Every once in a while, you want to have a treat that is a little more grown up – no matter how much you like a classic chocolate cupcake. You’ll find more grown up treats that you can eat in Booze Cakes: Confections Spiked With Spirits, Wine, and Beer, a cookbook specializing in spiked sweets. A book with this type of theme is a great idea because it opens up a whole new world of flavors that don’t always make it in to other cookbooks.
The cookbook starts out with an introduction that includes a lot of good information on baking with alcohol. For instance, you’ll find a chart that lets you know how much alcohol stays in a recipe after baking, based on the amount you put in and baking time. You’ll also find great descriptions of different liquors and notes about how they can be used in baking. The rest of the book is divided up into chapters by type, starting with Classic Booze Cakes. This chapter is where you’ll find English Trifle made with sherry and Black Forest Cupcakes made with kirsch, as well as other cakes that generally have alcohol in them to begin with. The recipes are very clearly written and the instructions are broken down into steps for recipes that have multiple components, making it very easy to follow along and stay organized. Although this chapter does focus on classic flavors, there is a little leeway with the presentation to keep things fresh. The Banana’s Foster Gingerbread Flambe comes in the form of spicy cupcakes – although you still light them before serving as you do with a more traditional banana’s foster.
The other chapters are Cocktail Cakes, based on cocktails and other drinks, Cake Shots and Cakes With a Twist, where classic recipes are spiked. There are also recipes for homemade flavored liquors, mixers, frostings and garnishes at the end of the book. There are some great photos to go along with the recipes, but somehow just the names and descriptions make them appealing. That, along with the user-friendly recipe format makes this a book that you’ll definitely want to cook from at an upcoming dinner party.
Amber Shea @Almost Vegan
July 19, 2010Now this is my kind of baking book! I love the sound of those recipes!
Karla
July 19, 2010I’m dying to get my hands on this book! I keep eyeing it on Amazon!
I made champagne brownies last week. I love baking with alcohol. It gives such a great flavor!
Sara @CaffeIna
July 19, 2010Uhhhh I love baking with alcohol too. Thanks for help me add another book to my wish list