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Twenty-two years ago, Diana Dalsass wrote her most famous cookbook: The New Good Cake Book. There are over 125 recipes here, tagged for being able to be prepared in 30 minutes or less. While those recipes may be fast, they are hardly simple. The intensity level is high in cakes like:

Black Russian Cake [1 cup of chocolate chips, ½ cup of coffee liqueur, and ⅓ cup of vodka]

Coffee Liqueur Cake [1 cup of sour cream and 1 cup of coffee liqueur]

Gingered Vodka Cake [¾ cup vodka and 7 egg whites]

Guinness Spice Cake [1 cup of Guinness plus a 1 cup of dates and prunes]

Marbled Cranberry Cake [cranberries cooked in honey, then woven in vanilla batter]

No, not all the cakes in the book have booze as a significant ingredient. But a bunch of them do. That Coffee Vodka Cake is on our weekend agenda. I’ve seen recipes with a tablespoon or two but a whole cup? Well, I guess I’ll have to find out.

It’s easy to find something you’ll be intrigued by as you scan the chapters:

  • Butter Cakes
  • Chocolate Forever
  • Cakes with Fruit
  • Spice Cakes
  • Nut Cakes
  • Reduced-Fat Cakes
  • Biscotti
  • Bar Cakes
  • Special Occasion Cakes
  • Bonus Cake Recipes
  • Icings, Frostings and Fillings

I know, called biscotti a “cake” may be a stretch but there is this Toblerone Biscotti that has certain appeal. Like irresistible appeal.

This is an old-fashioned book. No pictures, no glossy paper. Just clever recipe ideas that make you wonder, “What is that going to taste like?” Well, there is only one way to find out.