View Full Version : Do ya love Root Beer?
For some reason I'm on a root beer kick. Not just any root beer, it has to be Dogs and Suds. :D
Anyway I found this recipe in the Food Network magazine, and there is something so good about chocolate and root beer. I'm making it again for a Nat'l Guard Christmas party tonight.
Root Beer Bundt Cake
1 stick unsalted butter plus more to butter pan
2 cups all purpose flour plus more for dusting pan
2 1/2 cups root beer
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 oz bittersweet chocolate squares or chopped
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp salt
3 large eggs, beaten
2 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter and flour 12 cup bundt pan, tap out excessive flour.
Heat 2 cups of the root beer, cocoa powder, chocolate and 1 stick butter in large saucepan over low heat until the butter melts. (Make sure you do not boil) Add the granulated and brown sugars, whisk until dissolved. Remove from heat and cool.
Combine 2 cups flour, baking soda, allspice and 1 tsp salt in a bowl. Whisk the eggs into the root beer mixture (if not cooled completely temper the eggs by adding a bit of the root beer mix into the eggs when whisking). Gently fold in the dry ingredients, the batter will be slightly lumpy.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 55 min to 1 hour, or until toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean, rotating pan 1/2 way through cooking. Transfer pan to rack. Gently poke cake all over with a skewer and pour 1/4 cup of remaining root beer over cake. Let cool in pan for 20 minutes then invert cake onto serving plate and let cool completely.
Glaze:
Whisk remaining 1/4 cup root beer, pinch of salt, confectioners sugar and vanilla into a bowl until smooth. Drizzle over cake.
Guymullins
12-10-2011, 09:47
I too love root beer, but it is one American institution that has failed to get a grip on Africa. There is a new soft-drink company 400 miles away that makes a very acceptable root beer, but it is very difficult to find here. I particularly like it with vodka, but it is also good as a thirst quencher on its own.
Rumblyguts
12-10-2011, 13:04
She always comes to mind when I hear someone mention root beer...
The Root Beer Lady (Dorothy Molter) was a legendary women who lived alone in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern MN. She made her own root beer, in the middle of nowhere, kept it cold with lake ice (I'm assuming that she cut and packed herself), and sold it to canoeists.
She was also a RN, and one of only 2 or three people to be allowed to live in the BWCA, a 1,000,000 square acre preserve. I remember seeing her portaging double food packs, outboard and gas, etc. in a documentary. A tough cookie! :D
Her cabins were hauled out by dogsled (Outward Bound) and snowmobile after her death to Ely, MN where they are part of her museum.
After some time on the trail, that root bear must have been tasty!
Museum's webage: http://rootbeerlady.com/dorothys-story/
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Molter
When I was a kid in the BSA, we learned to make birch beer tea, not as sweet,, but fun. :D
I too love root beer, but it is one American institution that has failed to get a grip on Africa. There is a new soft-drink company 400 miles away that makes a very acceptable root beer, but it is very difficult to find here. I particularly like it with vodka, but it is also good as a thirst quencher on its own.
This I will try,, :D
Gypsy, this looks good! Never would have thought to mix root beer with chocolate and I'm curious now. I'll give it a try.
I've got a friend from Dominica who makes a wicked ginger beer - so strong it'll put hair on your chest (as my Dad would say). :D
Susan
Root beer floats - A&W root beer with Blue Bell Old Fashioned Homemade Vanilla ice cream - ROCK! :D
Richard :munchin
mojaveman
12-11-2011, 00:18
Root beer floats - A&W root beer with Blue Bell Old Fashioned Homemade Vanilla ice cream - ROCK! :D
Richard :munchin
Yep, we had a nice A&W rootbeer on Main St. downtown back in the '70s. That's one establishment that I'd like to see in business again.
Real Ginger beer from Jamaica is pretty nice too.
Rennaker
12-11-2011, 00:51
Root Beer and bourbon was a drink I was introduced to in the Philippeans. Couldn't believe it actually tasted good!
Of course, there was some nasty booze that needed a cover-up too.
Gypsy, this looks good! Never would have thought to mix root beer with chocolate and I'm curious now. I'll give it a try,
Susan
It really is good, the cake was gone by the end of the party. Next time I think I will add more chocolate, 4 oz instead of 2.
Root beer floats - A&W root beer with Blue Bell Old Fashioned Homemade Vanilla ice cream - ROCK! :D
Richard :munchin
Favorite memory was my dad taking us to the A&W drive in for root beer floats when we were kids. Still enjoy them occasionally today.
greenberetTFS
12-11-2011, 16:29
When I was a kid in the BSA, we learned to make birch beer tea, not as sweet,, but fun.
This I will try,, :D
JJ
I just tried it............:p It does have a unique taste that's for sure.........:cool:
Big Teddy :munchin
Root beer floats - A&W root beer with Blue Bell Old Fashioned Homemade Vanilla ice cream - ROCK! :D
Richard :munchin
I remember the jingle. "A & W Rootbeer has that frosty mug taste..."
I too love root beer, but it is one American institution that has failed to get a grip on Africa. There is a new soft-drink company 400 miles away that makes a very acceptable root beer, but it is very difficult to find here. I particularly like it with vodka, but it is also good as a thirst quencher on its own.
Take a look at these guys - they ship internationally: http://www.sodapopstop.com/home.cfm
PedOncoDoc
12-12-2011, 00:02
We have a drive-in A&W in my neck of the woods - we take the kids there a few times over the warm months each year.
Fantastic stuff!
Golf1echo
12-12-2011, 07:18
We have a drive-in A&W in my neck of the woods - we take the kids there a few times over the warm months each year.
Fantastic stuff!
Fond memories of stopping at A&W in the big town of Glenwood Springs many years ago. I share the A&W Root Beer with my daughter hoping to pass on the same :)
Gypsy, Wow Merry Christmas to you! That is quite the Avatar...
Gypsy, Wow Merry Christmas to you! That is quite the Avatar...
LOL! Merry Christmas. One of our esteemed members made it for me. :D
x SF med
12-13-2011, 01:00
Bundaberg Root Beer or Ginger Beer... Australian, and outstanding...
Steelhead Spicy Draft Root Beer... I got it on tap in Eugene Oregon... KILLER!
I like to find the root beer at brew pubs... or even in bottles from small batch places... it is great.
We have a drive-in A&W in my neck of the woods - we take the kids there a few times over the warm months each year. Fantastic stuff!
Ah, brings back fond memories of going to the St. Helena A&W with my Dad. He used to go there when he was a kid and loved to share the experience with his daughters.
It's the only chain restaurant tolerated in the upper Napa Valley. It's been there for decades and was grandfathered in when they passed zoning regs to keep the riff-raff out. :D
S.
mojaveman
12-13-2011, 22:11
Drove by an A&W rootbeer today just off of CA Interstate 10 out in the desert. I was going pretty fast but I think I was in Indio. Anyway, I guess there are still a few around. I'll have to stop next time I'm out there.
Gypsy, this looks good! Never would have thought to mix root beer with chocolate and I'm curious now. I'll give it a try.
I've got a friend from Dominica who makes a wicked ginger beer - so strong it'll put hair on your chest (as my Dad would say). :D
Susan
Ginger beer with ginger rum is almost as good as homemade rootbeer.
mark46th
12-15-2011, 12:55
Mojaveman- No, not Indio, it is in Cabezon between the Morongo indian casino and the outlets...