Scotch Whiskey Cake Recipe (2024)

by Jillian Leslie on

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This beautifully- spiced Scotch Whiskey Cake is laced with whiskey-soaked plump raisins and tingles with all things spice.

I love serving this classic and elegant cake at an all-adult party; it’s perfect for a special occasion like a New Year’s Party; check out our New Year’s Eve printables and themes for ideas!

Scotch Whiskey Cake Recipe (1)

This cake is not just for whiskey lovers; not all of us like to drink whiskey, but this cake is delicious! It’s moist, filled with boozy raisins, and has a sweet, buttery flavor that is to die for.

This cake is perfect for New Year’s Eve, and here are 9 New Year’s Eve Party Ideas to help you plan out your evening.

Take time planning your ultimate New Year’s Eve Setup, and we have tons of fun New Year’s Eve-themed ideas, and supplies such as these DIY Glittered Flutes, Free Printables, and tons of themes to inspire you.

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Reasons To Love This Cake

  • Sophisticated flavors: whiskey, ginger, and buttery vanilla with a tickle of cinnamon.
  • A conversation starter: this cake will draw plenty of attention, comments, and questions about its flavor.
  • Impressive presentation: this elegant cake is beautifully laid out on a table.
  • A taste of Scotland! If you’re into Scottish culture, then you will love this authentic-feeling cake.
  • Perfect for a special occasion like New Year’s Eve or a 50th Birthday party.
  • Versatile: serve it as dessert (warm), with coffee, or as an afternoon treat.

Ingredients and Supplies

Here’s what you need to make this crowd-pleaser:

  • Raisins. These will get soaked overnight in whiskey and are the real showstoppers in this cake.
  • Butter. Choose unsalted butter if you can. Plant-based and margarine will also be perfect in this recipe.
  • Brown sugar. Goes beautifully with the butter and whiskey flavors.
  • Eggs. Have them at room temperature when you’re ready to bake. I always choose large eggs for cake baking.
  • Caster sugar. Don’t switch out for white sugar, or it will impact the cake’s texture.
  • Vanilla essence. You can also use vanilla extract or vanilla seeds if that’s what you have.
  • Greek yogurt. Plain, full-fat yogurt or buttermilk will work well in this recipe. This ingredient is responsible for the incredibly moist texture of this cake.
  • Plain flour. All-purpose is perfect; you can use gluten-free flour in this recipe and have a gluten-free cake.
  • Ground ginger. This spice will further enhance the glace ginger in the recipe.
  • Cinnamon. If you don’t have any, you can leave it out.
  • Baking powder and baking soda. The chemical raising agents in this recipe.
  • Glace ginger. Gives a lovely zing and goes beautifully with the whiskey.
  • Whiskey. You can use absolutely any whiskey for this cake. If you’re a whiskey drinker, then ensure you use your favorite brand.
  • Icing sugar. Regular powdered sugar is fine; ensure it’s sieved and lump-free.
  • Bundt tin. You’ll need to grease and flour the tin well to avoid issues getting the cake out.

How To Make This Scotch Whiskey Cake

This is a relatively simple cake to make; just follow the steps and instructions closely.

Step 1: Prepare the tin

Preheat oven to 350F.

Grease your bundt tin and then lightly dust with flour. Gently knock the sides of the pan and tip any loose flour out.

Step 2: Make the cake batter

Cream the butter and sugars until fluffy, then add the eggs, mixing as you add each one.

Tip in the yogurt and vanilla essence, then add flour, spices, baking powder, and baking soda. Mix until well combined.

Scotch Whiskey Cake Recipe (7)

Step 3: Adding the raisins

Your raisins would have soaked overnight in whiskey. Drain the raisins (save any excess whiskey for the drizzle) and add them to the cake mix along with the ginger pieces stirring gently.

Step 4: Baking the cake

Tip the mixture into the bundt tin and spread until the mixture is evenly distributed.

Bake for approximately 1 hour or until the cake springs back when lightly pressed.

Step 5: The Drizzle

Make the whiskey drizzle by combining the whiskey and brown sugar and stirring well.

Once the cake is cooked, leave it to cool in the pan slightly, then tip it onto a cooling wire rack.

Poke holes in the top of the cake using a skewer, and then pour the drizzle over while still warm. Allow it to cool completely.

Step 6: Make the frosting

To make the icing (frosting), put the butter into a heavy-bottomed pan and melt, then, stirring all the time, allow bubbling until it turns golden brown.

Let it cool until just warm, then mix in the icing sugar and whiskey until it forms a smooth paste.

Spoon it on top of your cake and let it drip down the sides a bit.

Tips and Substitutions

  • Although you can absolutely use a regular whiskey, you will definitely taste the flavor, and a higher quality whiskey will stand out.
  • Use unsalted butter, as it allows you to control how much salt is going into the cake.
  • If you don’t want to use whiskey or if you’re going to try another alcohol, consider rum or brandy.
  • You can add other ingredients to your cake like nuts, glace cherries, and seeds.
  • If you don’t want a thick wad of frosting, you can make a simple whiskey glaze instead of the frosting.
  • For a more decadent version, consider a whiskey ganache for this cake; it will make it extra indulgent.

FAQs

What is Scotch whiskey cake?

It’s a buttery, vanilla, and Scotch whiskey-flavored cake with a deeply rich and complex flavor.

Do I need to use real whiskey in the cake, or can I use whiskey flavoring?

You can use whiskey flavoring, but it won’t have the same flavor depth as real whiskey.

Can I make an alcohol-free version of a scotch whiskey cake?

Yes, you can substitute the whiskey with apple cider; keep in mind this will affect the overall flavor.

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Be sure to let us know if you make this cake and how it turns out. Remember to check out our inspiration pages and grab your free printables while you’re on our site.

Scotch Whiskey Cake Recipe (15)

Scotch Whiskey Cake Recipe

A rich and buttery cake, filled with grown-up flavors like whiskey, glace ginger and cinnamon.

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Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 people

Calories: 890kcal

Author: Jillian Tohber Leslie

Equipment

  • 1 Bundt Tin

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups raisins
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup golden caster sugar
  • 3 unit eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence
  • 1 cup Greek yogurt
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 2 TBS glace ginger
  • Scotch whiskey

For the whiskey drizzle

  • 3 TBS Scotch whiskey
  • cup brown sugar

For the frosting

  • ½ cup butter
  • 3 cups Icing sugar
  • 3 TBS Scotch whiskey

Instructions

For the cake

  • Preheat the oven to 350F.

    Grease your bundt tin and then lightly dust with flour. Gently knock the sides of the pan and tip any loose flour out.

  • Cream the butter and sugars until fluffy, then add the eggs, mixing as you add each one.

    Tip in the yogurt and vanilla essence, then add the flour, spices and baking powder, and baking soda. Mix until well combined.

  • Your raisins would have soaked overnight in whiskey. Drain the raisins (save any excess whiskey for the drizzle) and add them to the cake mix along with the ginger pieces stirring gently.

  • Tip the mixture into the bundt tin and spread until the mixture is evenly distributed.

    Bake for approximately 1 hour or until the cake springs back when lightly pressed.

Make the drizzle

  • Make the whiskey drizzle by combining the whiskey and brown sugar and stirring well.

  • Once the cake is cooked, leave to cool in the pan slightly, then tip onto a cooling wire rack.

    Poke holes in the top of the cake using a skewer, and then pour the drizzle over whilst still warm. Allow to cool completely.

Make the frosting

  • To make the icing (frosting), put the butter into a heavy-bottomed pan and melt, then, stirring all the time, allow bubbling until it turns golden brown.

    Let it cool until just warm, then mix in the icing sugar and whiskey until it forms a smooth paste.

    Spoon it on top of your cake and let it drip down the sides a bit.

Notes

A simple process of adding the wet to the dry ingredients, you’ll love how easy it is to whip up this rich tasting whiskey-flavored cake.

Nutrition

Calories: 890kcal | Carbohydrates: 134g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 417mg | Potassium: 334mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 81g | Vitamin A: 1068IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 3mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Comment

2 comments

  • Scotch Whiskey Cake Recipe (16)

    Jane U wrote:

    I was all excited when I saw this was a recipe from the UK - finally a recipe NOT in cups!! Oh no!! What a disappointment! I have tried conversion tables and I even have measuring cups but recipes just don't work! How on earth do you measure a cup of butter? I have heard that in the US butter is sold in sticks and a number of sticks makes a cup! But that doesn't help us Europeans. Do you have this recipe in grams or ounces? Thanks

  • Scotch Whiskey Cake Recipe (17)

    Jillian L wrote:

    Sorry about that! One stick of butter in the US is 1/2 cup, so that's why it's easy for us. Converting to grams, you can use this guideline:1 stick butter is 1/2 cup or 115g2 sticks butter is 1 cup or 225gNote they are approximations, so that's why 2 sticks is 225g, not 230g. :)

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Scotch Whiskey Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does whiskey bake out of cake? ›

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), baked or simmered dishes that contain alcohol will retain 40% of the original amount after 15 minutes of cooking, 35% after 30 minutes and 25% after an hour. But there's no point at which all of the alcohol disappears.

Can whiskey cake get you drunk? ›

In case you're wondering, no, this cake will not get you drunk. Each serving contains a mere quarter ounce of whiskey (that's 1 1/2 teaspoons). While part of the alcohol does cook off during baking, the cake will still contain some alcohol, so keep that in mind when serving.

Can you add liquor to box cake mix? ›

Other liquors like Grand Marnier or allspice dram might work better here, but make sure to use a small amount when adding it to your batter—substituting no more than a quarter of the water or milk called for on the box with the liquor—so as to not create an overpowering flavor.

What does whiskey do in baking? ›

Some lessons from baking with whisky

Save the whisky for the icing and decoration: the spirit may be versatile but it's also volatile and baking it in the batter completely evaporated the taste and aroma!

How long does it take for alcohol to bake out of a cake? ›

The longer you cook, the more alcohol cooks out, but you have to cook food for about 3 hours to fully erase all traces of alcohol. A study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Nutrient Data lab confirmed this and added that food baked or simmered in alcohol for 15 minutes still retains 40 percent of the alcohol.

What whiskey is good for baking? ›

Ruffenach says she chooses which bourbon to add to her recipes based on flavor profile. “I think about sweetness versus spice,” she explains. “My go to for most of my baking is Old Forester 86 or JTS Brown [from Heaven Hill]. If I want to have a little extra spice or punch, I might use Old Grand-Dad Bottled in Bond.”

Can kids eat bourbon cake? ›

In general, when parents allow it, foods containing alcohol are fine in small amounts and when not swimming in a drunken sauce. Kids who don't ordinary consume alcohol may find the taste disturbing as well.

Is Whiskey Cake only in Texas? ›

In Texas, Florida, & Oklahoma.

How much alcohol is in Jack Daniels whiskey cake? ›

This mouthwatering cake is made with toasted pecans and authentic Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey…a whole new way to enjoy Old No. 7. This product contains less than 0.5% alcohol by volume.

What is a cake soaked in alcohol called? ›

A cake soaked in rum is commonly known as a "rum cake" or "rum-soaked cake." It is a delicious dessert that is infused with the rich flavor of rum. There are different variations of rum cakes, including the traditional Caribbean rum cake and the rum baba.

Do bakeries use boxed cake mixes? ›

Most bakeries do NOT bake from scratch. In fact, I once worked at a bakery that actually claimed to be a “scratch bakery”, but all their cakes started with a Duncan Hines cake mix, the same kind you buy in the grocery store.

What not to do with whiskey? ›

Don't mix top-shelf booze with anything besides ice or water. co*ke goes with Jack, not Lagavulin 18. A splash of water can really mellow out most whiskies. Also, never drink on an empty stomach.

Can you cook with scotch? ›

Whisky is a versatile cooking ingredient which makes it great for both sweet and savoury sauces. Lashings of savoury whisky sauce that includes scotch, double cream, garlic, shallots, and stock is delicious with haggis, mashed potatoes, or steak pie.

What dessert goes well with scotch? ›

Spicy or cinnamon based desserts work especially well with Scotch that has mild peat. Fruit based desserts pair with a light, fruity whisky. Dark chocolate pairs well with almost any whisky. For bold, smoky, and peaty whiskies, try dark chocolate.

Does alcohol get cooked off in baking? ›

The science:

Depending on the cooking method and how much alcohol is used, anywhere from 4 to 85 percent of the alcohol may remain. After 15 minutes of cooking, about 40 percent of the alcohol remains. Even after an hour of cooking, about 25 percent is left, and 10 percent remains after two hours.

Does the alcohol cook out of a bourbon cake? ›

While some of the alcohol will evaporate as the cake is baked, a small percentage will likely remain. The amount that remains will depend on a variety of factors, such as the amount of alcohol in the recipe and how long the cake is baked for.

Does cake soak up alcohol? ›

The alcohol soaks into the warm cake, but it doesn't mess with the chemistry of the batter. It also doesn't dissipate from the heat of the oven.

Does alcohol in vanilla bake off? ›

The amount of vanilla extract used in most recipes is not enough to result in any sort of intoxicating effects. Plus, the recipes that vanilla extract is often used for typically require baking, and the heat will remove any trace of alcohol.

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