Vanilla Grape Liqueur Cake

I started experimenting with liqueurs some years ago when I fell in love with one of the best homemade liqueurs I have ever had. It got me wondering as to how the infused ingredients would taste in a cake, once the liqueur was strained and bottled. From then on, I always used the fruit from the liqueur in the various cakes I made and Vanilla Grape Liqueur Cake was one of the exceptional ones. When I served the Vanilla Grape Liqueur Cake a bit hesitantly to various guests, it was gobbled up quickly. And I found it very amusing when friends asked for the recipe of Grape Liqueur Cake.

To continue on the subject of liqueurs, you can make a really good liqueur using either brandy or vodka and flavour it with fruit, spices, nuts, herbs, or seeds and sweeten it with sugar. My magic formula is an ordinary vodka and brown sugar. I have found that the resulting liqueur is outstanding ( even if I say so myself). The best part is using the fruit and nuts or seeds in a cake which always tastes very different to the cakes out there. In fact anyone with a bit of creativity and imagination could make a liqueur.

Let’s find out how to make the most delicious Vanilla Grape Liqueur Cake

This is the basic recipe for all my cakes

1 cup butter; 2 cups brown sugar ( I use a lot less- 1 cup); 3 cups flour; 4 large eggs

This amount makes 2 cakes.

For the Vanilla Grape Liqueur Cake I used half the amount only.

Recipe for Vanilla Grape Liqueur Cake:

Ingredients for Vanilla Grape Liqueur Cake

1/3 cup brown sugar (or more to taste)

1/2 cup butter

2 medium eggs

1 tsp vanilla essence

1 1/2 cups wheat flour

1 cup of liqueur soaked grapes ( see image)

1 ¾ tsp baking powder

1/2 cup milk

1 x 9 inch round/square/rectangle pan, greased and lined

Makes 1 Cake

Method For Making Vanilla Grape Liqueur Cake

Beat sugar and butter at room temperature till creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time and then beat in the vanilla essence. Add the sieved flour and baking powder to the batter 1/2 cup at a time, gently stirring to incorporate the mixture. Add the grapes from the liqueur and gently mix.

Pour the batter into the greased and lined pan. Tap gently to remove bubbles. Bake in pre heated oven at 175 Degrees Celcius / 350 Degrees Farenheit for 40 minutes or until skewer inserted in cake comes out clean. Cool completely before slicing and serving.