Irish Whiskey-Free Cake (Printable)
Moist, flavorful Irish-inspired bake, crafted without whiskey. Full of comforting tastes, ideal for any teatime or sweet craving.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
04 - ½ teaspoon salt
05 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
→ Wet Ingredients
07 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
08 - 1 cup granulated sugar
09 - 2 large eggs
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
11 - 1 cup buttermilk
→ Add-Ins
12 - 1 cup mixed dried fruits (raisins, currants, chopped dates)
13 - ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
14 - Zest of 1 orange
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat your oven to 350°F. Thoroughly grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan, or line it with parchment paper for easier release.
02 - In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg until well combined. Set this mixture aside.
03 - In a large bowl, using an electric mixer or whisk, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color.
04 - Beat in the large eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract and fresh orange zest.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients mixture and buttermilk to the butter mixture, alternating between them. Begin and end with the dry ingredients, mixing only until just combined to avoid overmixing.
06 - Gently fold in the mixed dried fruits and optional chopped walnuts or pecans until they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
07 - Pour the prepared batter into your greased and floured 9-inch cake pan. Use a spatula to smooth the top surface of the batter.
08 - Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, indicating it is fully cooked.
09 - Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Afterward, invert it onto a wire rack to cool completely before further handling.
10 - Before serving, you may dust the cooled cake with powdered sugar for an elegant finish.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- You'll adore how effortlessly this cake comes together, yet tastes like you spent hours perfecting it.
- It's a celebration of cozy, comforting flavors, making every bite feel like a little indulgence.
02 -
- The trick to a truly tender cake is to never, ever overmix the batter once the flour is added and gentle folding is your friend.
- Using room temperature ingredients, especially the butter and eggs, makes a surprisingly huge difference in the final texture and emulsification.
03 -
- To ensure your dried fruits don't sink to the bottom, toss them with a tablespoon of flour before folding them into the batter. It's a game-changer!
- Don't open the oven door during the first 30 minutes of baking this can cause your cake to fall in the center, leading to a dense result.