Apricot Brandy Cake – a decadent dessert for Adults!

5 years ago

Monday, March 4^th, 2019 marks the first day of
Lent in the Armenian Church. The day before, Sunday, March 3^rd, is Poon (meaning ‘Main’) Paregentan (meaning ‘to live well or rejoice’).
It’s a time to enjoy life, and to be happy on the days preceding the Lenten fasting
period.

Christine Datian’s Apricot Brandy Cake

To help you ‘live well’, Christine Datian provided The
Armenian Kitchen with her decadent dessert – Apricot Brandy Cake. Bake it this
week – or – you’ll have to wait until Easter to enjoy this with family and
friends.

Warning: Due to the addition of brandy
in this recipe, you should serve this to adults only – sorry, kids!

Apricot Brandy Cake by Christine Vartanian Datian

Serves 8-10

Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)

2 1/2 cups sugar

5 eggs

3 cups all-purpose flour, sifted

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla (or orange extract)

1/2 teaspoon rum or rum flavoring

1/2 cup apricot brandy (Calvados or brandy of choice)

Preparation:

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour a large Bundt pan.

Cream the butter with the sugar in a large bowl. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well
after each addition.

Sift dry ingredients together two times and set aside.

Combine sour cream, vanilla, rum, and
brandy. Add the dry ingredients,
alternately with the sour cream mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.

Pour mixture into the prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until a
toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let cake rest for 10 minutes in the pan or on a rack. Carefully invert cake onto a serving plate.
Serve with warm apricot jam, Brandy Glaze, or
topped with fresh whipped cream.

Brandy Glaze:

Ingredients:

1 cup powdered sugar

2-3 tablespoons butter

2 teaspoons brandy

5-6 teaspoons milk or cream

Preparation:

Heat butter in medium pan over medium heat until melted and
golden brown; cool slightly. Add
powdered sugar, brandy and milk; beat until smooth.

*Note: 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans and 1 cup
chopped golden raisins may be added to this recipe.

**Christine’s recipes have been published in the Fresno Bee
newspaper, Sunset magazine, Cooking Light magazine, and at https://thearmeniankitchen.com/