"The Wicked Wench"

Name: "The Wicked Wench"
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 12 people
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: CAKE; 2 stick unsalted butter, room temp; 2 c sugar; 2 3/4 c all purpose flour; 1 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1 tsp baking powder; 1 c cocoa powder, unsweetened; 1 1/2 tsp ground cardamom; 1 Tbsp white ground pepper; 1 tsp ground ginger; 1/2 Tbsp orange zest; 1/2 tsp ground cloves; 1/2 tsp sea salt; 3 large eggs; 1/2 c rum (or 2 tbsp plus 2 tsp rum extract); 2 c strong brewed coffee, cooled; 1 tsp pure vanilla extract; FROSTING/GLAZE; 12 oz cream cheese, room temperature; 1/4 c butter, room temperature; 2 c confectioners' sugar; 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon; 2 tsp rum (or 1/2 tsp rum extract); 1 tsp pure vanilla extract; 1/2 tsp lemon juice; grated coconut for garnish

By Kelly Lollman
@kelollman

Years ago I made a recipe I found online called The Black Pearl Layer cake for a self-proclaimed "foodie" friend to test his palate. The recipe was a hit, however, it was very time intensive and some of the ingredients were not easily available in my area. I wanted to try creating something similar, combining unusual ingredients in a yummy combination. The name is a play off The Black Pearl cake recipe - "The Wicked Wench" is the original name of "The Black Pearl", of Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean" fame. I thought these flavors lent themselves nicely to the "pirate theme".

Rating:

★★★★★ 3 votes5

Comments:

2 Comments

Serves:

12 people

Prep:

20 Min

Cook:

55 Min

Method:

Bake

Ingredients

CAKE
2 stick

unsalted butter, room temp
2 c

sugar
2 3/4 c

all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp

baking soda
1 tsp

baking powder
1 c

cocoa powder, unsweetened
1 1/2 tsp

ground cardamom
1 Tbsp

white ground pepper
1 tsp

ground ginger
1/2 Tbsp

orange zest
1/2 tsp

ground cloves
1/2 tsp

sea salt
3 large

eggs
1/2 c

rum (or 2 tbsp plus 2 tsp rum extract)
2 c

strong brewed coffee, cooled
1 tsp

pure vanilla extract
FROSTING/GLAZE
12 oz

cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 c

butter, room temperature
2 c

confectioners' sugar
1 Tbsp

ground cinnamon
2 tsp

rum (or 1/2 tsp rum extract)
1 tsp

pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp

lemon juice
·

grated coconut for garnish
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How to Make "The Wicked Wench"

Step-by-Step

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium mixing bowl, blend together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa, spices and salt. Set aside. Grease and flour a bundt pan and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until creamy using a hand mixer. Add the eggs, rum, coffee and vanilla and blend until smooth. Slowly add the dry ingredients, blending until mixture is smooth.
Pour cake batter into the prepared bundt pan. Bake for 50-55 minutes or until cake tests done in the center with a knife or bamboo skewer. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack, then remove to a serving dish/platter.
For frosting: Whip the butter and about 2 tbs of confectioner's sugar together in a medium sized mixing bowl until smooth. Then add the cream cheese and whip until smooth. Add the remaining sugar and other ingredients, blending until smooth. Depending on whether or not you want a glaze or frosting, add more or less confectioner's sugar to tighten or loosen the mixture. Garnish with a little grated coconut if desired.
Note: For a stiffer, spreadable frosting texture always start off whipping the butter and adding a small amount of sugar to start, then add the cream cheese and blend well before adding the remaining ingredients. For a runnier glaze, omit the lemon juice and reduce the amount of sugar.