A Tequila Sunrise is a delicious tropical drink I love to serve when it’s warm outside. The combination of orange, grenadine and tequila is delicious, not to mention tropical and super appropriate for the warmer months! This cake is one that’s sure to please anyone you serve it to, and if you get a slight buzz, what’s wrong with that?!

This recipe serves 10-12 people

Prep Time: 20 Minutes

Cook Time: 50 Minutes

Total Time: 2 Hrs

  Ingredients:

  For the Cake:

1 ½ Cups (3 Sticks, 24 Tbs or 339g) Unsalted Butter at Room Temperature

2 Cups (400g) Granulated Sugar

4 Large Room Temperature Eggs

1 ½ Tsp (6g) Vanilla Extract

2 Tbs (20g) Orange Zest

3 Cups (450g) Cake Flour

1 3/4 Tsp (8g) Baking Powder

1 Tsp (4g) Baking Soda

1 ½ Tsp (9g) Salt

1 Cup (8oz, 225g or 240mL) Room Temperature Buttermilk (or the same amount of regular milk with 1 Tbs or 14.5g Lemon Juice)

½ Cup (120mL or 118g) Tequila

2 Tbs (29g) Water

2 Tbs (25g) Granulated Sugar

  For the Glaze:

3 Cups (390g) Confectioner’s Sugar

4 Tbs (60g) Orange Juice  

3 Tbs (30g) Grenadine 

Pinch of Salt 

Maraschino Cherries to Garnish 

Directions:

1.     Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F (180 C) and liberally grease a 12 cup Bundt cake pan with cooking spray (spray works best with this cake, and if you’re using a pan with a more intricate design, make sure you liberally grease all the corners and creases. 

2.     In a large bowl, combine the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and set aside. 

3.     In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or a large bowl with a hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together for 2-3 minutes or until light and fluffy. 

4.     Add the eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each egg before adding the next one, then add the vanilla extract and orange zest.

5.     With the mixer on low, alternately add the flour mixture with the buttermilk, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Do it in about 3 parts. Stop mixing once the last bit of flour is barely absorbed, and finish mixing with a silicone spatula, being sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl to make sure everything is evenly mixed. 

6.     Pour the batter into the prepared pan, then tap the pan on your counter a few times to release any air bubbles. Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until the top of the cake springs back when lightly touched, or a cake tester comes out clean when inserted all the way into the center of the cake. 

7.     Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a cooling rack and allow to cool completely. 

8.     Combine the 2 Tbs water and sugar in a bowl and microwave for 45 second to a minute, until the sugar is completely dissolved, then combine it with the tequila. Pour this mixture all over the warm cake, using the full amount. The cake will absorb it all, and this needs to be done while the cake is still warm. 

9.     For the glaze, combine the confectioner’s sugar, orange juice, grenadine, and salt in a bowl with a whisk until thick and nicely combined. You can add a few drops of red food color to the glaze if you want it to really resemble the grenadine color. Once the cake is completely cooled, pour the glaze all over the cake, then top with maraschino cherries and orange zest. 

-Store at room temperature tightly wrapped with plastic wrap for up to 4 days. You can also freeze this cake for up to 2 months, just make sure its tightly wrapped in plastic and then put in an airtight container.