- For today's Good Cheer post, the utterly charming Bradford Crowder (aka Uncle Beefy) of The Bedlam of Beefy blog shares a delectable and versatile holiday cake recipe — enjoy!
Hi all! I'm thrilled to be here on automatism thanks to Lori's generous invitation to be a part of her "Good Cheer" series! Anyone who knows me wouldn't be at all surprised when I exclaim that nothing says 'cheer' like holiday baking! (Okay, full disclosure, baking would come second to champagne in the 'cheer' department but I don't make my own bubbles so there you go.)
(photography by bradford crowder)
I know I'm not the only one who gets their bake on during the holiday season. My mixer is in a constant state of operation and I could probably just leave the oven on and turn the heat off altogether. There's a proliferation of cakes and cookies and, while the inevitable waistline expansion can prove mildly regrettable, the perpetual smell of sugar and spice makes it worthwhile in the moment.
One of the things that I always bake during the holiday season is my mom's Sherry Cake. I grew up with this cake being a staple for all moments and people deemed special. While her version was a bit easier (substitute sherry for the water on a box of yellow cake mix and add 1.5 teaspoons of nutmeg), I created my own from-scratch recipe that tastes just as good if I do say so myself. This recipe can be made as a layer cake, cupcakes, or the family-favorite bundt. However you make it, I hope it brings you a little slice of the same holiday joy that it brings me.
Uncle Beefy's Sherry Cake (with Browned Butter Buttercream)
The frosting is pretty tasty, no doubt, but this is a cake that rests just fine on its own laurels.
2 cups sugar
4 whole eggs, plus 1 egg yolk
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup melted butter
3/4 cup cream sherry
1/4 cup half & half
1/2 tablespoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg
Browned Butter Buttercream
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 cups whole milk
4 sticks unsalted butter
3 teaspoons vanilla (or the scrapings of 1 or 2 vanilla beans would be even better)
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Beat the sugar and eggs together until fluffy and a pale yellow color (3 to 5 minutes). Add the wet ingredients (oil, melted butter, sherry, half & half, vanilla) and mix until incorporated. Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder and nutmeg. Add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. (Don't overmix!)
For cupcakes: Using a standard size, spring-action ice cream scoop, place the batter into a regular-size muffin tin lined with cupcake papers. Bake for 17 to 18 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
For a bundt cake: Thoroughly grease and flour a bundt pan; bake about 45 to 55 minutes or until tester comes out clean.
For the frosting: In a saucepan, over medium-high heat, melt one stick of unsalted butter and cook until a deep golden brown. (Careful not to burn.) Set aside to cool completely. In a medium-size bowl, sift together sugar and flour. Add the whole milk and mix until thoroughly combined. Pour the mixture into a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat, whisking often, until the mixture comes to a boil and thickens. Place mixture in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap, so that the plastic wrap is completely touching the mixture (to prevent it from forming a skin); allow to cool. When mixture has cooled transfer to a mixer fitted with a whisk (or paddle) attachment and beat on a medium-high setting. Add browned butter in small spoonfuls. Add nutmeg. Cut remaining 3 sticks of butter into small pats and slowly add to the frosting. Whip until light and fluffy.
Garnish cupcakes with additional nutmeg, if desired.
— Uncle Beefy