Irish Apple Cake with Whiskey Sultanas
Plus a Q&A with The Irish Bakery author, Cherie Denham.
In 2019 I visited Ireland, twice. On the first trip, I fell in love with the country, the people I met, and the food. I was completely spellbound by the lushness of the countryside, the green rolling hills, and the sharp cliffs that lead into the ocean. The photos you’ve seen do not lie, the green is really that intense, nor do they do it justice. The land can be extreme and seem formidable, so it would be understandable if the people who lived there were made distant by their severe surroundings. Yet, I found them to be the kindest, funniest, and most generous people I’ve had the good fortune to spend time with. They also have a baking culture that completely blew my mind. Simply delicious.
Part of my journey in Ireland was spent with dairy cows that produce Kerrygold butter, some of the most incredible butter the world has ever eaten. The green grasses they graze on create the bright yellow color of the butter and it’s full of so much flavor and fat, that I could eat it like cheese, which is exactly what I did. It also makes for exquisite baked goods, all of which are spectacular in their simplicity. Using the finest ingredients, having a centuries-old tradition of baking techniques, and honoring what’s fresh and local seems to be the Irish baking philosophy.
I first saw Cherie Denham’s The Irish Bakery book in a store when I was on my book tour and fell madly for it just from the soda bread on the cover. Every page makes me long to be back in Ireland. Every recipe and all of the stories are as beautiful and full of local flavor and flare as I recall from my trips. It is not an exaggeration to say that I have had some of the best desserts of my life in Ireland and this book will allow all of us to make them at home.
My first bake from the book was this rustic apple cake with sultanas and whiskey because it matches the season for this sweet treat that is also pure comfort. “If in doubt, bake a cake” —Aoife Ryan from The Irish Bakery.
Cherie has kindly shared her culinary journey and the apple cake with my “Extras” subscribers below. I just know you will love her recipes and the book! I bet you’ll plan a trip to Ireland as a result of baking from it.
Cherie’s book is available from Montgomery Press. You can also find it at Omnivore Books in San Francisco, Book Larder in Seattle, Kitchen Arts & Letters in NYC, and Elmendorf Baking Supplies in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
What To Bake This Weekend
These Homemade Caramel Apples are perfect for Halloween parties and fall gatherings of all kinds.
Want to elevate your pumpkin recipes? Try roasting your own pumpkins! It’s an easy way to up the flavor in your favorite pumpkin desserts.
Cranberries are another great fruit for baking that are harvested in fall and perfect for the holidays. Try one of these 7 tasty cranberry desserts.
As always, if you’ve recently made one of my recipes, please leave a rating/review on the recipe to let me know how it went! I love hearing how you’ve made the recipes work for you.
Q&A: Cherie Denham, @cheriedenhamcooks
Q: What about Irish Baking are you most excited to share with an American audience?
I love the simple ethos around Irish baking, humble ingredients, simply put together making the most delicious bakes. There's something very special in this day and age about baking your own food ... it brings people together, there's no class system with Irish baking, it grounds us all. We can all afford the basic ingredients for a lovely loaf of soda bread and isn't breaking bread with friends and family a wonderful thing.