Baileys and mascarpone cake

I've loved Baileys as far as I can remember, way back in the Middle Ages... okay, maybe not so long ago. Maybe I have some Irish ancestors. Maybe not, as I hate beer. Or maybe yes, as I think that potatoes are a very nice fruit indeed... The thing is that it appears that this liquor is not very often used for cooking. And it's a pity. That's why I want to contribute to a wider use in baking and to celebrate Saint Patrick's day at the same time (I'm late, I know) with this yummy Baileys cake... And I warn you: this cake tastes a LOT of Baileys. It's only fit for Baileys' lovers. So refrain if you're not a Baileys addict. Like me.


While searching for some recipe to use some homemade mascarpone cheese, I stumbled upon a nice cake recipe with amaretto in a Spanish website. But being that unfortunately amaretto is not my cup of tea, I decided to use Baileys, which makes a good match with mascarpone. And I adapted the recipe to skip the sugar and used agave syrup instead.

Sugar-free mascarpone cheese and Baileys cake

• 4 medium organic eggs
• 120g agave syrup
  
• 250g mascarpone cheese
  
• 100g Baileys
• 200g flour
• 1 package baking powder (around 4-5 tsp)
• 1 pinch salt

1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC.
2. Separate the egg yolks and whites. Whip the whites till stiff. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of a food processor, add the cheese, the yolks and the syrup, mix thoroughly.
   
4. Add the Baileys and mix again. Then add the sifted flour with the pinch of salt and the baking powder. Mix softly and finish the mixing with a spatula.
5. Then add the whipped whites, stirring delicately so that the whites keep their volume. Butter and flour a cake mold, pour the cake mixture and bake for 30 minutes.
   
6. Use a wooden skewer to try for doneness. Take the cake out of the oven, unmold and leave to cool on a wire rack.
   

The result is a super-moist cake with a delicious Baileys flavor. It keeps really well inside a plastic bag. Everybody loved it at home, except my little one. But he's a picky eater...