This Gin & Lime Drizzle Cake is definitely one for the adults! The flavours so many of us know and love in cake form – what could be better?!
Who doesn’t love gin?
Gin has become increasingly popular over the last few years. When I first started drinking it, there were a few well known brands available.
Now there are so many different brands and flavours out there it’s amazing!
If you don’t like gin *gasps*, check out my Pimm’s Cupcakes. They are another example of mixing alcohol and fruit in cakes.
Why use gin in a cake?
Gin adds a lovely flavour to cakes. The trick is to add enough so you can taste the botanicals but not so much that it tastes like neat gin.
Using gin in cakes isn’t a new idea. A lot of the cakes I have seen include tonic though. I cannot stand tonic; it tastes disgusting to me.
So I drink my gin with lemonade – not what I was looking for in a cake though! Lime is one of my favourite additions to gin. It compliments so many dry gins so is a great fruit to have around!
What kind of gin is best to use for this cake?
For this Gin & Lime Drizzle Cake, you don’t have to use your most prized gin. I have a few gins that I save for special occasions and I wouldn’t use one of them for this cake.
I would recommend using a regular dry gin that you would usually enjoy with lime.
For this cake as is also includes lime, I would avoid using flavoured gins.
What kind of drizzle does this Gin & Lime Drizzle Cake have?
To me, there are two types of drizzle cakes. You can get crunchy drizzles like on traditional lemon drizzle cakes or smooth, soft drizzles like on this cake.
I always prefer the soft drizzles because I’m not a fan of the crunchy sugar the traditional drizzles. My recipes like my Lemon & Thyme Drizzle Cake and Blood Orange Drizzle Cake have the soft drizzle.
Pin for later
Gin & Lime Drizzle Cake
This Gin & Lime Drizzle Cake is definitely one for the adults! The flavours so many of us know and love in cake form - what could be better?!
Ingredients
For the cake
- 4 eggs
- 250 g caster sugar
- 250 g margarine
- 250 g self raising flour
- 2 limes zested
- 60 ml lime juice
- 60 ml gin
For the drizzle
- 1 tbsp gin
- 100 g icing sugar
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 lime zested
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 180ºC (fan assisted, 200ºC non fan) and line a 2lb loaf tin
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Cream together the sugar and the butter until pale and fluffy
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Add the eggs and mix before adding the flour and lime zest and mix again until smooth. Add the gin and lime juice and mix again
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Pour the mix into the loaf tin and smooth the top
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Bake for 45-50 minutes until a skewer comes out clean
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Allow the cake to cool for at least 10 minutes before removing it from the tin and leaving it to cool completely on a wire rack
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Mix the gin, lime juice and icing sugar together
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Drizzle over the cake and sprinkle with lime zest
Recipe Notes
Keep in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Nutritional information is given as a guide only and my vary.
Toni @ Gym Bunny Mummy says
Gin? Oh wow, this sounds amazing. This is definitely a recipe I’ll be pinning for later! Thanks so much for linking up to #SundaySweets x
Cat says
It is a great cake and a little bit naughty too! x
Charlotte Oates says
Excellent idea to add gin, although I’m pretty sure any health benefits of drinking gin are offset by the anti-health benefits of cake 🙂 (I still want a slice though!)
Cat says
Haha isn’t all cake healthy? It was nice for a treat 🙂 x
Ian says
After the success of the Cheesecake, I had to give this a go. Yet again, it came out perfectly. Took it when visiting some gin loving friends and it went down a storm. It’s a grown up lemon drizzle, and the gin gave a lovely bit of warmth in the aftertaste.
I’ve just ordered a silicon bundt ‘tin’ to give your cinnamon swirl cake a go next!
Cat says
Hi Ian,
Really glad you liked this recipe too! Definitely a grown up cake 🙂
I’d love to hear how you get on with the cinnamon swirl cake 🙂 x
Jo says
Absolutely love this recipe. Second baking recipe of yours I’ve used and turned out fab first time. I love gin and can’t drink at the moment so perfect little hint and goes well with the lime and wonderful sponge cake.
Curly says
Thank you so much Jo. I’m really pleased you liked it 🙂
Izzi says
You had me at the word “gin”! Was hoping the cake might taste slightly stronger, but then I used a very mild gin, and the icing/drizzle tasted fab. The cake was super fluffy, light and moist, and absolutely delicious. Even got praise from my boss and her husband, so it must have been good. A definite winner 🙂
Curly says
The gin flavour in the cake is more toned down than it used to be. When I first made the cake it was a little overpowering! If you would like a stronger gin flavour, add a little more and reduce the lime juice accordingly. So pleased everyone liked it 🙂
Kat (The Baking Explorer) says
This sounds so tasty!
Curly says
Thanks Kat 🙂
Rosemary says
This cake looks delicious. I’ve made lime drizzle cake but never one with gin in it. Sounds like a brilliant combination!
Curly says
Thanks 🙂 Got to sneak a little bit of gin in there 😉
Michelle Rolfe says
You had me at gin! Looks lovely Cat and you know I love a citrus cake – perfect for an afternoon treat. Thanks for linking up to #CookBlogShare. Michelle x
Curly says
Gin is too tempting to pass on!
Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie says
You had me at ‘gin’… but also at ‘lime’ and ‘drizzle’ and ‘cake’. Basically if any cake had my name on it, this would be it! Eb x
Curly says
Haha! It’s such a tasty and simple cake x
Debbie says
This cake was lovely! Made it for my work colleagues and it got rave reviews. I love any type of drizzle cake and hadn’t made one with alcohol before so this was new to try. Thanks for the recipe!
Curly says
So pleased everyone liked it Debbie 🙂
JMJ says
This is an exceptional recipe, the gin really comes through but it’s not over powering the zesty lime is a great addition and definitely a cake I will make again
Curly says
Thank you so much! So pleased you liked it 🙂
Earl Bennett-Robson says
Made this 2 weeks ago…first cake I’ve made in 40yrs….sooooo good I’m doing it again today
Curly says
Oh that’s fantastic! So pleased you liked it 🙂
Laura says
Mmmm absolutely lovely. Thank you for the recipe. It tastes divine. Just the right amount of everything, including the gin. Will definitely make again ☺️
Curly says
So pleased you liked it Laura 🙂
Viv says
A question: I don’t think my silicon loaf tin will be large enough for this recipe Is it ok to use a bundt tin or a circular tin>
Thanks, Viv
Curly says
Hi Viv, I would recommend with a 20x26cm (8×10″) tray bake tin or either 2 x 8″ cake tins or one deep 8″ tin. The baking times would all vary so you would need to keep a close eye on it in the oven. Hope this helps 🙂
PamH says
Just made this for my sons 21st birthday – he loves gin and also lemon drizzle cake! I didn’t read the bit about not using flavoured gin and I used sicillian lemon gin but can confirm it does nothing but make it amazing!! I had enough mixture left to make a tiny loaf which I’ve just sampled. Can’t wait to have a big slice tomorrow !!
Curly says
Hi Pam, so pleased you got to have a little taste before your son’s birthday. Oh I think Sicilian lemon gin would be delicious in this cake – great choice! You can get some interesting flavoured gins these days which might not work with the lime which is why I mentioned it. Hope you all have a lovely day celebrating!