How to Make a Festive St. Patrick's Day Guinness Green Velvet Cake with Food Network's Zac Young

Zac Young print rollout recipe

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Zac Young has put a boozy spin on the traditional red velvet cake, making it the ideal indulgence to get everyone in the mood for St. Patrick's Day. The 41-year-old Food Network star shared his mouth-watering recipe for a Guinness green velvet cake exclusively in the latest issue of We magazine.

Young describes the cake as having a subtle cocoa flavor that allows the malty and hoppy notes of Guinness to stand out, especially when paired with the whiskey-infused, salted caramel frosting.

The recipe is not only perfect for a festive occasion, but it is also quite versatile. Young suggests trying it as a loaf, a single-layer round cake, or even as cupcakes. By incorporating Guinness stout and a touch of green food coloring, this recipe puts a unique twist on the traditional red velvet cake. Additionally, the frosting includes a hint of Irish whiskey and is adorned with green and gold sprinkles for a festive touch.

Young has been passionate about holiday-themed baking since his early days at the Institute of Culinary Education. As the Pastry Director of Craveable Hospitality Group since 2012, he has been instrumental in creating delectable desserts for the company's restaurants and bars. In 2015, Dessert Professional recognized him as one of the Top Ten Pastry Chefs in America.

Fans of the Food Network might also remember Young for his impressive fourth-place finish on the first season of Bravo's Top Chef: Just Desserts in 2010. He has also showcased his baking skills on various cooking and baking shows, including Unique Sweets, Bakers vs. Fakers, Nailed It!, Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay, and Halloween Baking Championship.

Young, known for his creative bakes like the Guinness green velvet cake, is also famous for inventing the PieCaken. One of his creations is the "Saint PatCaken," a St. Patrick’s Day-themed dessert featuring his green velvet cake, available for order on Goldbelly.

In a baking video on Instagram, Young explained the layers of the "Saint PatCaken." It starts with whisky pecan pie, followed by Baileys cheesecake, and topped with the delicious Guinness green velvet cake. The whole dessert is held together with salted caramel frosting and generously covered in colorful sprinkles. Lots of sprinkles.

Keep scrolling to check out Young’s full Guinness green velvet cake recipe:

Zac Young print rollout recipe

Courtesy of Zac Young

Guinness Green Velvet Cake

Serves 6-10

Ingredients

For the cake

1¼ cups all-purpose flour

1 tbsp cocoa powder

½ tsp kosher salt

½ tsp baking soda

¾ cup brown sugar

2 large eggs

½ cup canola oil

½ cup buttermilk

1/3 cup Guinness

1 tsp green food coloring

For the frosting

4 tbsp unsalted butter

¼ cup brown sugar

2 tbsp Irish whiskey

½ tsp kosher salt

½ cup powdered sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 340 degrees. Coat a standard-size loaf pan with nonstick spray.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, salt and baking soda together until no lumps remain.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk the brown sugar and eggs together until smooth.

4. Into the egg mixture, whisk in the oil and then the buttermilk.

5. Gently blend the flour mixture into the egg mixture until they form a smooth batter.

6. Stir in the Guinness and food coloring until everything is well combined, then transfer the batter into the loaf pan.

7. Bake 35 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.

8. When cool, remove the cake from the pan.

For the frosting

1. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the butter until melted, about 30 seconds.

2. When butter is melted, whisk in the brown sugar and microwave for another 30 seconds, or until the sugar is dissolved.

3. Stir in the whiskey, salt and powdered sugar, whisking until smooth.

4. Cool the frosting to room temperature, then spread the frosting over the cooled cake.

5. Decorate with green and gold sprinkles, and sanding sugar as desired.

6. For the prettiest results, allow the cake to sit for at least 30 minutes so that the frosting forms a crust before slicing.

With reporting by Crista Lacqua

Editor's P/S:

Zac Young's Guinness green velvet cake is a unique and delicious twist on the traditional red velvet cake. The cake has a subtle cocoa flavor that allows the malty and hoppy notes of Guinness to stand out, and the whiskey-infused, salted caramel frosting adds a touch of indulgence. The recipe is versatile and can be made as a loaf, a single-layer round cake, or even as cupcakes. It's perfect for a festive occasion like St. Patrick's Day, but it's also a great dessert for any occasion.

Young is a talented pastry chef who has been recognized for his creative bakes. He is the Pastry Director of Craveable Hospitality Group and has been featured on several cooking and baking shows. His Guinness green velvet cake is a testament to his skills and creativity. The cake is not only delicious, but it's also a beautiful dessert that is sure to impress your guests.