Honey and Beer Spice Bundt Cake ~ #BundtBakers

It is time for some bundt baking with the #BundtBakers. The theme this month is Spice - and considering that it is still so cold in some parts of the country, I think adding a little spice to our lives is a good thing to warm us up a little.

It is funny how baking ideas come to you.  I was cleaning out my refrigerator and lamenting how we still had some beer left over from Christmas and New Year - you know, the ones that are left after all of the favorites have gone? One of them was a Sam Adams White Christmas, and as I picked it up I noticed that the label stated "ale brewed with spices" - cinnamon, nutmeg & orange peel - and I immediately decided that it was going into my bundt cake. After searching for a while I came across a recipe on a blog called Milk & Honey.  The recipe was actually for a square pan, but I increased the ingredients so that it would be suitable for a bundt. The recipe that Milk & Honey used originally came from Allrecipes, so I chose a little something from each recipe to create the one below.

This bundt cake comes together quickly, and the warm, inviting smell as it is baking is intoxicating. The honey gives the cake a lovely sweetness, the beer adds a nice malt note, and the spices warm it up deliciously. The original recipe called for a honey cream frosting, and I was tempted to turn this into a drizzle, but in the end I decided that a simple dusting of powdered sugar was all it really needed. And the possibilities are endless depending on the beer that you choose and the spices you add or omit.  For example you add a Corona (and a little lime zest) for Cinco de Mayo or a Cherry Chocolate Bock for Valentine's Day.

For more information on the #BundtBakers and how you can join in the Bundt Baking fun please scroll down below the recipe.

Honey and Beer Spice Bundt Cake
(Printer Friendly Recipe)

Ingredients

• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 (2 sticks) cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1½ cups dark brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups beer (I used a Sam Adams White Christmas)
• ¾ cup honey
• powdered sugar for serving

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 350℉.
2. Spray a bundt pan with baking spray and line it with baking paper, set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, the spices and salt, and set aside.
4. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
5. Add the eggs and beat well to incorporate, then beat in the honey.
6. Add the dry ingredients alternating with the beer, dividing the flour mixture into 3 parts and the beer into two parts, starting and ending with the flour, making sure not to over mix.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for approximately 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
8. Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes, then invert the cake onto the rack and let it cool for at least another 30 minutes.
9. Use a sifter to dust the cake lightly with powdered sugar and serve.
10. The cake will keep at room temperature for up to 3 days (or wrapped well in a layer of plastic wrap and a layer of foil in the freezer for up to 1 month)

Recipe slightly adapted from Milk & Honey and Allrecipes.

So who are the #BundtBakers?

➤  #BundtBakers is a group of Bundt loving bakers who get together once a month to bake Bundts with a common ingredient or theme.  You can see all our of lovely Bundts by following our Pinterest board right here. 

➤  We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient. Many thanks to Deepti from Bakingyummies who is hosting this month; she has chosen Spice as the theme. Last month all of us baked with chocolate and after thoroughly enjoying each other's cakes, it was time to add some spice to the group. 

➤  If you are a food blogger and would like to join us, just send an email to Stacy at foodlustpeoplelove@gmail.com or ask to join our private Facebook group. This is a purely administrative group.  All recipes and photographs can be found on our individual blogs or our Pinterest board.

And don't forget to take a peek at what other talented bakers have baked this month. Here are the 

links ~

• Orange Cardamom Mini Bundt Cakes by Alice at Hip Foodie Mom
• Cinnamon Roll Bundt Cake by Tara at Noshing With the Nolands
• Fresh Apple Cake by Lauren at Sew You Think You Can Cook
• Sweet Potato Pound Cake by Renee at Magnolia Days
• Rum & Ginger Grapefruit Cake by Kelly at Passion Kneaded
• Apple Cinnamon Bundt Cake by Kathya at Basic N Delicious
• Spiced Applesauce Bundt Cake with Brown Sugar Rum Glaze by Lauren at From Gate To Plate
• Saffron and Tahitian Vanilla Infused Bundt Cake by Laura at The Spiced Life
• Honey and Beer Spiced Bundt Cake by Felice at All That’s Left Are The Crumbs
• Saffron Vanilla Bean and Orange Mini Bundt Cake by Deepti at Bakingyummies
• Peach and Spiced Tea Bundt Cake by Stacy at Food Lust People Love