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slice of brandy old fashioned cake on a plate

Brandy Old Fashioned Cake

I grew up in Wisconsin, where brandy old fashioneds and beer were all anyone drank! This cake is an ode to good old WI, featuring a brandy cake, a cherry glaze, and an orange buttercream frosting. If you're from WI, it'll give you a taste of home, and if you're from somewhere else, it'll show you what Wisconsinites are all about.
3.89 from 26 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 20 slices
Calories 451 kcal

Ingredients
  

Cake

  • 1 cup butter unsalted
  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 2 large egg yolks room temperature
  • 1 cup buttermilk room temperature
  • ½ cup brandy room temperature
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

Glaze

  • 3 tablespoon maraschino cherry juice

Frosting

  • 1 cup butter unsalted, 2 sticks
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoon orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest

Instructions
 

Prep.

  • Preheat the oven to 350.
  • Grease a 9x13 pan.

Make the batter.

  • Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes on medium-speed.
  • Add eggs and egg yolks into the butter and sugar mixture.
  • Combine the brandy, buttermilk, and vanilla in a bowl.
  • Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  • Alternate adding in the liquid ingredients and the dry ingredients into the butter/sugar mixture, in 3 installments, until fully combined. Do not overmix. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Bake.

  • Pour the batter into the prepared 9x13 pan.
  • Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out of the center clean.
  • Cool until just a bit warm to the touch, then glaze.

Glaze.

  • Brush or spoon maraschino cherry juice over the warm cake.
  • Let the cake sit until fully cooled.

Make the frosting.

  • Ensure butter is room temperature, and add to bowl. Sift in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, mixing to combine between each addition.
  • Add in orange juice and orange zest until fully combined.

Frost the cake.

  • Once cake is fully cooled, spoon and spread frosting over the cake evenly.
  • Serve within 2 hours, or store in the fridge for up to 3 days before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 451kcalCarbohydrates: 63gProtein: 3gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 87mgSodium: 456mgPotassium: 85mgFiber: 1gSugar: 47gVitamin A: 644IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 59mgIron: 1mg
Keyword brandy, buttercream, cake, cherry, orange
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