Eggnog Cake
They must have been great parties. If memory’s eye sees truths, then they were. If pictures hold a thousand words, then they were. My parents would have holiday cocktail parties at our house when we were little. No children – just adults. Picture “Mad Men“. Women garbed in tight waisted fancy cocktail dresses, and men in collared shirts and ties, would party until all hours of the night. Let us not talk about the amount of alcohol consumed and cigarettes smoked. This probably sounds more glamourous than it actually was. Our house was small, and no one had money to speak of. Neither of those things seem to have put a damper on the celebrating.
It’s funny how certain moments attach themselves and become memories. Clear as though it happened yesterday, I remember one evening as my mom and dad readied the house for one of their Christmas parties. All of us little ones were bathed and in jammys. Eventually we would be sent upstairs to bed, missing out on all the fun. The tree was up, decorations glistened, and the house looked beautiful. Glass bowls filled with nuts, and cookie trays loaded with sweets, sat upon the living room coffee and end tables. That night, for whatever reason, I became fixated on a tray of pecan butter crescents. You know, the ones shaped like a moon and doused in confectioners’ sugar. Well, I was overcome with a lack of self-restraint and I swiped one. Yep, off the tray and into my mouth before anyone caught a glimpse of the crime. I think that is why the memory is etched so deeply. The guilt! Or maybe it was the perfection of that cookie. Most likely, it is because everything seemed beautiful in that moment – the house, the food, and my parents.
All these Christmas memories bring me around to the reason I made this cake. What drink more than eggnog conjures up the holidays. My mom loves it. I, on the other hand, not so much. I love all the individual ingredients – the eggs, cream, nutmeg, bourbon (or other spirit) – just not all together in liquid form. So when I came across this recipe for eggnog cake, I had to try it. Eggnog in cake form. How Perfect!
I will always associate eggnog with my mom. When I arrive home for the holidays, I make sure she has a quart in her refrigerator. On Christmas Eve, I pour her a glass to sip as she watches her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren celebrate the night. I think this year I will make some eggnog from scratch for her. A new tradition might take root. Maybe, with a great recipe, I’ll even enjoy some. If I don’t, I can always use any leftovers in this cake.
Whip up a batch of homemade eggnog to use in this cake or purchase some from the market. Either way, you are sure to find the delicate crumb and buttery frosting of this cake a perfect dessert for your holiday table.
Eggnog Cake
Cake
2 1/2 cups sifted cake flour
1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs, room temperature
1 cup eggnog, divided
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 sticks butter, softened
Buttercream
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
6 egg yolks
4 sticks butter, softened, cut into 1 tablespoon sized pieces
3 tablespoons bourbon whiskey (rum or brandy can be substituted)
1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
Cake
Preheat oven to 350˚F. Coat the inside of two 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick spray, line the bottoms with parchment paper, and coat again with nonstick spray.
Whisk together cake flour, the 1 1/2 cups sugar, baking powder, 1 teaspoon of nutmeg, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Stir together the 3 eggs, 1/2 cup eggnog, and vanilla by hand in a small bowl or glass measuring cup.
With mixer on medium speed, cream the 2 1/2 sticks butter and the remaining 1/2 cup eggnog with the flour mixture until batter is light and airy, about 2 minutes. Add egg mixture to batter in three batches, blending well after each addition.
Divide batter between prepared pans; smooth tops with a spatula. Bake cakes until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Let cakes rest in pans on a rack for 15 minutes, then turn cakes out onto the rack to cool completely.
Buttercream
Combine the 1 1/2 cups sugar and the water in a small saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat; cook until syrup reaches 245˚.
Using a whisk attachment, whip the 6 egg yolks in the bowl of a stand mixer on high speed until mixture lightens in color, about 5 minutes; turn off beater.
When the sugar syrup reaches 245˚, remove it from the heat to stop the cooking. Immediately pour about 2 tablespoons of the syrup into the beaten egg yolks. Turn mixer to high speed; beat until mixture is thoroughly combined. Continue adding sugar syrup slowly, beating until all the syrup is combined with the egg yolks. Continue beating until sides of the bowl cool to room temperature. Add the 4 sticks butter to the yolk mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, blending well after each addition. Buttercream may appear curdled, but continue beating and it will smooth out after all the butter is added. Add bourbon and nutmeg, beating to combine.
To assemble the cake, place one cake layer on a serving platter. Spread some buttercream on top and out to edge of cake layer. Top with second cake layer. Spread remaining buttercream on top and sides of cake. Store cake in the refrigerator. Serve at room temperature.
Yield: 16 servings
Source: Adapted from Cuisine Holiday Baking
So many food memories return during the holidays! I also recall spiked eggnog. The sprinkle of nutmeg always seemed exotic to me, perhaps because it was associated with the holidays. I do not covet a cup of eggnog but I am certainly enamored of your splendid cake! A terrific holiday post with a slice of cake! What could be better?
For whatever reason, this year in particular, a holiday memory appears around every corner. I’m assuming it has something to do with baking so much for the blog, however, it is probably just age. 🙂
Aww, that is a good (and funny) memory to remember. A lot of things I remember doing as a kid had to do with me being naughty and doing something I wasn`t supposed to do.
What a sweet childhood memory! You remind me that when I have my own kids, I shouldn’t be afraid to put them to bed and throw myself a nice cocktail party. Eggnog cake included. I HAVE to try this. 🙂
[K]
The Eggnog Cake is HANDS DOWN the BEST CAKE I’ve ever had!
Amazing as I absolutely hate eggnog…cloyingly sweet and thick, like drinking solid cream from the carton.
But this cake has the essence of eggnog – much lighter (as it’s a powerful taste) and blended with the tipsy-tasting whiskey frosting (which should include extra “shots”) it is a fabulous cake for the holidays.
Simply my new favorite!
So I don’t know if I’m PMSing or what, but I just found this lovely blog and I cried reading this post. My parents had holiday parties when I was small as well, and I remember peeking down at them from the stairs, marveling at the glowing tree and the ladies’ dresses and the trays of food. Your writing is beautiful and just reminded me of a simpler time that I hope to be able to recreate for my own kids one day, so thank you. Also, this cake looks amazing!
Sarah, thank you so much for your lovely comment. It made my day! I appreciate you stopping by my blog and I hope you will be a frequent visitor.