Beer Spice Cake

8 servings Prep: 15 m Cook: 50 m Total: 1 h 5 m Beginner
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Beer Spice Cake
Who’da thunk it! is what my wonderful mother-in-law Teensie would say to using beer to make a cake. This moist spice cake combines beer with warm cinnamon, cloves, and allspice, studded with walnuts and dates for a unique, flavorful dessert.

Ingredients

8 servings
  • 1/2 cup margarine
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg lightly beaten
  • 1 1/2 cup sifted flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp each of cloves, allspice, soda and salt
  • 1 cup walnuts
  • 1 cup dates
  • 1 cup beer

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 9x5x13 loaf pan.
  2. Cream together 1/2 cup margarine and 1 cup brown sugar until fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Stir in the lightly beaten egg. In a separate bowl sift together 1 1/2 cup flour, baking powder, cinnamon and the remaining spices (cloves, allspice, soda and salt).
  4. Sift the dry ingredients again over the walnuts and dates to coat them.
  5. Add the creamed mixture alternating with the cup of beer, mixing just until combined. Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan.
  6. Bake 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  7. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Common Problems and Solutions

Q: Why is my cake dense or heavy?

A: Make sure not to overmix the batter once you add the flour mixture and beer. Mix just until combined to keep the cake light and tender.

Q: Can I taste the beer in the finished cake?

A: No, the beer flavor bakes out, leaving behind moisture and a subtle malty undertone that enhances the spices.

Tips and Techniques

Sifting the dry ingredients over the walnuts and dates helps prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake during baking. Any type of beer works, but lighter beers like lagers blend in more neutrally while darker beers add a hint of caramel flavor.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • beer: apple cider or ginger ale
  • dates: raisins or dried cranberries
  • walnuts: pecans or chopped almonds
  • margarine: butter

Equipment Needed

  • 9x5x13 loaf pan
  • mixing bowls
  • electric mixer or wooden spoon
  • flour sifter or fine-mesh strainer
  • wire cooling rack

Historical Context

Beer has been used in Southern baking for generations as a leavening agent and moisture enhancer, especially before modern chemical leaveners became widely available.