Whiskey is a delicious beverage that many people enjoy in a variety of ways. Most people tend to overlook that one of the best uses for whiskey is in baking. Maybe you have a bottle of whiskey that’s been collecting dust in your cabinet and you’re not sure how to put it to use. Baking is a great way to get creative with your whiskey and enjoy it outside of a standard cocktail or traditional beverage.
Baking with whiskey is a little more complex than just throwing it in your favorite cake mix and there are some key things you should know before getting started to help you along the way. With these 7 awesome tips, let’s take a look at some important things to note when baking with whiskey to make sure you end up with a delicious treat.
Table of Contents
- What Can I Bake With Bourbon Whiskey?
- What Is A Good Whiskey To Bake With?
- Can You Flambe With Whiskey?
- Can I Deglaze With Whiskey?
- Does Baking Burn Off Alcohol in Whiskey?
- Can You Substitute Whiskey For Bourbon In Baking?
- What Can You Bake With Cinnamon Whiskey?
- Final Round
What Can I Bake With Bourbon Whiskey?
First things first. You can bake with just about any type of whiskey, but for the best results, it’s best to stick to baking with bourbon whiskey. Many of your favorite desserts, including cakes and pies, are great candidates for baking with whiskey. A few ideas to get you started are bourbon pecan pie, bourbon apple pie, and bourbon chocolate bread pudding.
Bourbon whiskey is great because its flavor lends itself to many desserts and you can really have fun with adding some bourbon to your favorite traditional recipes. Bourbon has a deep and rich taste that compliments many sweet dishes and adds a unique taste. While some desserts pair better with whiskey than others, ultimately it is up to your personal preference for what you want to try out. If there is a standard recipe that has a flavor profile that matches the deep tones of whiskey, odds are that it will be a good addition.
What Is A Good Whiskey To Bake With?
For baking, you want to have a good quality whiskey that you enjoy the taste of. The whiskey doesn’t need to be top-shelf, but it should be a brand that is known for its high quality. If you’re interested in baking with bourbon whiskey, then you will want to make sure that the bottle says “bourbon whiskey” on it. While many types of whiskey can be used for baking, not all types are ideal choices for every type of recipe. You’ll want to save your expensive and coveted bottles of whiskey for sipping when you can really get the full scope of flavors. Baking whiskey should be something that tastes great but isn’t going to break the bank.
Great options for baking are Jim Beam, Wild Turkey, and Knob Creek. Be sure to splurge a bit when selecting your baking whiskey, but don’t worry too much about using the world’s finest.
Can You Flambe With Whiskey?
This is a fun question that can lead to some unique and delicious desserts. If you want to flambe with whiskey, you can really experiment with flavor pairing to see how this will work best for your dishes. Whiskey is not the most popular liquor to flambe with, however it can have some amazing results that may surprise you. You’ll want to be sure to pair your whiskey with foods that will compliment the flavor profile such as fruity and sweet dishes.
There is no better way to add a little extra flavor to your desserts than by flambeing with a bit of whiskey. If you’re not sure what dessert idea you should try out next, then consider flambeing with your whiskey next time you whip up one of your favorite desserts to give you some inspiration. Remember that higher-proof liquors are best for flambeing to get the best results. High-proof whiskey is going to ignite faster and will give you a better end result.
Can I Deglaze With Whiskey?
If you’re a regular baker, then you probably already use deglazing liquid to enhance the flavor of your dishes. Deglazing liquid is typically a type of wine or another alcohol that can help to make for a tastier dish. You may be surprised to learn that whiskey can be used as a deglazing liquid as well, as this is not the most well known choice in every kitchen.
While whiskey isn’t the typical type of alcohol that you’ll find in some recipes, it does have a special flavor profile that can really compliment the dish if paired correctly. Whiskey is well suited for this particular job because it lends itself to more sweet dishes and gives off a flavor that is very appealing.
Deglazing with whiskey is a great way to add some extra excitement to your dish and is sure to impress and guests or onlookers. If you are concerned about lighting the whiskey on fire while deglazing, the best rule of thumb is to lower the heat and reduce the liquid first to ensure you are doing it safely.
Does Baking Burn Off Alcohol in Whiskey?
People are always surprised when they learn that baking has the ability to burn off small percentages of alcohol. Others may assume that since you are using a high heat, it will remove all of the alcohol from the food item which is typically not true. There is a lot of misconception surrounding baking and burning off alcohol, but the reality is that it just depends on the dish.
Baking in general doesn’t usually burn off all the alcohol because most dishes are not baked for long enough to do so, which is usually upwards of three hours. Although some alcohol is burned off in the baking process, a surprising amount is present in final desserts for most recipes. The alcohol that is still present in baked goods does not have any typical effects that you would normally associate with drinking alcohol in its usual state.
With most desserts, you will still be able to taste a bit of the alcohol flavor. If done properly, it should only enhance your dessert and add to the overall tasting experience.
Can You Substitute Whiskey For Bourbon In Baking?
You may find yourself substituting whiskey for bourbon in baking from time to time. Whiskey is a great replacement since most of the flavor profiles are the same. When a dish is fully baked and completed, it will be hard to tell the difference amongst all of the other flavors.
Bourbon is a great choice for baking since you get a really enhanced taste, though not everyone may have a good bourbon on hand when baking as these are a little rarer. Both are good options for whatever dessert you are creating and can be amazing additions to your existing recipes.
The key is to try different things out to find out what works and what doesn’t to perfect your desserts. Don’t get too caught up in having the right bourbon or whiskey when baking and don’t be afraid to try something new. The key when substituting is practicing trial and error and sticking with what you enjoy.
What Can You Bake With Cinnamon Whiskey?
Cinnamon whiskey is a great addition to your baking ingredients and can be used in a variety of different types of recipes. Most of the cinnamon whiskey that is found today will be used for flavoring desserts, however there are other uses that you might find for this particular ingredient that use it more prominently.
Cinnamon whiskey has a delicious and sharp taste that works great in sweet treats to enhance the existing flavors. You can find this ingredient in some cookies and cakes to give it that extra kick from the special cinnamon addition.
Cinnamon whiskey is also commonly found in breads that have a unique flavor profile to them. Some of the most popular creations with cinnamon whiskey are made from Fireball and include Fireball apple crumble and Fireball cheesecake. Cinnamon whiskey is the perfect way to add a bit of spice to an otherwise traditional dessert and truly make a dish stand out. These dishes are usually crowd favorites because they are a bit more palatable than traditional bourbon whiskey.
Final Round
Whiskey is always a great addition to your baking experience, regardless of whether you are using it as a flavoring ingredient or a main attraction. Baking with whiskey gives you an added level of taste that can spice up any dessert that you are trying out. You will find that the whiskey used in baking has an amazing flavor profile that can really enhance some of the traditional desserts that you might be making.
Consider mixing things up with some cinnamon whiskey for an added spice. What most people may not realize is that whiskey is commonly used in baking and people often find it to be the perfect touch for desserts and sweet treats. Give some of these tips a try and your dish is sure to be a hit the next time you want to get creative in the kitchen. Remember that whiskey is not only limited to drinking and don’t be afraid to try something new.
