When you think of baking a cake, beer might not be the first ingredient that comes to mind. However, this unexpected addition can elevate your cake to a whole new level of deliciousness. Intrigued? Here is my beer cake recipe with a cake in the shape of an Oktoberfest Gingerbread Heart.
Video for Beer Cake
Beer as a Baking Ingredient
Beer is more than just a refreshing beverage; it’s a versatile ingredient in the culinary world. When used in cake recipes, beer adds depth, flavor, and moisture. The carbonation in beer creates tiny bubbles that result in a lighter, fluffier texture, making your cake irresistibly tender.
The type of beer you select can significantly impact the flavor of your cake. Dark beers like stouts and porters bring rich, chocolatey notes, while lighter beers such as lagers and wheat beers offer a milder, slightly yeasty flavor. Experimentation is key to finding your preferred pairing.
‘O Zapft Is
My Bavarian has become a bit rusty. While I lived in Bavaria as a toddler and subsequently learned to speak there, my family then moved to the very north of Germany, where I lost my heavy Bavarian accent since the kids were making fun of me. So, it’s no big surprise that I misspelled the writing on the cake but I think it’s a minor thing and I fixed it in the pictures. But what does the ” ‘O zapft is” actually mean? In plain German we would say “Es ist angezapft” and that means “it is tapped”. But there is a bit more to it.
The moment everyone eagerly awaits at Oktoberfest is the ceremonial tapping of the first keg. Amidst a sea of anticipatory cheers and traditional Bavarian music, the master of ceremonies, often the mayor of Munich, takes a wooden mallet and deftly taps the keg’s wooden spigot. As the first foamy golden beer flows into the awaiting mug, a collective cheer erupts, signaling the official start of the festival. This tradition embodies the spirit of Oktoberfest, marking the beginning of weeks filled with laughter, camaraderie, and the joy of sharing in the world’s largest celebration of beer and Bavarian culture. Prost! 🍻
Oktoberfest Beer Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Cake Batter
- 200 ml Beer of your choice
- 250 g Butter unsalted
- 220 g Brown Sugar
- 100 g Sugar
- 80 g Cocoa Powder
- 150 ml Buttermilk
- 2 Egg Yolks
- 2 Egg Whites
- 250 g Flour All Purpose
- 2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1 pinch Salt
For the Frosting
- 225 g Cream Cheese
- 113 g Butter
- 500 g Confectioners Sugar
- some Vanilla Paste
- Food Color
Instructions
Making the Cake
- Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F.
- Pour the beer into a medium sized sauce pan and add the butter.200 ml Beer, 250 g Butter
- Heat just enough for the butter to melt, then add the brown sugar, sugar, and cocoa powder. Stir until well mixed and set aside to cool.220 g Brown Sugar, 100 g Sugar, 80 g Cocoa Powder
- Mix the egg yolks with the buttermilk. Whisk and add to the cooled beer mixture.2 Egg Yolks, 150 ml Buttermilk
- Mix the flour with the baking powder and salt, then add the liquid and mix it together until just combined. Don't overmix!250 g Flour, 2 tsp Baking Powder, 1 pinch Salt
- Whisk the egg whites until stiff and carefully fold into the batter.2 Egg Whites
- Grease a baking pan and fill the cake batter into it. Then bake for about 40 minutes.
- Let the baked cake cool.
Making the Frosting / Decorate
- Mix the cream cheese with the butter and vanilla paste, then slowly add the confectioner's sugar.225 g Cream Cheese, 113 g Butter, some Vanilla Paste
- Divide the frosting into several portions to dye with the food color that you want to use, keep some frosting white.500 g Confectioners Sugar
- Decorate the cake the way you like.Food Color
The nutrition panel is useless because it does not state the weight of a serving or state “per 100 g” or state how many servings the recipe makes. Without this, I have no idea how many calories are in, say, a serving.
The recipe has 8 servings and the nutrition calculation is per serving.