This Beer Spice Cake is a wonderfully rich and moist loaf, combining the warm, comforting aromas of cloves, cinnamon, and allspice with the unexpected depth of beer. The addition of chopped dates and nuts provides texture and natural sweetness, making this cake both rustic and elegant. It's a classic example of Depression-era or mid-century baking ingenuity, using pantry staples in creative ways to produce something special. Often served as a tea-time treat or casual dessert, this loaf has a tender crumb and spiced flavor that develops even more the next day.
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter (softened)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg (beaten)
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour (sifted )
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cloves
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground allspice
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup nuts (chopped, e.g., walnuts or pecans)
- 1 cup dates (chopped )
- 1 cup beer (any lager or amber style works well)
Instructions
Step 1: Cream Butter and Sugar
- Cream together butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the beaten egg and mix well.
Step 2: Sift Dry Ingredients
- In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, cloves, cinnamon, allspice, baking soda, and salt.
Step 3: Prep Nuts and Dates
- Sprinkle a little of the sifted dry ingredients over the chopped nuts and dates. Toss to coat.
Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry
- Add the remaining dry ingredients to the creamed mixture alternately with the beer, starting and ending with dry ingredients.
Step 5: Add Mix-ins
- Fold in the floured nuts and dates.
Step 6: Bake
- Pour the batter into a greased 9x5x3-inch loaf pan or an 8×8-inch square pan.
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to finish cooling.
Tips
- Use dark beer for a richer flavor, or a light beer for a milder one.
- Replace dates with raisins or dried cranberries for a different fruit note.
- For extra moisture, brush the top with warm honey or a beer glaze after baking.
- Add a simple powdered sugar glaze if serving as a dessert.
- Store wrapped at room temperature; flavor improves overnight.
Nutrition
Calories: 341kcalCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 6gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 181mgPotassium: 257mgFiber: 3gSugar: 36gVitamin A: 30IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 94mgIron: 2mg
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