How to Make Irish Cakes 

I was happy to learn how to make Irish cakes; cakes are some of my favorite desserts. There are cakes and then there are cakes; when I think of the traditional cakes from Ireland, I think of very fruity dark cakes.

How to Make Irish CakesHow to Make Irish Cakes


The Irish whiskey cake, also known as the Irish wedding cake, is flavored with the world famous Irish whiskey and is probably the most famous of the cake recipes in Ireland. It is prepared for holidays and other special days; large recipes are made and decorated for traditional weddings. The Irish Guinness cake recipe flavored with the famous Guinness beer is also very popular; it also has many fruits and spices in it.


Then I learned how to make the other Irish cakes! I think of these as party cakes; cakes that are decorated and have green in them or decorated with green icing. The green cookies and cupcakes are also favorites. You don’t have to be of Irish decent to love St Patrick’s Day; the food, music and all around atmosphere. The Irish people know how to party and who doesn’t love a party.


The following Waldorf Astoria cake recipe is also the red velvet cake recipe; the only difference is the food coloring. I call this one "the green cake". I cannot find a definite origination for this cake recipe. It seems that it took up the name of Waldorf Astoria cake recipe only because it was served there; not that it was created there. However or where ever this recipe started, it has become one of the favorite recipes for cake bakers. The red is beautiful for Valentine’s Day or Christmas; when I learned how to make the green one, it became one of my favorite Irish cakes for St Patrick’s Day with crème de menthe in the frosting.


Pictured below is the crowd size cake much larger than this recipe

Waldorf Astoria Cake Recipe or Green Cake RecipeWaldorf Astoria Cake Recipe or Green Cake Recipe

WALDORF ASTORIA CAKE RECIPE (The green cake recipe)

  • ½ Cup butter
  • 1 ½ Cups sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 2 Teaspoons cocoa powder
  • 1 Bottle (2 ounces) green food coloring
  • 1 Teaspoon salt
  • 2 Cups sifted flour
  • 1 Cup buttermilk
  • 1 Teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 Teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 Tablespoon vinegar

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

Cream butter and sugar until light; add eggs beating after each addition.

Add cocoa powder and green food coloring; blend well.

Sift flour again and add to creamed mixture; add salt, buttermilk and almond extract.

Mix baking soda with vinegar and blend in mixture.

Divide batter evenly into two greased and floured 9 inch cake pans.

Bake for 30 minutes or until pick comes out clean.


Frosting for Waldorf Astoria Cake Recipe (or green cake recipe)

  • ¼ Cup flour
  • 1 Cup milk
  • 1 Cup sugar
  • 1 Cup softened butter
  • 1 Teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 Tablespoons crème de menthe
  • Pinch salt
  • 1 Cup coconut

Combine flour, salt and milk; cook over medium heat until thick and then cool.

Cream sugar and butter until fluffy; add cream de menthe and vanilla.

Add cooled milk mixture and beat until fluffy enough to spread; stir in coconut.

Spread between layers, top and sides of cake.

RHUBARB CUSTARD IRISH CAKE RECIPE (A cake mix recipe)

Rhubarb is grown in Ireland and makes wonderful Irish cakes. Although I always think of rhubarb as a fruit, it is considered a vegetable. It grows easily in Ireland as it does in my home state of Ohio. Rhubarb is so delicious in many desserts like pie (especially strawberry rhubarb), puddings and cakes. This rhubarb custard cake recipe is very easy using a box cake mix and would be very good for a St. Patrick’s Day dessert.

  • 1 Package yellow cake mix
  • 4 Cups chopped fresh rhubarb
  • 1 Cup sugar
  • 1 Cup whipping cream
  • Whipped cream and fresh mint for garnish

Prepare cake batter according to package instructions.

Pour into a greased 9 X 13 inch cake baking dish.

Sprinkle with rhubarb and sugar; slowly pour cream over top.

Bake at 350F degrees for 40 to 45 minutes.

Cool 15 minutes before serving; garnish with whipped cream.

LIME JELLO CAKE RECIPE

If you have ever been to Ireland or saw pictures of Ireland, I am sure you had to notice all the lush green. That is why it is called the “Emerald Isle”. This is why everything is green for St. Patrick’s Day and St. Patrick is the first one to relate the shamrock to the doctrine of trinity. This lime cake recipe is a pretty green and white party cake for St. Patrick’s Day. It is made with a white cake and each layer is topped with lime Jello salad using a Jello cake recipe. If you prefer, you can use a white box cake mix and replace it for the homemade cake.

White cake recipe

  • 1 Plus 1/3 cups sugar
  • 1 Cup softened butter
  • 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 Teaspoon lemon extract
  • 2 ¼ Cups sifted flour
  • 1 Cup milk
  • 3 Teaspoons baking powder
  • 4 Egg whites

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

Mix sugar and butter and beat until light and fluffy; beat in flavorings.

Combine sifted flour and baking powder; sift five more times.

Combine flour mixture to creamed mixture alternating with milk.

Beat egg whites until stiff; fold into batter.

Divide evenly into 2 nine inch greased and floured round cake pans.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until pick comes out clean.

Cool cakes 10 minutes then remove from pans to cool completely.

Gelatin mixture

  • 1 Package (3 ounces) lime flavored gelatin
  • 1 Cup hot water
  • ½ Cup fruit juice
  • ½ Cup drained crushed pineapple
  • ¼ Cup chopped nuts
  • Few drops lemon juice
  • 1 ½ Cups whipping cream
  • ¼ Cup powdered sugar
  • 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract

Dissolve gelatin in hot water; add fruit juice and chill until almost firm.

Add pineapple, nuts and lemon juice; fold in.

Fold long strips of aluminum foil; fit strips evenly and securely around each cake layer (extend a little above each layer) and tape in place.

Divide the gelatin mixture evenly on top of each cake layer; refrigerate layers until gelatin is firm.

Carefully remove foil strips; set one layer on top of the other on a cake plate.

Whip cream with powdered sugar and vanilla; Frost sides with whipped cream and decorate.

APPLE CINNAMON COFFEE CAKE

Irish Apple Cinnamon Coffee CakeIrish Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Apples have been grown in Ireland for thousands of years. St. Patrick is thought to have planted many of the apple trees. A lot of the old historical varieties of apples are still being grown although many old orchards have been lost over the past fifty years. A lot of research has been done to find the best varieties to be grown in Ireland’s climate. Many different types of apples are now grown for eating, for making apple cider and for cooking. Great Irish cakes are now made with the availability of so many apples.

  • 1 Cup softened butter
  • 1 ¼ Cups sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 Cup sour cream
  • 1 Teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 Cups flour
  • 1 Teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ Teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 Cup peeled and finely chopped apples
  • 1 Cup chopped pecans
  • 1 Teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ Cup sugar

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

Cream butter and 1 ¼ cups sugar until light and fluffy; add eggs, sour cream and vanilla.

Sift together flour, baking powder and baking soda; beat into butter mixture.

Stir in apples and pecans.

Combine cinnamon and ¼ cup sugar in another bowl.

Spread ½ of apple batter in well greased and floured tube pan.

Sprinkle ½ of cinnamon sugar mixture over batter.

Distribute remaining batter evenly on top; sprinkle with remaining cinnamon sugar mixture.

Bake for 60 to 70 minutes or until pick comes out clean.

Remove from oven and cool 20 minutes before removing cake from pan.

Dust lightly with powdered sugar; serve warm or cold.

Piece of Irish Apple Cinnamon Coffee CakePiece of Irish Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake

IRISH CREAM POUND CAKE RECIPE

You will want to add this pound cake recipe to your Irish cakes. Ireland has always been known for its wonderful butter, milk and eggs. This Irish cake utilizes lots of Irish butter and fresh eggs; it has a delicious combined flavor of coffee, almond and Irish liqueur. Top this with the Irish cream glaze and you will have a Irish cake fit for any St Patrick’s Day party.

  • 1 ½ Cups softened butter
  • 3 Cups sugar
  • 6 Large eggs
  • 1 ½ Tablespoons instant coffee
  • ¼ Cup hot water
  • ½ Cup Irish liqueur
  • 4 Cups flour
  • 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 Teaspoon almond extract
  • Irish cream glaze (Recipe below)
  • 3 Tablespoons sliced toasted almonds

Preheat oven to 300F degrees.

Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy; add eggs beating after each.

Dissolve coffee in hot water; stir in Irish liqueur.

Add flour to butter mixture alternately with coffee mixing at low speed; blend in flavorings.

Pour batter into greased and floured Bundt cake pan; bake for 1 hour and 40 minutes or until pick comes out clean.

Cool 10 to 15 minutes then remove from pan; brush with glaze and top with sliced almonds

Glaze

  • 1 Teaspoon instant coffee
  • 2 Tablespoons hot water
  • 1 ½ Tablespoons Irish cream liqueur
  • 2/3 Cup powdered sugar

Dissolve coffee in hot water; add liqueur and sugar and stir until blended.