Holiday Traditions

[Guest erinanita]

Because I've recently retired I'm turning to doing baking for Christmas. Some of the things I am baking have liquor in them. Even though I don't drink any longer is okay to eat a cake that has spiced rum in the cake or in the glaze? Any opinions?

Thtufus

[Guest Samurai_Kid]

I suppose so. Doesn't cooking it basically eliminate any of the alcohol?

[JJ]

Actually I looked that up the other day and cooking still leaves a significant amount of alcohol behind. The idea that it evaporates it all is a myth in most instances.

US Department of Agriculture’s Nutrient Data Laboratory calculated the percentage of alcohol remaining in a dish based on various cooking methods. The results are as follows: Preparation Method Percent of Alcohol Retained alcohol added to boiling liquid & removed from heat 85% alcohol flamed 75% no heat, stored overnight 70% baked, 25 minutes, alcohol not stirred into mixture 45% baked/simmered, alcohol stirred into mixture:

• 15 minutes

40%

• 30 minutes

35%

• 1 hour

25%

• 1.5 hours

20%

• 2 hours

10%

• 2.5 hours

5%

John

[Guest LottieZero]

Because I've recently retired I'm turning to doing baking for Christmas. Some of the things I am baking have liquor in them. Even though I don't drink any longer is okay to eat a cake that has spiced rum in the cake or in the glaze? Any opinions?

Thtufus

It depends... Do you think eating the cake will make you think of drink again? Personally, having known several alcoholics (not stereotypical or anything...), I think it's probably better to avoid it altogether, and perhaps use perhaps a non-alcoholic wine instead of rum. You can't often taste the alcohol in Christmas cakes, but if you want to be cautious, it's better to avoid it.

Charlotte x

[Guest Opal]

Please try Google "non-alcoholic rum cake". There are several suggestions, including a rum extract that may work for you.

Better to be safe than to have a small amount of alcohol trigger something.

[Guest erinanita]

Thank you all for your comments. I especially liked the reference to how much alcohol actually stays in the cake. I know that the alcohol in the glaze isn't cooked so that might cause a small reaction, but the amounts remaining in the baked cake is an eye-opener.

Most of my baking goes out to friends and family for gifts but I will issue a warning with the cake to non-drinkers.

Thtufus

[Guest Melissa 67]

It depends... Do you think eating the cake will make you think of drink again? Personally, having known several alcoholics (not stereotypical or anything...), I think it's probably better to avoid it altogether, and perhaps use perhaps a non-alcoholic wine instead of rum. You can't often taste the alcohol in Christmas cakes, but if you want to be cautious, it's better to avoid it.

Charlotte x

If an alcoholic wants to do this they're are just setting themselves up for going back to drinking, it doesn't matter the percentage of alcohol that might or might not be burned off. For an alcoholic this type of behavior will lead back to drinking. If you're an alcoholic, " get to a meeting."

Love

Melissa 67

[Sally]

I would think that it would be a good idea to avoid the temptation - as a non drinker I cannot always identify the type of liquor used in baking or any other cooking but I am aware of its presence because it does alter the taste - that alteration alone would worry me if I was in your position - plus to cook with alcohol you must have bottles of it in your, kitchen and in your hands - why tempt fate?

Love ya,

Sally