Home This is probably a stupid question...

[CurlySue]

... but I am going to a small BBQ tomorrow and am supposed to bring dessert for the guests, which include two kids under the age of 8.

I found a great recipe for a chocolate cake. It calls for a half-cup of coffee flavored liqueur.

My potentially stupid question is this - will parents disapprove of their children eating something that has liquor in it?? I don''t have kids, so I''m not sure whether I should be worried about this.

Thanks for your help!

 

[qtiekiki]

I am sure there''ll be parents who wouldn''t let their toddlers have that. Do you have to have liquer in it?

 

[stephbolt]

If the liquor is added to the cake before it''s cooked, the alcohol will be cooked off in the baking process and just leave the flavor. So I''m guessing you''ll be fine!

 

[cellososweet]

If there are other desserts, then just put a sign that says it has coffee liquer and people who will want to eat it, will eat it. And if the parents let little Johnny eat it, it''s their fault for not reading the label. You can''t cater a whole bbq to 2 kids.

But, if it''s the only dessert, I would just leave it out because it''s coffee flavored and a lot of people aren''t really into the whole coffee flavoring anyways, kids aside. I love a black cup of joe, but not in my desserts. I''m sure the recipe is just as decadent without it.

 

[cara]

Date: 8/7/2009 2:08:34 PM
Author: stephbolt
If the liquor is added to the cake before it's cooked, the alcohol will be cooked off in the baking process and just leave the flavor. So I'm guessing you'll be fine!

Not entirely... usually at least some alcohol is left behind. But I say you just make the dessert as is and let the parents decide - even if you substitued coffee for the coffee liquor they might object to the caffeine! (or sugar in cake - who knows these days.) 1/2 cup of coffee liquor in a cake sounds a lot less alcoholic that typical christmas fruit cake.

ETA: Just a reminder that baking is tricky, and you may need to substitute something rather than eliminate the liquor. I'd find a different recipe if you are just going to skip it.

 

[brightlight]

Date: 8/7/2009 1:57:27 PM
Author:CurlySue
... but I am going to a small BBQ tomorrow and am supposed to bring dessert for the guests, which include two kids under the age of 8.

I found a great recipe for a chocolate cake. It calls for a half-cup of coffee flavored liqueur.

My potentially stupid question is this - will parents disapprove of their children eating something that has liquor in it?? I don''t have kids, so I''m not sure whether I should be worried about this.

Thanks for your help!

Can you portion off a small part of the batter before you add the liquor and make little cupcakes for the kids with the liquorless batter?

 

[onvacation]

I wouldn''t give it to kids, because the liquor won''t fully cook off, and there''s probably also caffeine. If you still want that subtle coffee aroma and it''s not too much trouble, could you substitute it with a bit of instant decaf coffee in hot water or warm simple syrup? That''ll add some coffee flavor while still keeping it child friendly. Maple syrup would also be yummy.

 

[CurlySue]

Thanks so much for the quick responses, everyone!

I have been reading reviews of the recipe, and it looks like my best option is to substitute a something for the liqueur (I found a few seemingly successful options in the reviews). I will probably just try this, just to be safe, since I think this may be the only dessert.

Again - thanks for the input!

 

[nycbkgirl]

I wouldn''t let my kids have it..so I agree with substitution...when I am making smthg for lots of diff ppl..I generally make smthg with plain ingredients (no peanuts,liquer etc)....can''t cater to everyone but I eliminate the obvious ones.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 8/7/2009 2:30:41 PM
Author: CurlySue
Thanks so much for the quick responses, everyone!

I have been reading reviews of the recipe, and it looks like my best option is to substitute a something for the liqueur (I found a few seemingly successful options in the reviews). I will probably just try this, just to be safe, since I think this may be the only dessert.

Again - thanks for the input!

You made the right decision. Not only would I not want my kids to have liquer, I''d not want them to have coffee/caffeine. Even the chocolate would make mine go wild - luckily only one of my kids likes chocolate cake.

 

[mrssalvo]

I wouldn''t let my kids have it either, plus, I doubt mine would like it if it has even a hint of coffee flavor. You could make the cake as is for the adults and take along some chocolate chip cookies/brownies or something else for adults that don''t like cake and for the kids..

 

[D&T]

Date: 8/7/2009 6:13:43 PM
Author: MC

Date: 8/7/2009 2:30:41 PM
Author: CurlySue
Thanks so much for the quick responses, everyone!

I have been reading reviews of the recipe, and it looks like my best option is to substitute a something for the liqueur (I found a few seemingly successful options in the reviews). I will probably just try this, just to be safe, since I think this may be the only dessert.

Again - thanks for the input!

You made the right decision. Not only would I not want my kids to have liquer, I''d not want them to have coffee/caffeine. Even the chocolate would make mine go wild - luckily only one of my kids likes chocolate cake.

yep yep