Originally I wanted to share a beer mug cake for Father’s Day, but I wasn’t able to edit the footage in time!

Luckily, beer never goes out of style, and this cake is also perfect for summertime BBQs / cook outs!

Adding Beer Into This Cake Recipe

I couldn’t resist using some beer in the actual cake recipe. It felt wrong making the cake layers without it. Plus, now it’s truly a beer cake recipe!!

I swapped out some of the buttermilk for beer in my go-to vanilla layer cake recipe and frosted the cake with a vanilla buttercream. It’s almost like a cream ale, right?! 

The fun part is that you can use your favorite beer. I used a Founders All-Day IPA, but the options are really limitless.

I’d love to hear what your favorite beer is, and what types you’ve used in this recipe!

Beer Frosting??

When I began to think about adding beer to the cake layers, my brain naturally progressed to day dreaming about a beer buttercream.

Originally I did plan to use a beer flavored frosting on this cake. I figured if I could cook down the beer a bit, I could incorporate it into my buttercream recipe.

But that idea quickly faded when I tried to make an IPA reduction. While the concept seemed great in my mind, the smell of the reduction told me otherwise!!

Instead, I chose to color the frosting into what I decided was a “beer-colored” frosting.

I used a combination of warm brown and yellow gel food coloring to create this tan shade.

Making the Beer Mug Handle

While I don’t work with fondant and gum paste very often, it’s hard to avoid it with this beer mug cake design.

Without a handle, it’s really a beer glass cake. And that just doesn’t have the same ring to it!!

This handle can be made with white fondant or gum paste. Gum paste is similar to fondant but dries more quickly.

I used fondant and it took quite a while for my handle to dry. I’d recommend using gum paste if possible!

Be sure you make the handle for this cake at least a few hours in advance, if not the day before.

This will give it time to dry and make it easier to insert onto the side of your cake. If it’s still soft, it can crack or break.

The Finishing Touch on This Beer Mug Cake: The Buttercream Foam

The finishing touch on this cake is the buttercream foam! It’s ironic, because in real life you don’t want a ton of foam on top of your beer.

However, I love the cartoonish look that the piped frosting foam gives this cake. It makes it feel like it’s right out of an episode of The Simpsons!!

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the rest of the IPA while decorating this beer mug cake! I had way too much fun decorating it, and hope you do too.

Beer Mug Cake Substitutions and Swaps

Below are some swaps and substitutions that can be made in this recipe.

• All-Purpose Flour – This recipe works best with all-purpose flour, but you can use cake flour or a gluten free flour blend if needed.
• Unsalted Butter – If you only have salted butter on hand, you can use it in place of the salted butter and omit the salt in this recipe. You can also use vegan butter in its place!
• Egg Whites – You can also use 5 large, whole eggs or if you have an egg allergy you can use an egg replacer like this. However, it will slightly change the color and texture of these cake layers.
• Buttermilk – You can also use whole milk, full-fat yogurt, sour cream or alternative yogurt or milk (almond, soy, oat) if you’re dairy free.

Tips for Making the Best Beer Mug Cake

• Ingredients at room temp mix together better! Set out any cold ingredients ahead of time.
• Properly measure your flour (spoon into the cup measure, then level) or use a kitchen scale to measure the dry ingredients.
• Bang your cake pans on the counter before putting them in the oven. This brings any air bubbles that are trapped in the batter to the surface.
• Level the room temperature or thawed cake layers with a serrated knife to make them easier to stack (but leave one unleveled!).
• Make this beer mug cake vegan or dairy free if needed! Use your favorite type of dairy free milk to replace the buttermilk and heavy cream and use vegan butter sticks in place of the butter. For the eggs I recommend using an egg replacer like this.

Making This Beer Mug Cake in Advance & Storage Tips

Make the cake layers in advance and freeze them. It breaks the process up and makes it more approachable.

Make the frosting ahead of time or save any leftover frosting! It can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Be sure to give it a good stir once it thaws to get the consistency nice and smooth again.

A frosted cake can last in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for up to a month. The buttercream locks in all the moisture, keeping the cake fresh and delicious!

If you cut into the cake and have leftovers, use any remaining frosting to cover the cut section to keep it moist and store in the fridge for up to a week.

Let Me Know What You Think!

If you try this beer mug cake recipe, I’d love to hear what you think of it! Please leave a rating and comment below.

And don’t forget to tag me @chelsweets and use #chelsweets on social media so that I can see your delicious creations!

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