Not everyone likes fruit cake at Christmas and my brandy butter cake is the perfect alternative. Not only does it have the booze connection happening, it’s really pretty due to being generously topped with edible flowers.
Edible flowers are one of my favourite "tools" to use in desserts. They instantly make something look pretty or vibrant depending on the flowers you use. There is no fuss and effort involved. You could even choose your flower colours to match your Christmas table setting.
That is what this cake is all about, no fuss. It’s easy to make, easy to ice, and easy to decorate. That translates as, easy to entertain. Which are two of my favourite words during the craziness that is Christmas, easy and entertain. Of course it is very easy to eat as well.
Taste wise it is a rich cake, packed with butter and brandy. The almond meal adds another little bit of richness and density to the cake. The icing is fragrant with vanilla bean and extra brandy.
If you don’t already have a reliable source for edible flowers, don’t panic if you can’t find them. I think topping this cake with whole fresh cherries would be the perfect alternative to decorate this cake. Just arrange them on top side by side, you could even leave their stems on sticking upwards. Cherry and brandy do go so well together, don’t they.
Sara xxx
Printable Recipe
Brandy Butter Cake
Ingredients
- 250 grams butter
- 200 grams caster sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 225 grams self raising flour
- 75 grams almond meal
- 80 ml brandy
- 250 grams icing sugar sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- 5 ml 1 tablespoon brandy, extra
- A couple of tablespoons of warm water
- Edible flowers to decorate
Instructions
- Preheat oven 170°C ( °F). Grease and line a 20cm (8 inch) round cake tin.
- In a large bowl cream butter and sugar until pale in colour. Beat in eggs one at a time, incorporating completely before adding the next egg.
- Gently mix in the flour and almond meal, then mix in the brandy.
- Scrape cake batter in to your prepared tin and bake in the oven for 50 minutes, or until golden and cooked through. Test with a skewer, if it comes out clean it is cooked.
- Leave the cake to cool in the tin for 15 minutes, then remove from tin and continue to cool on a cake rack.
- Once the cake is cold it is ready for icing.
- In a medium bowl place icing sugar, vanilla bean paste, brandy and a couple of tablespoons of warm water. Mix and continue to add a tablespoon of water, one at a time, until your icing is a thick consistency. You don’t want it to be too runny.
- Ice the cake and let the icing dribble off the sides.
- Once the icing has set a little and stopped dribbling down the sides of the cake, top with edible flowers of your choice.
Measurement Notes
All measurements are Australian metric standard. All measures are level, and cups are lightly packed unless specified. 1 teaspoon = 5ml / 1 tablespoon = 20mls / 1 cup = 250ml /4 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
The recipe's nutritional information is an approximation based on an online calculator. It is meant solely for reference purposes. If you're looking for precise details, be sure to double-check with your own research.
Revathi Palani
I love pound cakes. This butter cake seems more elegant and beautiful. Looks like it would just melt in my mouth 🙂
Gourmet Getaways
YUM!!
This looks so delicious!
I am not a fan of fruit cake so this would be perfect 🙂
Thanks for sharing
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
The Hungry Mum
This cake is stunning Sara! Love the Xmas taste, without the Xmas schmalty look. Your photos are the bee's knees...
Hillary Reeves
Oh my gosh; positively gorgeous!!
john | heneedsfood
I'm not the hugest of fans when it comes to fruit cake, so yep, I wouldn't say no to this.
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com
Sara, that's a beauty! Wish I had a slice right now to go with my ever-present cup of tea!
Helen | Grab Your Fork
You had me at brandy 🙂
Dooseet
flowers look amazing! I never though about using flowers during baking, maybe I should give it a try!