St. Patrick’s Day is quickly approaching, and we’re ready to dive into the world of Irish baking. Whether it’s the aroma of freshly baked soda bread, the rich taste of Gur Cake, or adding Guinness to a batch of brownies, these Irish bakes will add a pinch of magic to any celebration.
A true Irish delight, Gur Cake goes by a number of quirky names, from chester cake to donkey’s gudge. At its origin, the name “gur” is believed to hail from the term “gurrier,” a nickname for children skipping school who would purchase this affordable treat at bakeries. With a sticky and sweet fruit filling made up of chewy Valley Fig Growers’ California Figs and leftover sponge cake soaked in strongly brewed Irish breakfast tea, this cake is as economical as it is delicious. Rich, caramel notes from the figs marry effortlessly with the combination of warm spices found in the cake, and two layers of flaky Shortcrust Pastry add just the right amount of buttery bite. Perfect for an afternoon tea or a St. Patty’s Day celebration, the Gur Cake is a fig-filled wonder you won’t want to miss.
Northern Ireland has its own signature take on soda bread in the form of farl wedges, derived from the Gaelic word fardel, roughly translated to “four part.” Though they’re traditionally baked on an open-hearth flame, we baked our farls on the more modern griddle. In keeping with the methods of the Old World, though, we harned the dough—turning and cooking the sides of the farl to make sharp, crisp edges.
Like your coffee cake with a little kick? Irish cream liqueur gives this Berries & Irish Cream Coffee Cake, brimming with strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries, an extra-fluffy crumb and rich flavor.
Raise a pint to your new favorite brownies – our Guinness Brownies! A double hit of extra stout beer in the batter and the frosting brings a tangy, hop-filled punch you never knew you needed.
Behold: a nightcap coffee cake. Buzzing with espresso, topped with a sprinkling of espresso sugar, and packed with two layers of crumbly whiskey spiked streusel, this Irish Coffee Coffee Cake is a tender delicacy you’ll enjoy to the last crumb.
The grand symbol of Ireland’s baking, Irish soda bread is defined not by the baking soda but by the soft white wheat that grows in Ireland. Low in gluten and protein, the soft Irish wheat receives a boost from baking soda, invented in the 1800s and an immediate game changer for Irish baking. Slashed with a cross and pricked to release heat—or fairies?—our traditional soda bread is enhanced with strong Irish Cheddar, fresh dill, and ground black pepper.
County Cork’s misty seaside cliffs and rolling green pastures are home to the cows that make some of Ireland’s best Irish cream. After meeting the founder and experiencing the artisan nature of Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur, we knew it was destined to be featured in this marble cake frosted with a buttercream that showcases the liqueur’s delicate flavor and incomparable quality.
Like all other Irish soda breads, Irish brown soda bread needs the leavening power of baking soda to help make it rise to the occasion. Yet this take receives an earthy boost from whole wheat flour and a touch of sweetness from molasses while steel-cut oats, a staple of Irish agriculture, bring a bit of textured crunch to the top.
Irish stout and chocolate are a winning combination that meets right at the corner of bitter and sweet in this Chocolate-Stout Coffee Loaf Cake. The stout is a boon to the cocoa flavor and the secret to this loaf-style coffee cake’s supremely tender texture. The alcohol inhibits gluten formation, yielding a particularly delicate crumb.
