Scotch Whiskey Cake Recipe (2024)

by Jillian Leslie on

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

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.

[ex-toc]

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.

Other Cake Posts You Might Like

  • 26 Teen Birthday Cake Ideas
  • Most Popular Girl 1st Birthday Cakes
  • 17 Fabulous Fortnite Cake Ideas
  • 26 Fab and Easy Dinosaur Cake Ideas

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.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe

Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Course: cake

Cuisine: Scottish

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!

This post may contain affiliate links that won’t change your price but will share some commission. We are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliates.

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. :)

To leave a comment Log in -or- Join the party

Scotch Whiskey Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How much alcohol is in a whiskey cake? ›

ingredients
  1. CAKE.
  2. 1 (18 ounce) box yellow cake mix.
  3. 1 (3 1/2 ounce) box instant vanilla pudding.
  4. 4 eggs.
  5. 12 cup oil.
  6. 1 cup whole milk or 1 cup 2% low-fat milk.
  7. 1 12 fluid ounces whiskey.
  8. 1 cup pecans or 1 cup walnuts, chopped.

Does whiskey cake taste like whiskey? ›

While you can certainly taste the whiskey in this cake, it is not overly boozy. The real star of the show here is the browned butter glaze. Its nuttiness complements the toasty, caramel-y flavors of the brown sugar.

Can whiskey cake get you drunk? ›

Whiskey cake, as the name describes, is commonly baked with nuts, dried fruits, and of course some good, old-fashioned whiskey (via Rabbit Hole Distillery). This dessert is also known as tipsy cake, but according to Toriavey, this boozy treat won't actually get you drunk.

What does adding alcohol to cake do? ›

In some recipes, booze plays the major liquid part, like this wine cake. The wine not only gives it a sweet, boozy flavor, but also a nice, moist bite. This works especially well in cakes that are soaked after cooking, like sticky toffee pudding (make it with bourbon) or coconut cake (try coconut rum).

How much alcohol do you put in cake batter? ›

How to Bake with Alcohol
Type of Alcohol% Alcohol by VolumeAlcohol Addition
Liquor20-952-12 Tablespoons
Liqueurs15-304-12 Tablespoons
Wine and Fortified Wines10-208-16 Tablespoons
Beer and Hard Cider3-1410-20 Tablespoons
Dec 15, 2015

Which alcohol is best for cake? ›

8 Alcohol Choices to Bake With
  • Amaretto.
  • Bourbon.
  • Champagne.
  • Cream Liqueur.
  • Gin.
  • Red Wine.
  • Rum.
  • Vodka.

Which whiskey is best for baking? ›

Maker's Mark

Maker's Mark is suitable for baking when the bourbon flavor should be more subtle. Tasting notes on this bourbon include a spice-forward flavor profile with cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and ginger. Vanilla and caramel are also evident, but each flavor blends with no real standout or dominating flavor.

What whiskey is good for baking? ›

Best Bourbon to Cook & Bake With
  • 80 Proof Jim Beam: With a lower proof than most bourbons, Jim Beam's flavor profile is approachable, with hints of honey and butterscotch. ...
  • 100 Proof Knob Creek: Knob Creek is a staple small-batch collection from Jim Beam.
Jan 31, 2022

Can I use whiskey instead of rum in cake? ›

Any type of whiskey will work.

We prefer bourbon or a Jack Daniel's whiskey cake recipe. For St. Patrick's Day, make an Irish whiskey cake by using something like Jameson Irish whiskey.

Is whiskey cake only in Texas? ›

In Texas, Florida, & Oklahoma.

Can you buy a whole whiskey cake from whiskey cake? ›

Whole Whiskey Cakes are $59 plus tax and include all of the sauces, whip cream and spiced pecans. You can pre-order by calling ahead at 972-993-2253.

Is rum cake ok for kids? ›

Can kids eat a rum cake? Yes. 99.5% of the rum in our cakes is cooked off in the baking and boiling process. Although not all kids love the rum flavour in the cake, they can certainly share a piece for dessert with the family.

How long does alcohol last in cake? ›

No Worries, the Alcohol Burns Off During Cooking—But, Does It Really?
Time Cooked at Boiling point of alcoholApproximate Amount of Alcohol Remaining
15 minutes40 percent
30 minutes35 percent
One hour25 percent
Two hours10 percent
1 more row
Dec 2, 2019

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.

How long to bake alcohol out of 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.

Does the alcohol cook 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.

How much alcohol is in a bourbon cake? ›

Even though each and every cake is made with 100% aged Kentucky bourbon for a rich nutty maple flavor, the alcohol bakes out in the baking process and there is less than . 5% alcohol in the entire cake.

Does the alcohol cook out of a bourbon cake? ›

Notes. Now, most of the alcohol in the actual cake bakes out but it's soaked in bourbon after it comes out of the oven.

Does whiskey cook out of 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.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Edmund Hettinger DC

Last Updated:

Views: 6043

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Edmund Hettinger DC

Birthday: 1994-08-17

Address: 2033 Gerhold Pine, Port Jocelyn, VA 12101-5654

Phone: +8524399971620

Job: Central Manufacturing Supervisor

Hobby: Jogging, Metalworking, Tai chi, Shopping, Puzzles, Rock climbing, Crocheting

Introduction: My name is Edmund Hettinger DC, I am a adventurous, colorful, gifted, determined, precious, open, colorful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.