NOW EXPERIENCING:From Guinness cake to gin-spiked galettes, try our favourite alcoholic dessert recipes
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From Guinness cake to gin-spiked galettes, try our favourite alcoholic dessert recipes

Read time 4 Mins

Posted 31 Oct 2024

By
Emily Reed

A slice of chocolate cake with Guinness in it and next to a glass of the stout

There’s always room for something sweet when these are on the menu.

Calling all at-home cooks with a bottle of something nice in their cupboard or fridge. We’ve rounded up the most decadent and delightfully unexpected dessert recipes that feature alcohol. Because drinks aren't just for sipping – beer, wine and spirits are ideal for adding to cakes, galettes and ice cream, too. So, preheat the oven, clear some bench space and get baking. That limoncello pistachio tiramisu won’t make itself.  
Rum raisin ice cream on a plate with a drink of rum next to it
1. A ridiculously tasty rum raisin ice creamWhen Nagi (the talented cook behind RecipeTin Eats) suggests a particular ingredient in one of her recipes, you’d better believe we follow orders. In her rum raisin ice cream, the hero – along with the raisins – is a golden or dark (brown) rum that adds plenty of colour and flavour. Appleton is the perfect choice. Don’t have an ice cream maker at home? Don’t even worry about it. This recipe uses a method that involves whipped cream and condensed milk; the fluffy cream is used to replicate the effect of incorporating air into traditional ice cream by churning in an ice cream maker. Meanwhile, the condensed milk stops the mixture from freezing into a solid block, keeping it creamy and scoopable. Heads up, this won’t taste like your average store-bought rum raisin ice cream… it’ll taste way better!  
2. A gin-spiked blueberry and orange galetteWe can picture it now: a beautifully laid table in the courtyard, the main course has just wrapped up, and you’re about to place a galette overflowing with blueberries on the table to the delight of your guests. The best part? You used that bottle of gin in your cupboard for more than just a G&T, so you win points for creativity and for producing a damn tasty dessert, too. With all the fresh berry and citrus flavours going on, you’ll want a nice and light, delicate gin that will complement the galette and not overpower it. Like Roku Japanese Craft Gin: every bottle contains six special botanicals sourced in Japan – we think it’s a great gin to ‘spike’ your galette with.    
3. Italian desserts collide with this limoncello pistachio tiramisu Continuing with the la dolce vita theme, this creamy, zesty dessert is the answer when you can’t decide between two of your favourite Italian sweets. The limoncello brings a bright, zesty citrus flavour with a hint of sweetness, which cuts through the rich, buttery taste of pistachios, while the nuttiness of pistachios adds depth and a creamy texture. Our limoncello of choice is Luxardo Limoncello – a great all-rounder that honours the traditional production methods of infusing alcohol with peels, pulp and juice to enhance the bright citrus taste of lemons harvested in southern Italy.  
4. A decadent chocolate Guinness cakeWhat can’t Guinness do? Not only is this iconic stout in the hands of all your mates at the pub (no, you’re not imagining it), but it’s also a great cake ingredient. In this recipe, the signature depth and bitterness of the dark stout brings some extra magic. There’s plenty of sugar to balance everything nicely, so don’t worry about the final product being too bitter – it’s more like a hint of tang that’s best described ‘like gingerbread without the spices’ according to the cake queen herself, Nigella Lawson. This cake is even reminiscent of a glass of Guinness thanks to its cream cheese icing, which echoes the pale head on top of a freshly poured pint of the good stuff. So, grab a can of Guinness, slip on an apron and discover why this dark stout is made for a decadent dessert.    
A piece of rich chocolate cake with a glass of Guinness
5. Tequila lime cheesecake bars (hold the salt)Turns out tequila is tasty in a Margarita – and these easy-to-make cheesecake bars. 1800 Blanco Tequila is your best bet with this recipe as it brings a smooth, fresh agave flavour without dominating everything else going on in the lime, sugar and cream cheese. On the subject of cream cheese – make sure you bring it to room temperature before throwing all your ingredients together. As for how long everything will take to set, it needs at least three hours chilling in the fridge before you can serve. Trust us when we say it’ll be worth the wait: a perfectly sweet, tangy, creamy and limey summer slice that proves just how versatile tequila really is. 
6. Big-flavour bourbon bacon brittleHere we have a tasty treat for those times you’re feeling snacky. This bourbon bacon brittle recipe is made using candied bacon, toasted pecans and, of course, bourbon. It’s crunchy! It’s delicious! And it perfectly balances sweet and savoury flavours. You can even lean into the sweet and savoury vibe by sprinkling your final creation with sea salt. Yum! There’s a little more work involved with this recipe, but the payoff is absolutely worth it. Maker’s Mark is the bourbon for this recipe – its full-flavoured characteristics complement the bacon nicely. 
The Espresso Martini Granita – an icy take on the classic cocktail
7. An Espresso Martini but make it granita

 

We can’t get enough of this fun Italian twist on the classic Espresso Martini. You’ve got the rich bitterness of espresso, the creamy sweetness of liqueur, and the kick of vodka. Delizioso! It only takes five minutes to prepare, but you'll need to freeze it for a full 24 hours, so plan in advance. Don’t labour over your vodka choice when picking up ingredients – keep it simple with something like Absolut. As for the coffee liqueur, opt for something unexpected like Mr Black: it’s made using cold-pressed, specialty single-origin coffee beans, so you know that flavour will be more addictive than a Sabrina Carpenter track.

8. Spiced red wine poached pears like your nanna used to makeEven though this dish is probably more popular in winter (thanks to cinnamon and star anise), we think if you’ve got a bottle of red and some pears handy, it can be enjoyed any time of the year. The recipe calls for a dry red wine, so give Pepperjack Shiraz a whirl – it’s accessible, fruit-driven and a total crowd-pleaser. There'll even be enough for a couple of glasses left over to serve with the dish. Don’t forget a generous dollop of mascarpone to serve. 
9. Fancy Champagne (or sparkling) doughnuts and white chocolate glazeDoughnuts? And Champagne? We donut make the rules. Sure, you could just buy some doughnuts from your local bakery for this week’s Sunday brunch catch-up, but where’s the fun in that? Get in the kitchen and give these fluffy treats a red-hot go. Croser Adelaide Hills Non Vintage is a great pick to use here because it’s dry but lifted with rich fruit and nutty notes, so you’ll really pick those flavours coming through when you bite into a freshly-baked doughie. And remember, always choose a wine you know you’ll enjoy sipping; a recipe like this doesn’t call for much bubbles, which means more for your flute glasses. Of course, if you prefer your doughnuts in liquid format, you could always try our Doughnut-ini recipe too. 
After dessert cocktails instead? We've got you. Check out our round-up of the most delicious dessert cocktails around. 
Shop related products
GuinnessDraught Cans 470mL
Draught Cans 470mL
Member Offer
$89.90 per case of 24Non-Member: $93.99 case (24)
 
RokuJapanese Craft Gin 700mL
Japanese Craft Gin 700mL
$59.95 each
 
AppletonSignature Blend Jamaica Rum 700mL
Signature Blend Jamaica Rum 700mL
Member Offer
$57 per bottle Non-Member: $60.99 each
 
1800Blanco Tequila 700mL
Blanco Tequila 700mL
Member Offer
$71 per bottle Non-Member: $73.95 each
 
Maker's MarkBourbon Whisky 1L
Bourbon Whisky 1L
$82.99 each
 
image credits: Kayla May (photography), Bridget Wald (styling).
Authour image
Emily ReedEmily is a Melbourne-based writer partial to a good pét nat. Her hobbies include lining up songs on Spotify at house parties and hovering near cheese platters.
Tags
LearnVodkaWhite WineRed WineSparklingLiqueursRumTequilaSpiritsBeerGinWineBourbonDIY How toShiraz
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