I want a hamburger.
with cheese and pickles and too much ketchup.
And chocolate milk.
This is not that… but this is still good.
Why would I crank up my oven and make a spice cake in the middle of summer? I dunno.
Why would I make this cake when what I really want is a giant hamburger and chocolate milk? I dunno.
Why haven’t I gotten my stupid shaggy hair cut yet? Don’t know.
What the heck is going on with Frank on The Bachelorette and why did he have to go all the way to Tahiti to drop bombs? I do not know.
Why the deep V? Why?
We’re going to get to the bottom of this Bachelorette thing. We’re going to talk about it. I really have a few things I need to get off my chest.
Seriously.
This spice cake with beer and honey is from a book called Booze Cakes. Pretty self explanatory, right? It’s a pretty cute book from two Los Angeles based ladies. If you have a sweet tooth for things like Jello Shot Cakes, or if you were just dying to find a way to get tequila into your cakes… this is totally the book for you.
This spice cake is pretty interesting. It’s got a heartwarming combination of spices, and a super moist crumb. This cake stays moist for daaaaays. The recipe called for granulated sugar, brown sugar aaaand honey. That’s a lot of sugar. Even after cutting back on the sugar I thought it was dang sweet. You might be able to cut back on the sugar just a touch more.
Can you taste the beer? Just barely… and it’s not really beer-y. The hoppy beer is a great compliment to the spice and honey. It really rounds everything out.
Can you replace the beer with anything not beer like? No… It’s a Honey and Beeeeer Cake. Just go with it.
If beer offends you, how about Honey Whole Wheat Pound Cake? Super yum. Trust.
With barely sweetened cream and salty roasted nuts, I say this cake is pretty swell.
If you have a mega sweet tooth, Cream Cheese Frosting would set this cake over the top!
Honey and Beer Spice Cake
adapted from Booze Cakes
makes one 9×13-inch cake
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (next time I’ll use a combination of all-purpose and white whole wheat flour)
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon all-spice
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
zest and juice of 1 lemon
1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup honey
12 ounces (1 1/2 cups) pale ale beer or honey beer
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9×13-inch (don’t use anything smaller, seriously) pan and set aside.
I a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fit with a paddle attachment, cream together butter, sugars, spices and lemon zest. Mixture may look crumbly, but mix for about 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating for 1 minute after each addition.
Beat in the lemon juice and honey.
Add the flour mixture and beer. Alternating. First add a third of the flour mixture, mix. Add half of the beer, mix. Add the second third of flour, the rest of the beer. Mix. Then finally add the last third of the flour. Beat the batter on high speed for 30 seconds. The batter will be loose and smooth.
Pour into the prepared pan and bake in the upper third of the oven for 45-50 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
Serve with barely sweetened whipped cream and salty roasted nuts. This cake would also be pretty delicious with a cream cheese frosting.
Megan Gordon
Don’t get me started on The Bachellorete. Really. Especially since apparently I can’t even spell the word…This cake book looks awesome. Will have to check it out. Basically two of my favorite things (booze + cake) combined, so it certainly can’t be bad. And cream cheese frosting to boot. Awesome. Have a great weekend, Joy!
Avanika (Yumsilicious Bakes)
I’d love to have a copy of that book *wishlist* The cake looks delicious.
Melanie
“The hoppy beer is a great compliment to the spice and honey. ” music to my ears
I want this cookbook!
Ashleigh
Perhaps a beer cake is the appropriate lead into a serious Frank analysis. I think you’re on to something with the v necks. Maybe a Frank look book would reveal something.
I’m partial to team Roberto, you have to love a man that will dance with you anywhere. Plus, being a good dancer translates to other things. However, Chris has the whole Cape Cop thing going for him and he is a genuine person with an amazing fam.
Did you know you can order a Bachelorette calendar? Just saw it on the ABC website. The weatherman in a speedo… terrifying.
Heather @ chiknpastry
WTF is wrong with Frank? I kinda like Chris anyway because he’s sorta dorky/cute/hot. We’ll see.
And I love this cake…
Shauna
Heck, I put booze in dang near everything else I make, so why haven’t I thought of putting it in cakes (other than rum cake) yet?! I must get this book. I even have a soon-to-be-former-coworker (not because he’s leaving, but because I’m getting promoted) who is all about booze and baked goods, and I’m thinking that his pregnant wife might appreciate a slice of this cake, since she’s been booze-free for 8 months now. Therefore, I must. Buy. NOW.
Sassy Molassy
First off, I can definitely get behind a cake like this. Secondly, I second your thoughts on Frank. He’s creeping me out. And that deep v shirt, I almost thought I saw that it was a tank under his sweater. Not sure how I feel about that. Wait, I do know-YUCK! Ugh…frank.
Kare
I want that book. Awesome, and the cake looks divine.
Yeah, the Frank deal. What’s up with that? I think the dude’s got mega issues. My theory: He was obviously into Ali but he couldn’t take the possibility of not being The Chosen One. So he went back to a sure thing instead, his ex. Which actually is a little ironic because I theorized that Ali was driven by the exact same fear – I’ll reject you (with some lame ass excuse) before you can reject me.
Either way, I think she’s dodging a bullet with run-by-his-emotions Frank – not to mention she dodged a freaking nuclear warhead with Crazy Jake.
I can’t believe I just attempted to psychoanalyze these people. I love smut TV, what can I say. Guilty pleasures: Nothin’ wrong with that.
Sarah from 20somethingcupcakes
So the fact that you watch the Bachelorette tells me that I’m just a little more obsessed. Is that wrong? It’s sad how much I look forward to that ridiculous show. This cake looks so moist and delish, love the idea of beer in it. xxSAS
Kate @ Savour Fare
Booze cakes sounds right up my alley (but why limit yourself at cakes?) This would go perfectly with the honey rum ice cream I made last weekend (well, semifreddo, really, due to the 1/4 cup of rum in it.)
Foodie in Berlin
You are a brave woman baking in the heat. I can barely convince myself to make dinner…
lily
frank has creeped me out from the beginning!!! and yeah, what’s with the deep V-neck tees? sorry dude, not attractive…
Tonya
Your rant about Frank made my day. Also interested in the book! Thanks for making me smile. :)
nita scot
Sounds delicious. I will definitely try this cake. And also look for the book. A lil alcohol in desserts never hurt :)
Brittany
Ooo, I think serving it with whipped creme fraiche may be a good compromise between the whipped cream and cream cheese frosting. Sounds delicious!