Last week was my birthday, so I baked myself a birthday cake. I do realize how pathetic that sounds, but baking my own birthday cake is actually something I like to do — I get exactly what I want, I get to bake, which I actually enjoy, and I can milk the pity for all it’s worth (I had to BAKE MY OWN birthday cake!) (and lest you still feel sorry for me, my mother also baked me a birthday cake for the family celebration we had a few days after my birthday.)
I do love all kinds of cakes, but after making both a yellow cake with chocolate frosting AND strawberry cupcakes for the Nuni’s birthday, I wanted something a little more adult for mine. Something a little more complex. Something that wouldn’t be devoured by a little person within minutes of baking. And that something was gingerbread.
Despite promising beginnings, the Nuni has not seen the light on gingerbread, which she currently deems too spicy, which makes it perfect for my evil plan, er, birthday cake. My love of gingerbread is well-documented — I’ve already written about this classic gingerbread and this chocolate gingerbread. For this cake I wanted something a little lighter and cakier, and I found it, once again, in Laurie Colwin’s More Home Cooking
Much as I love gingerbread all by its lonesome, a cake isn’t a birthday cake for reals until you add frosting. And in the “adult” theme, and the “British” theme, I decided to flavor my icing, a basic and classic buttercream, with scotch whisky, which may just be the best idea I’ve had all year. Like the classic English brandy butter (traditionally served with Christmas plum pudding) only with a deeper, more complex and slightly smoky flavor. The whisky cuts the sweetness that can often mar buttercream, and at the same time rounds it out, making it mellower and more lasting. And the whole shebang complements the spicy richness of the gingerbread.
Happy birthday to me. I’m not sharing.
- 1 can Lyle's Golden Syrup (about 16 oz. or 1.5 cups)
- 1 stick butter (8 Tablespoons)
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1.5 tsp. baking soda
- 1 Tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 3 Tablespoons scotch whisky
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the bottom of a 9 inch cake pan (2 inches deep) with parchment and spray the sides with baking spray.
- Melt butter and syrup together.
- Into a bowl mix flour, salt, syrup and spices. Add the syrup and butter mixture and mix well.
- Add egg and milk, and stir until the mixture is combined.
- Pour into the cake pan and bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes -- it's OK if the cake still seems a bit damp in the center. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out and cool on a rack.
- Using a serrated knife, cut the cake in half horizontally. Fill and top with whisky buttercream.
- Combine all ingredients and mix until fluffy.
Happy Birthday …. Nothing wrong with baking your own cake … especially with whisky frosting … brilliant idea!
What a great cake to celebrate your birthday. Happy belated!!
Happy belated birthday. Now where’s my piece?
First of all, happy belated birthday! Secondly, my birthday was last week as well and I bought a STORE BOUGHT cake. Now, that’s pathetic! Making your own sweet delicious cake is such a treat. Yum!
I like the way you think… Baking your own cake ensures you get to enjoy your favorite cake on your special day. Happy Birthday!
At least when you bake your own cake you can be sure it’s exactly what you want, and you know it’s not picked up at the grocery store bakery! Looks fabulous. Nice big slice — perfect for a birthday.
Cheers and happy happy to you,
*Heather*
I love Laurie Colwyn so much. A great fiction writer AND a good food writer and made all the more great by the fact that she isn’t writing any more. 🙁
Happy birthday!
Kate you had me at the picture then when I got to the Golden Syrup – swoooooooon! Happy Belated Birthday xoxo
Wow – what a cake. Okay, now I need you to come make this for ME next week for my birthday. 🙂
Love this cake just through the description & picture… it must have been irresistible in reality!
Happy Birthday!!!
& of coursed you can make your own cake on your birthday….as long as someone else does the dishes. 😉
Happy birthday! The cake looks amazing. And everything is better with a bit of scotch in it!
I’m totally with you here. People always feel sorry for me that I bake my own cakes, but I am happy to do it because I get exactly what I want and I don’t have to stress if it doesn’t turn out perfectly. Happy late birthday Kate!
I get Lyle’s Golden Syrup in my grocery store. It comes in a plastic easy-squeeze bottle too! You might ask your grocer if they can stock it.
When you’re a foodie, I don’t think there’s ANYTHING pathetic about baking your own birthday cake, especially if you love to bake like you do. As a matter of fact, I think it’s incredibly important to take the time to meditate about all the things you love about yourself while you go through each and every step of creating something new in celebration of yourself.
So here’s to you, your birthday, and creating something as tasty as this cake! Happy Happy!
One brand is BOB WHITE and another is KING.
KING syrup is from the south for sure and I believe BOB WHITE is as well. I love them both.
For your upcoming B-DAY(mine is the 10th) check out ROOT or SNAP for this recipe. It’s what lead me here. Both are flavored spirits and wow! They pack a punch.I believe this recipe of yours will work fine
with SNAP in the frosting.