Wine Cake Recipes
Mixing wine into cakes before baking is an ages old technique to create moist, flavorful deserts. The wine's alcohol evaporates in the baking process, and most people who try a wine cake cannot pinpoint the unique flavor, but they usually ask for seconds and want a copy of the recipe. There are many variations of wine cakes that include white and red wine. As well, fruit wines are frequently included in fruit based cakes. Some recipes also include wine in the icing or filling. Here are a couple of delicious wine cake recipes that are definitely worth the effort.
Easy White Wine Cake
Makes 10 Servings
1 box yellow cake mix (do not use cake mix that already has pudding in the mix)
1 (3 ¾ ounce) box instant pudding
4 eggs
½ cup canola oil
½ cup water
½ cup unoaked dry white wine like Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc
1 ½ cups chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix all ingredients, except nuts for 1 minute on low speed. Scrape sides of bowl, and mix on medium speed for two minutes. Fold in 1 cup of pecans. Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan, and sprinkle remaining pecans on bottom of pan. Add cake batter and place in oven. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes. Cool on baking rack
Glaze
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup butter, softened
½ cup of the same wine used in the cake
½ cup water
Combine all ingredients in saucepan and heat until boiling. Drizzle over cooled cake.
Chocolate Port Wine Cake
Makes 10 Servings
4 ounces butter
½ cup port wine
5 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1 cup granulated sugar
3 eggs, separated
¾ cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour one 9 or 10-inch cake pan. Melt butter and chocolate together in small saucepan, and add wine.
Combine sugar and egg yolks in bowl and mix on medium speed until pale yellow in color. Add melted chocolate slowly, and beat until smooth. Add flour and beat on medium speed for 1 minute. In another bowl, beat egg whites on high until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in 1/3 of chocolate mixture into egg whites. Fold in remaining chocolate carefully. Pour into cake pan and bake for 30 minutes.
Port Wine Sauce
1 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup port wine
1 ¾ cups water
8 ounces unsweetened chocolate
2 cups heavy whipping cream
Blend water, sugar, and wine in small saucepan, and cook on medium heat to create syrup. Reduce heat to low, and add chocolate. Stirring constantly until melted. Remove from heat and add cream. Pour over Chocolate Port Wine Cake and serve.
