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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How to make Irish Porter Cake
Follow the simple step-by-step instructions for a this easy one-pot fruit cake.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
More Fruit Cakes from Farmersgirl Kitchen
Irish Porter Cake
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
I’m adding this post to #cookblogshare the link up for recipes. This week hosted at Sew White, Food and Lifestyle Blog
Oooh. I love how dark and rich this looks. I’d serve it with a slathering of butter!
Porter cake is amazing and your recipe looks divine. You have me a little homesick right now!! Have yummed and pinned the recipe!
Aw, sorry you are homesick, cake and chocolate usually helps 😉
This looks lovely and really easy to make. I love rich fruit cake!
Yes, please with a huge side of whipped cream.
LOVE an Irish Porter Cake, my Irish friend at Art College used to share the one her mum sent her every year! Looks lovely.
Thank you ?
Oh this looks rich and indulgent! Love the sound of it with a large afternoon cuppa! Michelle x
That is exactly how to eat this cake ☺️
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.
Thank you, Lesley. It is a great tasting cake and so easy to make.
Sounds delicious Janice. Perfectly Irish xx
Thanks, Kate ?
What a rich and fruity looking cake, I bet that is absolutely delicious! Lovely addition of Irish Porter. Perfect with a cup of tea.
Never tried this but it looks absolutely delicious. I love any kind of fruit cake, especially with butter slathered on top!! Thanks for posting.
Thank you, I can recommend it, Jo.
How much butter in the cake please
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.
Love a good guiness cake but I’ve never tried a version without chocolate so I’ll have to give this a try!
Thanks, any kind of stout is a great ingredient in lots of different cakes and stews too!
So delicious and packed with tasty fruit and lovely flavours. The perfect cake to eat with a cup of tea and your feet up!
It is indeed, thank you.
YUM! Such a lovely cake. I’d love a slice of this right now. Eb 🙂
Thanks, Eb.
What a briliiant cake! Easy to make and look sabsolutely beautiful!
Thanks for sharing, this cake looks lovely 🙂
Thank you, we have really enjoyed the Irish Porter Cake.
Can I have the receipt with the measurements please
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.
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.
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.