Moist Irish Cake Alcohol-Free (Printable Version)
A moist Irish cake rich with cinnamon, raisins, walnuts, and orange zest, perfect for an easy, flavorful dessert.
# What You Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
04 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
05 - ¼ teaspoon salt
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
→ Wet Ingredients
07 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 1 cup buttermilk
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
11 - 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
→ Flavor & Add-Ins
12 - ½ cup golden raisins
13 - ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
14 - 1 tablespoon freshly grated orange zest
# How-To:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan, ensuring thorough coating to prevent sticking.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon until uniformly blended.
03 - Beat softened butter in a separate bowl until creamy and light. Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition to fully incorporate.
04 - Stir buttermilk, vanilla extract, apple cider vinegar, and orange zest into the butter mixture until smooth and well combined.
05 - Gradually pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, mixing gently with a spatula until just combined. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough texture.
06 - Gently fold golden raisins and chopped walnuts into the batter using a rubber spatula, distributing evenly throughout.
07 - Pour batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula for even baking.
08 - Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
09 - Allow cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before carefully turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
10 - Serve plain, dust with powdered sugar for presentation, or accompany with whipped cream for added richness.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The crumb stays incredibly moist for days thanks to buttermilk and that touch of cider vinegar magic
- Golden raisins plump up beautifully during baking creating little pockets of sweetness throughout
- Orange zest brightens everything so it never feels heavy or overly sweet
02 -
- Room temperature ingredients make a huge difference in how well the batter comes together
- Do not overmix once you add the wet ingredients or the cake will become tough
- The toothpick test is your friend, better to check a minute early than a minute late
03 -
- Grate your orange zest right before adding it to capture those fragrant oils
- Toss the raisins in a tablespoon of flour before folding them in to prevent sinking