A couple of days ago I was cleaning up the dishes and I was hit by the smell of whiskey coming from one of the glasses from the previous night. It was a rather smoky Irish whiskey and I started thinking it would be great for a cake.
So I started hunting for a recipe for a simple cake with whiskey and I came up with this recipe by Stefania of Nuvole di Farina. And I thought it was perfect. And, come to think of it, also a perfect choice for St. Patrick’s.
When I baked this cake I quartered the doses (because we are only 2 and technically I should be on a pre-summer diet) and I used cranberries instead of raisins because that is what I had on hand, but I think raisins would be better.
My cake had a very distinct whiskey, probably because I used quite a lot of smoky flavored whiskey. If you want a milder taste, you can use a milder whiskey or you can dilute it with water.
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 lb flour
- 5 oz. flour
- 5 oz. sugar
- 3.5 oz. raisins (I used cranberries)
- peel of an orange or orange essence
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 cup whiskey
Directions
- Soak the raisins and the orange peel in the whiskey for at least 2 ours or over night.
- Beat the butter with the sugar until is creamy and well combined.
- Add the eggs one at a time alternating with the flour.
- Add the drained raisins and enough whiskey to get a smooth (but not overly fluid) batter.
- Add the baking powder.
- Bake at 375F for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean
Notes
adapted from Nuvole di Farina
Hi! I'm PolaM, the Italian cooking in the Midwest.
I’m also on a diet at the moment (even if you couldn’t tell from reading my blog!) but this could easily tempt me off it…
Frank @Memorie di Angelina recently posted..Pasta alla capricciosella (Pasta with Squid, Mushrooms and Peas)
Thank you for trying my recipe
was really good! grazie!
I like the idea that the cake actually tastes like the whisky used. Sometimes it gets lost once you baked it!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella recently posted..Made From Scratch: Thai Green Curry Paste & Thai Green Chicken Curry
I guess it depends on how much you use… and whiskey has a tendency of getting out of the bottle around me…. not sure why…
PolaM recently posted..Irish whiskey cake
It looks and sounds wonderful.
The cake must have smelled wonderful!
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Cold Oven No Proof Yeast Wholegrain Spelt Bread
You must have a wonderful aroma in your house when you were baking this cake. With this delicious looking cake, I guess no more whiskey in my coffee.
wok with ray recently posted..Thai Iced Tea
We don’t drink whiskey so I have a good bottle standing on kitchen cabinet, just waiting to be used for a recipe like this.
Nuts about food recently posted..Cascina Lasso and Vigevano
I’ve never had nor heard of a whiskey cake. It looks very interesting. Can’t wait to try it out. Is it meant to be eaten as-is, or is there a topping/frosting/icing/glaze thing you’d recommend?
I never put any toppings as they are not usual in Italy and I think so it is in Irland, but not sure…. I would think a bit of powdered sugar or some ice cream would work great. You could also make a whiskey butter cream to up the whiskey-ness if you like the idea…
You are so talented to think about making a cake when you smell and saw the Irish whiskey! My husband loves whiskey and I am pretty sure he would love the idea of whiskey cake! Perfect timing for St. Patrick’s Day!
Nami | Just One Cookbook recently posted..Cucumber and Chicken Marinated in Chili Oil 鶏肉ときゅうりのラー油漬け
Ciao Pola, che buono questo dolce profumato!