There is a long history of using wine as a culinary ingredient. You can cook or bake with wine. Some world cuisines, such as Italian and French, have categorized some wines as "cooking wines." The logic behind using wine in cooking is simple. Wine acts as a flavor enhancer. Whether it is a sauce, a meat dish, or a cake like this wine cake recipe, using wine gives sweetness and tanginess simultaneously, adding an umami feel.
Wine cake, a classic bake sale item and a popular family treat, is a popular recipe in which wine is the star ingredient. There are many variations of this cake, and this recipe for wine cake combines spices and fruit with wine to give you the ultimate wine cake satisfaction.
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Ingredients
Base ingredients
- All-purpose flour — 2 cups + 1 tbsp. for coating the cake mold
- Salt — ½ tsp.
- Baking soda — 1 tsp.
- Baking powder — 1 tsp.
- Ground allspice — ¼ tsp.
- Ground cinnamon — ½ tsp.
- Ground nutmeg — ¼ tsp.
- Sugar —1 cup
- Butter — ½ cup, unsalted, softened + 1 tablespoon for greasing the cake mold
- Eggs — 3
- Orange zest — 2 tbsp.
- Vanilla extract — 1 tsp.
- Red wine — 1 cup, table wine such as a merlot or cabernet sauvignon
Glaze ingredients
- Red wine — 1 tbsp.
- Orange juice — 2 tbsp. (from the orange you zested)
- Powdered sugar — ½ cup
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F degrees. Grease and flour an 8-inch pan. Make sure all the crevices are well-coated.
- Add the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice in a bowl. Whisk together.
- In another mixing bowl, cream the sugar and butter with an electric mixer until the mixture becomes creamy and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time. Mix well after each egg. Add the vanilla extract, orange zest, and red wine.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in two or three batches. Gently add the ingredients using a spatula. Be careful not to overmix.
- Pour the batter into the cake pan. Make sure it spreads evenly. You can tap the bottom of the cake mold on the counter a few times.
- Bake the cake for about 50 minutes. Check frequently after 40 minutes. Insert a toothpick at the center of the cake. When it comes clean, turn off the oven. Leave the cake to cool at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Take the cooled cake out of the pan. You can put a service plate over the mild and carefully turn it upside down.
- For the glaze, whisk together the orange juice, red wine, and powdered sugar in a bowl. Stir until smooth.
- Drizzle the glaze over the top of the cake.
- Let the glaze set for 10 minutes. Once the glaze sets, you can slice and serve the cake.
Substitutions
- Granulated sugar — This wine cake recipe takes the classical approach and calls for granulated sugar. You can use the same amount of brown sugar for a more dense, even gooey texture.
Variations
- Make it alcohol-free — The alcohol in the red wine mostly evaporates during baking, leaving behind the flavor. However, if you prefer to avoid alcohol, you can substitute the wine with several juices, such as pomegranate, cranberry, and mixed berry juices. You can use the same amount both for the batter and the glaze.
Equipment
- Measuring spoons and cups
- Mixing bowls
- Hand whisk and spatula
- Electric mixer
- Bundt cake mold
- Oven
- Knife
Storage
- You can store the cake in the fridge. The cake and the glaze both have to cool before refrigerating. Wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap or cling film to preserve moisture. Alternatively, you can cover the whole cake in a carrier or an airtight container. You can keep the leftover cake in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- You can store the cake in the freezer for up to 3 months. It is best to freeze in slices. You can keep the slices in an airtight container or resealable freezer bags.
Pro Tips
- Some recipes for wine cake call for dessert wines. Dessert wines are sweet and semi-sweet wines, and they are often used in cooking. To experiment, you can substitute red table wine with sweet red wine or a fortified dessert wine variety. Remember, if you opt for a sweet wine, you may have to adjust the quantity of the sugar.
Savory and Delicious Wine Cake Recipe
This wine cake recipe is a cool and unique twist on the classical dessert. Savory, moist, and juicy; this one will be your next go-to recipe for gatherings.
Equipment
- Measuring spoons and cups
- Mixing bowls
- Hand whisk and spatula
- Electric mixer
- Bundt cake mold
- Oven
- Knife
Ingredients
Base ingredients
- 2 cups All-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp. All-purpose flour for coating the cake mold
- ½ tsp. Salt
- 1 tsp. Baking soda
- 1 tsp. Baking powder
- ¼ tsp. Ground allspice
- ½ tsp. Ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. Ground nutmeg
- 1 cup Sugar
- ½ cup Butter unsalted, softened + 1 tablespoon for greasing the cake mold
- 3 Eggs
- 2 tbsp. Orange zest
- 1 tsp. Vanilla extract
- 1 cup table Red wine a merlot or cabernet sauvignon
Glaze ingredients
- 1 tbsp. Red wine
- 2 tbsp. Orange juice from the orange you zested
- ½ cup Powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F degrees. Grease and flour an 8-inch pan. Make sure all the crevices are well-coated.
- Add the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice in a bowl. Whisk together.
- In another mixing bowl, cream the sugar and butter with an electric mixer until the mixture becomes creamy and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time. Mix well after each egg. Add the vanilla extract, orange zest, and red wine.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in two or three batches. Gently add the ingredients using a spatula. Be careful not to overmix.
- Pour the batter into the cake pan. Make sure it spreads evenly. You can tap the bottom of the cake mold on the counter a few times.
- Bake the cake for about 50 minutes. Check frequently after 40 minutes. Insert a toothpick at the center of the cake. When it comes clean, turn off the oven. Leave the cake to cool at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Take the cooled cake out of the pan. You can put a service plate over the mild and carefully turn it upside down.
- For the glaze, whisk together the orange juice, red wine, and powdered sugar in a bowl. Stir until smooth.
- Drizzle the glaze over the top of the cake.
- Let the glaze set for 10 minutes. Once the glaze sets, you can slice and serve the cake.
Video
Notes
- Some recipes for wine cake call for dessert wines. Dessert wines are sweet and semi-sweet wines, and they are often used in cooking. To experiment, you can substitute red table wine with sweet red wine or a fortified dessert wine variety. Remember, if you opt for a sweet wine, you may have to adjust the quantity of the sugar.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Savory and Delicious Wine Cake Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
221
% Daily Value*
Fat
2
g
3
%
Saturated Fat
1
g
6
%
Trans Fat
0.03
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.3
g
Monounsaturated Fat
0.5
g
Cholesterol
41
mg
14
%
Sodium
325
mg
14
%
Potassium
84
mg
2
%
Carbohydrates
49
g
16
%
Fiber
1
g
4
%
Sugar
21
g
23
%
Protein
4
g
8
%
Vitamin A
76
IU
2
%
Vitamin C
5
mg
6
%
Calcium
64
mg
6
%
Iron
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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