A Key Reason to Follow All Instructions in a Recipe... And a Quick and Delicious Whiskey Cake! - (2024)

A Key Reason to Follow All Instructions in a Recipe... And a Quick and Delicious Whiskey Cake! - (1)So, have you ever wondered whether you REALLY need to follow those ridiculous inane instructions in a recipe? “Spray this.” “Flour that.” Mix this before that or the ALL THE THINGS WILL GO WRONG.

Well, I’m sort of ashamed to say I always thought these things were a bit of a crock. Obviously buttering a pan makes it easier to get the cake out, but it doesn’t feel super necessary. Even as a food writer and recipe creator, I got away for a long time with just sort of faking my way through things. Measuring to a “good enough” standard, substituting ingredients because I didn’t have the right thing, making pretty much ANYthing gluten free, and considering almost every cake a “dump cake.” A long history of blind stupid luck that had nothing to do with actual baking or cooking science, slowly led me to believe that I could do what I wanted in the kitchen with no consequences and no flubs.

As you can plainly see, my lucky streak seems to be over!

This photo was not doctored and I did not “style” this cake to look like this. As a matter of fact, below is the original post written for this wonderfully soft, amazingly easy whiskey cake that was supposed to come out looking brown and beautiful and ready for an adorable dusting of powdered sugar—preferably floating in the air of my perfect photo. Lol.

Instead, I learned that food science is real. There IS a reason you should butter or spray your pans, and if you forget, you really should take the time to pour the batter back into the bowl and re-grease the pan.

I learned the hard way. If you’re lucky like me, your friends and family will have a good attitude about eating an ugly cake so long as it tastes ok. As a food writer, my friends and family are always warned that there’s a chance we’ll have to order pizza if a new recipe is a bust. I’ve only had to do that once or twice, but my fam has also been subject to ugly or half-co*cked food.

So the moral of the story is, follow all the instructions in a recipe or risk the consequences. Can I say I’ll ALWAYS follow all the rules? Probably not. But I can say, if I continue to skip steps, I’ll know more that I really am taking a risk—and you should too.

In the meantime, the cake and post below will keep your dinners tasty—even if a bit ugly.

A Key Reason to Follow All Instructions in a Recipe... And a Quick and Delicious Whiskey Cake! - (2)

Quick and Delicious Whiskey Cake

I grew up on this cake. It’s one of those recipes that my mom finally asked “are you going to write it down this time?” because I had asked her for the recipe so many times. It’s one of those recipes that’s perfect for a last minute pot luck because it’s made with cake mix and a few other ingredients so it’s totally easy.

As most of you know, I don’t love mixes. I like to make stuff from scratch so I know exactly what goes into it–especially as a gluten free girl. I feel I already ingest enough chemicals and such just because of my allergy (mostly because I refuse to give up completely on baked goods).

But this cake is different. Not only is it just downright nostalgic for me, but there’s also an argument for having a few of these quick and delicious recipes in life–things you can just pull out of your back pocket on any night you get invited to a last minute BBQ (or, if you’re like me, HAVING the last minute BBQ).

My mom used to make this in a standard bunt pan, but I’m completely in love with the new patterned bunts from Williams Sonoma and the like. They make great quick cakes truly striking. Plus, you really can’t beat the gold-surfaced pans for non-stick qualities.

(Don’t tell, but make sure to keep a slice of this cake for a fabulous breakfast with your coffee.)

Happy Cooking!

Quick and Delicious Whiskey Cake

A Key Reason to Follow All Instructions in a Recipe... And a Quick and Delicious Whiskey Cake! - (3)

Save Print

Prep time

Cook time

Total time

Serves: 12

Ingredients

  • 1 Yellow Cake Mix (I use the Gluten Free one)
  • 1 Large Package Instant Vanilla Pudding
  • 1 Cup Chopped Walnuts
  • ½ - 1 Cup Chocolate Chips
  • ¾ Cup Oil
  • ¾ Cup Milk
  • 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
  • ½ Cup Whiskey
  • 3 Eggs

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven to 350.
  2. Mix all ingredients in bowl until smooth.
  3. Grease bunt pan well.
  4. Pour mixture into pan and bake for 45-60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

A Key Reason to Follow All Instructions in a Recipe... And a Quick and Delicious Whiskey Cake! - (2024)

FAQs

What is whiskey cake made of? ›

Combine cake mix, pudding mix, and 1/2 cup walnuts in a large bowl. Whisk 1/2 cup Irish whiskey, milk, and oil together in a separate bowl. Whisk in eggs.

What is the history of whiskey cake? ›

Whiskey cake is a historical recipe that has withstood the test of time. The earliest writing about it extends as far back as the 1700s, with the delicious baked good providing a tasty treat for Irish families in the 18th century.

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.

Is there any alcohol in cake? ›

The alcohol evaporates when baking cakes and cookies. The residual alcohol content is very low (<0.5%). In fact, the food alcohol present in infinitesimal quantities in the flavouring incorporated into the cake has a role in diffusing this flavouring into the product during cooking.

What was the first cake called? ›

The ancient Greeks called cake πλακοῦς (plakous), which was derived from the word for "flat", πλακόεις (plakoeis). It was baked using flour mixed with eggs, milk, nuts, and honey. They also had a cake called "satura", which was a flat, heavy cake.

What is the oldest cake in the world? ›

The Egyptians gave us the world's oldest known cake–and also the world's oldest Tupperware as it happens. During the reign of Pepi II from BCE 2251 to 2157, bakers mixed up a wheat dough for flatbread and filled it with honey and milk. The dough was poured into two pre-heated copper molds that fit tightly together.

What was the first cake ever made? ›

The earliest cakes were very different from the cakes we know today. They were more like bread and were sometimes even savory. The first mention of cake dates back to the 4th century BC when a Greek writer mentioned a cake made with honey and wheat flour.

Is apple cake made of egg? ›

🥣 In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, and baking powder. Then add eggs and oil, and mix until smooth. Next, gently fold in the apples. ♨️ Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Does Jack Daniels whiskey cake have alcohol? ›

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 kind of alcohol is used in cake? ›

For example, rum and bourbon give off nutty and vanilla tasting notes that work well with pie filling, cake mix and cookie dough (much like a vanilla extract). Red wine, port and brandy, on the other hand, add a sweetness that pairs nicely with glazes, chocolate cake and gingerbread.

Can bourbon cake get you drunk? ›

Although alcohol remains, it's highly unlikely that dishes cooked with alcohol will cause intoxication. The amount of wine, beer, or spirits found in most recipes is so small that, even if left uncooked, an adult would never feel its effects.

How much whiskey is in whiskey cake? ›

Place the cake mix, pudding mix, 1/2 cup water, vegetable oil, eggs, and 1/2 cup whiskey into a mixing bowl, and beat until well blended with an electric mixer, about 2 minutes. Pour the batter over the nuts in the pan.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Lidia Grady

Last Updated:

Views: 6005

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (45 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Lidia Grady

Birthday: 1992-01-22

Address: Suite 493 356 Dale Fall, New Wanda, RI 52485

Phone: +29914464387516

Job: Customer Engineer

Hobby: Cryptography, Writing, Dowsing, Stand-up comedy, Calligraphy, Web surfing, Ghost hunting

Introduction: My name is Lidia Grady, I am a thankful, fine, glamorous, lucky, lively, pleasant, shiny person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.