Irish Car Bomb Trifles

Certainly! Here's a detailed, step-by-step recipe for **Irish Car Bomb Trifles** — a decadent dessert inspired by the popular Irish Car Bomb cocktail, featuring Guinness chocolate cake, Irish whiskey ganache, and Bailey’s Irish Cream mousse. This indulgent treat is layered, flavorful, and perfect for special occasions, especially around St. Patrick’s Day.

---

## ☘️ Irish Car Bomb Trifles

**A rich and boozy dessert layered with Guinness chocolate cake, Irish whiskey ganache, and Bailey’s Irish Cream mousse.**

---

### 🍽️ Servings: 6–8 individual trifles

### ⏱️ Prep Time: 45 minutes | Cook Time: 30 minutes | Chill Time: 1 hour | Total Time: \~2.5 hours

---

### 🧾 Ingredients

#### For the Guinness Chocolate Cake:

* 1 cup Guinness stout

* 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter

* ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

* 1¾ cups granulated sugar

* ½ cup sour cream

* 2 large eggs

* 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

* 2 cups all-purpose flour

* 2½ teaspoons baking soda

* ½ teaspoon salt

#### For the Irish Whiskey Ganache:

* 8 oz semi-sweet chocolate, chopped

* ⅔ cup heavy cream

* 2 tablespoons Irish whiskey (such as Jameson)

* Pinch of salt

#### For the Bailey’s Irish Cream Mousse:

* 1¼ cups heavy cream, chilled

* ½ cup powdered sugar

* ¼ cup Bailey’s Irish Cream

* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

* 4 oz cream cheese, softened (for stability and richness)

#### Optional Garnishes:

* Whipped cream

* Chocolate shavings or curls

* Crushed chocolate cookies

* Mini chocolate chips

---

### 🍶 Equipment

* Electric mixer or hand whisk

* Mixing bowls

* Saucepan

* 6–8 mini trifle glasses or jars

* Spatula

* Knife and cutting board

* Cooling rack

---

### 👩‍🍳 Instructions

---

### Step 1: Bake the Guinness Chocolate Cake

1. **Preheat oven** to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking pan.

2. In a saucepan over medium heat, bring **Guinness and butter** to a gentle simmer. Once melted, whisk in the cocoa powder until smooth. Let it cool slightly.

3. In a large bowl, whisk together **sugar, sour cream, eggs, and vanilla extract** until well combined.

4. Slowly pour the Guinness mixture into the wet ingredients, whisking constantly to combine.

5. Sift in **flour, baking soda, and salt**, and mix just until the batter is smooth and free of lumps.

6. Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for **28–32 minutes**, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

7. Allow cake to cool completely, then cut into small cubes or circles to fit your trifle dishes.

---

### Step 2: Make the Irish Whiskey Ganache

1. Place chopped chocolate in a heat-safe bowl.

2. Heat cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until it just begins to simmer — do not boil.

3. Pour hot cream over the chocolate and let sit for 1 minute.

4. Add Irish whiskey and a pinch of salt, then whisk until smooth and glossy.

5. Set aside to cool slightly. It will thicken as it cools but should remain pourable.

---

### Step 3: Prepare the Bailey’s Irish Cream Mousse

1. In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth.

2. In another bowl, whip the heavy cream to soft peaks using a hand or stand mixer.

3. Add powdered sugar, Bailey’s, and vanilla to the whipped cream and continue beating until stiff peaks form.

4. Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese gently until fully combined and airy.

5. Chill for 30 minutes to firm up slightly before assembling.

---

### Step 4: Assemble the Trifles

1. Begin with a layer of Guinness chocolate cake cubes at the bottom of each trifle glass.

2. Drizzle with a spoonful of Irish whiskey ganache.

3. Add a generous layer of Bailey’s mousse.

4. Repeat layers until glasses are full — usually two full layers of each component.

5. Chill for at least 1 hour to set.

---

### Step 5: Garnish and Serve

Before serving, top each trifle with a dollop of whipped cream, chocolate shavings, or crushed cookies for extra texture and flair.

---

### 💡 Tips for Success

* **Make ahead**: All components can be prepared a day in advance and stored separately in the refrigerator. Assemble before serving or a few hours ahead.

* **Non-alcoholic version**: Use non-alcoholic stout and substitute flavored extracts or syrups for whiskey and Bailey’s.

* **Versatile format**: You can also prepare this as one large trifle in a glass bowl.

---

### ❤️ Final Thoughts

Irish Car Bomb Trifles are an elegant, boozy, and chocolatey indulgence. They capture the essence of the classic cocktail in a dessert that’s as visually stunning as it is delicious. Each spoonful layers the depth of stout chocolate cake, the richness of ganache, and the creaminess of Bailey’s mousse — making this a festive dessert guaranteed to impress.

Would you like a printable version or a variation like a gluten-free version of this recipe?