Cakes and Wine Cakes

Wine cakes offer a sweet dessert. They accompany wines, teas, or coffees.

Traditionally, wine cakes require a basic recipe of one cup creamed butter, 2 cups sugar, 4 beaten eggs, and 3 cups of flour, before adding a cup of red wine to the batter.

Additional ingredients can include, but are not limited to, 3 cups of chopped nuts such as pecans or walnuts, or a jar of maraschino cherries or raisins. The batter is usually cooked at 300 degrees for an hour and half, with a half hour cooling in the pan.



If you are short on ingredients, you can make a modified wine cake in a shorter time.
This recipe divides the batter into non-wine for a base.
Then the wined batter is poured on top in the center.

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Heat a 1/2 cup of butter in a pan on the stove top over medium heat.
As the butter is melting, stir in 1/2 cup brown sugar.
Then stir in 1/2 cup white sugar.
When the butter is melted, turn off the heat.
As the butter cools, continue to stir the sugar for a creamy, blended texture.
(It may look like carmel, but not sticky.)
Then, add one egg and stir it in quickly before it cooks in the warm batter.
Add one or two teaspoons of vanilla. (Bourbon vanilla adds a nice flavor.)
Then add 2 cups of flour.
Stir the mixture together.
Add more flour for a stiffer cake if you like.
In a greased cake pan, pour 2/3 of the batter.
With the remaining batter, stir in 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup of red wine.
Pour the wined batter into the middle of the regular batter.
Place the cake pan into the oven to cook for about 1/2 hour.
Then, carefully check the wine cake for doneness by pressing down on the center.

It's often better to take this cake out sooner rather than later.
You can tinker with this recipe, and add oatmeal, nuts, or fruit.
Then, slice the cake, and place it on pretty plates.
Brew some tea or coffee, or pour a small glass of red wine.
Enjoy the wine cake and the time.

Additional Notes:

While wine cakes, wines, coffees, and caffine teas are delicious, they are best taken in small quantities. And yes, this advice is easier to give than to follow. The European custom is to follow dinners and desserts with herb teas that aid digestion and provide a calming influence.
Try chamomile or peppermint teas after the wine cakes.