While browsing AllRecipes, I found this recipe for an amaretto bundt cake that starts with a boxed yellow cake mix. Apparently, over 150 people think it is good enough to warrant a five star rating, so I had to try it myself.
I think cake mixes are wonderful. I used to be opposed to them, thinking that it was a cop out to use them - an unnecessary shortcut. Then, after our wedding, I was talking to our incredible caterer who told me she uses cake mixes quite often. And, trust me, our wedding cake was divine.
Back to the recipe…. I put everything in my can’t-live-without-it stand mixer and let it do all the work. Then, after pouring the batter into a bundt pan, it went into the oven. That’s pretty much it. Maybe 10 minutes of prep work, including opening packages and a bit of clean up.
The glaze was also simple. Amaretto plus confectioner’s sugar. I did use more than 1/2 cup of amaretto to get all of the sugar dissolved. Probably about another 2 teaspoons. After about 35 minutes, I deemed the cake done enough. The cake soaked up the glaze pretty thoroughly. I loved the sound of the glaze hitting the hot cake. And the smell was incredible. Yum.
After the recommended 2 hour cooling time, I removed the cake from the pan. And, of course, cut a slice to try. So very good. The cake is very moist and smooth. The amaretto glaze, which had penetrated toothpick depth, created a darker ribbon through the bottom of the cake. I will admit that a couple of bites were so soaked in amaretto that it was a bit overwhelming. Perhaps next time I will rethink that extra bit of amaretto in the glaze.
This recipe is definitely a keeper. I think it would be great to serve or give away during the holidays.
3 responses so far ↓
1 Bake or Break » Mix Review: Williams Sonoma Chocolate Truffle Bread Mix // Aug 15, 2006 at 9:51 pm
[...] Just as Alton says he’s suspicious of anything that comes in a kit, I am likewise suspicious of baking mixes. Sure, I’ll use a cake mix as the basis of a cake or some other creation. But, on their own… well, I just don’t feel comfortable using them. I really don’t have any empirical evidence that there is anything wrong with baking mixes. I know lots of people who use them and go on to live happy, satisfied lives. In an effort to broaden my horizons, I have decided to try out some mixes. [...]
2 Jodi // Dec 19, 2007 at 10:18 pm
I agree that this cake is absolutely special that I have it on my yearly list of baked goods for Christmas. I use Disaronno Amaretto as I have found this to be the best for the recipe. Last year I got a little curious and decided to try this recipe using chocolate cake mix and pudding…fantastic to say the least! I dust some confectioner’s sugar over both recipes after cooling and it looks like snow, very festive.
3 jennifer // Dec 19, 2007 at 11:32 pm
Jodi, I bet that chocolate and amaretto combination is wonderful!
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