Whiskey cake, commonly referred to as "tipsy cake," is a baked treat that includes whiskey, fruits, and nuts. As a result, the cake is both moist and tasty, and it also has a variety of flavours and textures for each mouthful, making it irresistible. Whiskey cake is a member of a long-established family of baked pastries with alcoholic infusions. Baking during a time when alternative preservation techniques weren't as common or simply hadn't been developed may have benefited bakers greatly. It was extremely useful to know how to prepare a cake with alcohol infusion since it allowed bakers to produce food that stayed edible for longer. As a result, several recipes call for baked items that use additional alcohols that offer the same benefits of preservation while also having their own distinct flavours. A traditional recipe that has weathered the test of time is whiskey cake. The first written accounts of it date back to the 1700s, and in the 18th century, Irish families enjoyed this wonderful baked good as a pleasant treat.
The history of whiskey cake in the United States shares some similarities with how the nation rose to prominence in the whiskey world. As European settlers moved to the Americas and brought their favourite foods with them, whiskey cake eventually made its way across the Atlantic Ocean, just like the beverage that gives it its name. Whiskey cake was a hit with the colonists once it was brought over from their relatives on the other side of the ocean.
Although there is no shortage of whiskey cake enthusiasts, General George Washington, the Revolutionary War hero and the nation's first president, maybe the most well-known and influential one. Even the Emmy Award-winning programme "A Taste of History" named the cake as one of Washington's favourites and included a recipe that is probably the same as the one the president himself ate. Washington frequently shared the cake with visitors to his renowned Mount Vernon residence, so it wasn't only a private treat for him.
Here’s how you can make this delicious treat at home:
Ingredients
For the cake:
•2 cups all-purpose flour
•¼ cup whiskey
•1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•2 teaspoons baking powder
•1¼ cup sugar
•1 cup cocoa powder (unsalted)
•1 teaspoon salt
•1 cup butter (unsalted)
•6 large eggs
•1 teaspoon baking soda
For the glaze:
•2 tablespoons Irish whiskey
•¼ cup granulated sugar
•½ cup heavy cream
•¼ cup butter (unsalted)
•2 tablespoons brown sugar
Method
For the cake:
•Set the oven's temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for preheating.
•The Bundt pan should be greased with nonstick cooking spray.
•All-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt should be combined in a sizable mixing bowl.
•Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment for 5 to 7 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
•One at a time, add the eggs, mixing thoroughly after each addition.
•Continue mixing the butter, sugar, and eggs on medium speed for about 5 minutes, or until they are light and fluffy.
•Add the vanilla extract and stir.
•Start and end with the dry ingredients as you slowly add the whiskey to the mixer while it is running at low speed.
•Fill the prepared pan with the cake mix.
•A toothpick inserted in the cake should come out clean after 40 to 50 minutes of baking.
•After the whiskey bundt cake has cooled in the pan for ten minutes, flip it onto a wire rack to finish cooling.
For the glaze:
•Prepare the whiskey glaze while the cake cools. Add the butter, heavy cream, granulated sugar, and brown sugar to a small saucepan set over medium heat.
•The mixture is brought to a boil and then simmered for three minutes.
•After turning off the heat, let the mixture cool for five minutes.
•Stir the whiskey into the pan after adding it.
•Pour the whiskey glaze over the cake's top, allowing it to run down the edges as it does so.
•With ice cream or freshly whipped cream, slice the cake and serve it.