St Patrick's Day will be here soon and I've got enough Irish in me to start thinking about a celebration. Not a big party but an opportunity to pay homage to a part of my ancestry (My Dad's parents were German and Swiss; my Mom's English and Irish). It's time again for Progressive Eats and my buddy Liz from the blog That Skinny Chick Can Bake thought this would be the perfect opportunity to share some fantastic Irish dishes if you're in the mood to try your hand at an Irish celebration too.
Over the years I've often made corned beef for dinner but discovered a few years ago that our idea of Irish food for St. Paddy's day and the Irish idea of food for that day are diametrically opposite. Corned beef is not their standard fare at all; take a peek at the dishes in our list below for a more delicious and authentic experience. Add a cold Guinness too...funny I do not really like beer but I love an ice cold Guinness with a hearty Irish meal; go figure right...they must have known how well it would pair.
I'm bringing a dessert to the table. I posted this cake almost 8 years ago originally and thought this would be the perfect occasion to offer it again. Not only because I wanted to share it with more people but truthfully, the photos were crying for a redo. Irish Coffee itself, in its original form, is quite wonderful and can be served as a dessert libation however I certainly understand the need someone first had to incorporate that deliciousness into wonderful desserts of all kinds.
This 'Irish Coffee' Cake first started turning up in Irish cookbooks in the 1960's and '70's. A cake rich with coffee is cooled and liberally soaked in an Irish Coffee syrup that permeates every morsel. Topping this decadence with whipped cream that has been flavored with a touch more whiskey makes for a seriously divine ending to an Irish celebration. No wait. To ANY celebration! I've made it several times and no one has ever told me they won't eat it because I made it in a month other than March. 🙂
I must admit; I struggled this time around. While I've been in my home for 3 years now; this is the first time I've made this cake here. I am reminded AGAIN that Castle Rock, CO is higher than the elevation I moved from closer to Denver and this cake proved it. At 5280′ feet it really was not that big of a deal; baked goods really just need a bit higher heat to balance their faster rise and I seldom did much more. Yesterday? Round One could have been my own Deflategate. Luckily round two worked with a bit more fiddling; more flour, less sugar, more liquid, less leavening. I'll get this down eventually, I just know I will. Or die trying!
The cake itself is simple: a delicate one-layer sponge with an intense coffee flavor. But the real kick in this cake comes with the syrup that saturates it - more coffee, naturally with whiskey in it - and then it's topped with whipping cream flavored with...yes, more whiskey! To finish it all off, it's sprinkled with that best-loved of Irish native nuts, the hazelnut. I toasted the hazelnuts and can't imagine it any other way...be forewarned; this cake is amazing.
My friends and I invite you to join us at our virtual meal, check out the list of dishes after the recipe. And please, let me know if you try something; I think everything sounds amazing, don't you?
20 minPrep Time
25 minCook Time
45 minTotal Time
Save Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
St. Patrick's Day Recipes
Appetizers
Drinks
Main Course
Bread
Veggies/Side Dishes
Desserts
- Irish Whiskey Cake from Creative Culinary (You're Here!)
Welcome to Progressive Eats, our virtual version of a Progressive Dinner Party. This month we're sharing Irish or Green recipes in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day. You'll certainly find a delicious recipe to add to your repertoire! Our event is hosted by Liz who blogs at That Skinny Chick Can Bake. We have a full menu of dishes including appetizers, sides, an entree and desserts. You'll certainly find a delicious recipe to add to your holiday table!
If you're unfamiliar with the concept, a progressive dinner involves going from house to house, enjoying a different course at each location. With Progressive Eats, a theme is chosen each month, members share recipes suitable for a delicious meal or party, and you can hop from blog to blog to check them out.
