Hot Toddy Pudding Cake
Sunday, December 9, 2012 at 9:24AM 
I don’t ever re-post past recipes, but I’m going to make an exception just this once. And you have to know that for me to make an exception, this has to be something pretty special, right? As a matter of fact, the answer is a resounding yes, this is some pretty special stuff, and so perfect for the holidays that it was just killing me to see it languishing in the back of the blog with horrible photos and not looking scrumptious at all. Therefore, being Master of this blog, I made the executive decision to re-shoot the photos and elevate this Hot Toddy Pudding Cake to the premier status it so deserves. (I have also removed the first posting, which was dated December 13, 2009).
Because, people, trust me... you want to make this. Especially if you love the cozy, warming, lovely feeling of a hot toddy on a cold, winter night. Especially if you love booze-y holiday desserts that are easy to make, yet appear terribly impressive. Especially if you need a dessert for that holiday party next week and have no idea what you’re going to make. You just might want to make this.
Let us speak for a moment about this pudding cake’s namesake, the ubiquitous hot toddy. Folklore has it that back in old Ireland when one was down with a cold, the flu, or just feeling under the weather, a hot toddy was brought to the rescue. The basic ingredients of a hot toddy are hot water, lemon, honey and Scotch whiskey, but as people will do, the variations are limitless.
I suppose we can consider this cake a variation, but it really is so much more…egg whites are whipped to foamy loveliness, and then folded into the cake batter that has been infused with lemon and whiskey (or bourbon) and honey
and then baked until golden brown and just a little crisp on top,
while underneath the batter has created a rich, moistly luscious pudding, and at this point I’m not sure which is more impressive – the pudding cake or the fact that this entire paragraph is only one sentence.
Leave it to Gourmet magazine to turn our favorite hot toddy into a dessert that I believe not only tastes incredible, but may even possess a few healing powers, in case you’re in need of such. Here’s the recipe…
HOT TODDY PUDDING CAKE
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup whole milk
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup Scotch Whiskey (see head note)
1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted and cooled
3 tablespoons mild honey
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
3 large eggs, separated
1/3 cup sugar
Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Butter a 1 1/2-quart (8" round or square) baking dish.
Whisk together flour and salt in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the milk, lemon juice, Scotch, butter, honey, zest, and yolks, then stir into flour mixture.
Beat whites with an electric mixer at medium speed until frothy. Increase speed to medium-high and add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until whites just hold stiff peaks.
Reader Comments (12)
Wow! Does this ever look amazing! I adore hot toddies so I really must make this!
And who doesn't live a booze-y holiday cake? This is going to get made before New Years!
My boyfriend loves hot toddies and makes them for me so I'm going to make this for him! Thanks for the recipe!
You're welcome Holly! If he likes hot toddies, I think he's going to love this!
Hot toddy in a cake? Impressive.
Lemon pudding cake was a childhood fave in my house. I still make it whenever I have an abundance of citrus. The addition of whiskey is brilliant! I'm looking forward to giving it a try.
Hope you like it as much we do, Shea! Nice to hear from you!
I want this!,
I took your advice and made this for a dinner party last weekend and it was a huge hit! Everyone loved it. I was surprised by how lemony and creamy it was. This is a keeper! Thanks!
So glad you liked it, Andrea! Thanks so much for letting us know!
Hot toddy in a pudding cake? I'm in! I think I'm going to make this for Christmas Eve this year. Thanks for re-posting it!
You're so welcome, Gail. Hope you enjoy it!