Gin Cakes. We Repeat: Gin Cakes

The UK is officially obsessed with gin. Statistics from the Wine and Spirit Trade Association show that Brits bought (and presumably drank) 47 million bottles of gin in 2017, more than double the number purchased six years earlier.

Gin is everywhere. You can now buy gin-flavoured cheese, gin and tonic teabags, gin ice cream and just about every flavour of gin you can imagine, from chocolate orange to rhubarb crumble.

Naturally, baking with gin is becoming a bit of a thing too. Does anyone else remember GBBO 2016 contestant Tom making a gin and tonic cake, making all of Mary Berry’s dreams come true in the process? We’re not saying he was the first, but since them, bakes inspired by a classic G&T have definitely grown in popularity.

With the below recipes, you’ll learn how to make everything from gin brownies to gin cheesecake and even gin scones. Enjoy!

Classic cupcakes are really simple to make, making them a great place to start when experimenting with gin in your bakes.

These super-cute cakes from Jane’s Patisserie feature a gin and tonic-flavoured sponge and are topped with gin and tonic-flavoured buttercream, making them every G&T lover’s dream.

A slice of lime and a decorative drinking straw (paper, of course – think of the fishes!) are the perfect finishing touch to these cocktail-inspired cupcakes. There’s only six tablespoons of gin in the whole recipe, so you have our permission to enjoy a G&T on the side too. We heart gin.

A G&T and a chocolate bar on a Friday night in front of Gogglebox is the only way to round off the week properly – unless you’ve got a gin and chocolate brownie to hand, that is. “Gin and chocolate brownie?! What is this sorcery?!” we hear you cry.

Well, let us change your life. Just Julia has a gin-tastic recipe for these magnificent sweet treats, which feature chocolate chips and marshmallows as well as gin – everything that is wonderful in life, basically.

You can’t go wrong with a loaf cake, especially when it’s got gin in it, a lime drizzle added, and a gin-flavoured icing, like this one from Sally Akins. It’s refreshing yet boozy, making it perfect for a summer party, or as a more indulgent and sophisticated-feeling treat than the banana bread you usually keep to hand.

Might we suggest cutting it into slices and spreading on liberal amounts of this luxurious homemade gin lemon curd from Crumbs & Corkscrews too? Trust us, you’ll want to spread it on anything, but maybe don’t put it on your toast in the mornings if you don’t want to turn up at work smelling of gin…

That sensational gin lemon curd would also be absolutely excellent spread on these gin and lemon scones from Charlotte’s Lively Kitchen, which take afternoon tea to a whole new level.

The scones themselves contain a little gin, and you could add a bit more to the icing if you like. Try to remember that there technically is such a thing as too much gin, so use your judgement and know when to stop.

This recipe isn’t just for any old gin cheesecake, oh no; it’s for a gluten-free gin cheesecake that doesn’t actually require any baking whatsoever and just so happens to taste heavenly.

It comes from The Petite Cook, and features an almond flour and gluten-free digestive biscuit base, topped with lemony gin-y mascarpone, and finished with sharp yet luscious lemon.

Make a huge one! Make individual mini ones! Make it all the time!

We think we’ve pretty much got sweet gin recipes covered there, but could you include gin in a savoury recipe too? Yes, you can do whatever the heck you like.

Start with something simple like pasta with gin, for example. This recipe from Familystyle Food features a creamy tomato sauce with a few drops of gin to bring a more grown-up flavour that’s ideal for a romantic night in.

Once you’ve mastered that, you’ll soon be cooking with gin all the time. Gin sandwiches, anyone?