Sunday, April 19, 2009

Hot Toddy Pudding Cake

Hot Toddy Pudding Cake

This dessert is weeks in the making. I've dreamed about it. I've emailed my friends about it, I have even Twittered about it. Finally I decided to stop torturing others with my "I really want to make this" comments and just finally make it. All I really had to do was pop in to TJs to get the scotch and milk. Everything else was already waiting for me at home. I made this dessert the other night as my way of breaking the "cleanse". I am so glad I finally did. I was expecting something similar to what I thought the brownie pudding would end up being in that I was expecting something thick and rich, but I was totally wrong. Since this was one of the few times I made a recipe to the letter, it ended up turning out exactly as described. The cake separates into two layers with a nice lemony custard on the bottom and one of the lightest cakes you have ever had on top. It's unbelievable how light the top is. Lighter than angel food cake light. The taste? Lemony and boozy and absolutely divine. In Gourmet, they state the scotch is optional, but in my opinion, it isn't a hot toddy cake without the scotch and the scotch kind of makes the cake. Since, I have never bought scotch in my life, I went with an inexpensive brand from TJs which was good, but I can see how a good scotch would be fantastic in this recipe. I say definitely splurge on the scotch because chances are you already have everything else to make this recipe so really this is an inexpensive dessert.

How's your weekend going? I am off to the farmers market and then the beach!!

Hot Toddy Pudding Cake


Hot Toddy Pudding Cake
(From Gourmet, April 2009)

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup whole milk
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup Scotch (NOT optional)
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
3 tablespoons mild honey
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
3 large eggs, separated, at room temperature 30 minutes
1/3 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack in middle. Butter a 1 1/2-qt shallow baking dish (I used a 8x8, 2 quart dish).

Whisk together flour and salt in a large bowl. Whisk together milk, lemon juice, Scotch (if using), butter, honey, zest, and yolks, then stir into flour mixture.

Beat whites with an electric mixer at medium speed until frothy. Increase speed to medium-high and add sugar, 1 Tbsp at a time, beating until whites just hold stiff peaks.

Stir about one third of whites into flour mixture to lighten, then fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly. Pour batter into baking dish and bake in a water bath until puffed and golden-brown, 45 to 50 minutes. Serve warm.

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18 comments:

Maria said...

Never had a hot toddy cake, looks good to me!

Diana said...

Haha, love the "NOT optional" note with the Scotch! I hope you treated yourself to a big heaping serving as a reward for all your successful cleansing! :)

vanillasugarblog said...

never heard of this, but I really like it!! oh yeah!

Erica said...

mmmmm- again, LOVE lemony desserts and this one looks great. What a great way to break the cleanse! Hope the farmers market treats you well. I picked up peppers, green beans, strawberries (oh my gosh they're so good) and tomatoes from ours this weekend! What a great first trip. I also saw the grass fed beef stand and I think we're going to go for that next time

Pearl said...

ha! perfect for MORNING ;)

test it comm said...

That looks and sounds so good! I like how it is cakey on top and pa pudding on the bottom.

Simones Kitchen said...

That a good way to break your cleanse I am sure! It definitely sounds (and looks) delicious!

Heather said...

yum. scotch should never be optional! this sounds delicious!

Hayley said...

This cake sounds awesome. I've never heard of it, but they way you described it is unbelievable. Thanks for sharing Esi!

lisaiscooking said...

This sounds fantastic! And, the texture looks so light and lovely. I want to try this right now.

Reeni said...

I love the whole idea of this! It look divine!

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

Oh my, that looks so good. I'm mouthwatering.

angela@spinachtiger said...

My neighbors have a full bar, and I can get whatever I need in the booze department. I'll just make double. This looks too fun, too good to not make.

Esi said...

Thanks everyone!

Diana, oh yeah, had a ginormous serving of this!

Dawn, think you would love this.

Erica, oooh yum. Sounds like you got some good stuff at the FM!

Angela, I suggest you take full advantage of your neighbor's bar and make this cake!

Donna-FFW said...

I am loving the sounds of this!!

Kathy - Panini Happy said...

Wow, even lighter than angel food cake? That's amazing. I've only had one pudding cake in my life - it was at least 20 years ago yet it still stands out in my mind as amazing. Now I really want one!

Esi said...

Hey Kathy, I have tons of scotch leftover if you want to try it :)

Alicia Foodycat said...

Yeah baby! Without the Scotch it is just a lemon delicious - which is one of the best desserts in the world, but it isn't a toddy!