 2 teaspoon (2 teaspoon) baking powder

Instructions
 

  • Put the porter (stout), dried fruit, peel, cherries, sugar and bicarbonate of soda in a large saucepan.
  • Heat gently until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved.
  • Bring to the boil for 10 minutes. Stir the mixture occasionally so it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.
  • Remove the pan from the heat and leave to cool (about 20 minutes)
  • Heat the oven to 180C/170C Fan/350F
  • Grease and line a 22cm/9 in square cake tin.
  • Add the eggs, flour and baking powder and stir to mix thoroughly.
  • Put the cake mixture into the tin and bake for about 1 hour 10 minutes. Check the cake after 1 hour as not all ovens are true to temperature.
  • The cake is ready when it has risen and is firm to the touch.
  • Remove the cake from the oven and leave to cool in the tin. When cold remove it from the tin and take off the parchment paper.
  • You can cut and eat the cake as soon as it is cold. However, Irish Porter Cake gets even better if you wrap it in foil and store it in an airtight tin for 2-3 days before eating.
  • Serve in slices with or without butter.

Nutrition

Calories: 193kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 3gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 103mgPotassium: 173mgFiber: 2gSugar: 25gVitamin A: 32IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 49mgIron: 1mg
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31 Comments

  1. Your cakes are always a winner and this one is no different. I love the malty flavour that you get by adding the Irish porter, another great bake.

  2. What a rich and fruity looking cake, I bet that is absolutely delicious! Lovely addition of Irish Porter. Perfect with a cup of tea.

    1. Apologies, for that. I’m glad you let me know I’d missed it from the recipe. It’s 200g butter. I’m adding it to the recipe now.

    1. Hi Gerry
      If you either use the Jump to Recipe button or scroll to the bottom of the page you’ll find the recipe card with all the measurements.

  3. The recipe is great, I had to leave it for an extra 30 mis to cook. I use a fan oven and have no problem making cakes or any kind of cooking. Thanks for the recipe.

    1. Hi Angela
      I’m so glad you enjoyed the Irish Porter Cake. I’ve found that all ovens are a little different and mine runs a little hot so probably cooks a bit quicker.

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Recipe Rating




5 from 16 votes (2 ratings without comment)