OLD FASHIONED ORANGE PEELER RECIPES

Steps:

• In old-fashioned glass, combine simple syrup and bitters. Fill glass halfway with ice, then stir about a dozen times. Add enough ice to fill glass. Squeeze orange peel over glass to extract oils, add peel to glass, and add whiskey. Stir just until drink is cold and alcoholic bite has softened, about a dozen times. Garnish with cherry, swizzle stick, and straw.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat six 1-cup mini fluted tube pans (or six 3 1/4-inch muffin cups) with nonstick baking spray. In a liquid measuring cup combine the 1/3 cup orange juice and the bourbon. In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and 1 tsp. kosher salt.
• In a large bowl beat the 1/3 cup butter with a mixer on medium 30 seconds. Add the 3/4 cup granulated sugar; beat 2 minutes. Add egg and egg yolk, one at a time, beating well after each. Beat in bitters and the vanilla. Add flour mixture. Beat just until combined, scraping sides of bowl as needed. Add 1/3 cup of the bourbon mixture and the boiling water. Beat on low just until incorporated. Divide batter evenly among pans.
• Bake 20 minutes (18 to 20 minutes for the muffin cups) or until a wooden skewer comes out clean.
• Meanwhile, for syrup: In a small saucepan combine 3 Tbsp. of the bourbon mixture with remaining 3 Tbsp. each granulated sugar and butter. Cook, stirring, over medium until sugar dissolves and mixture comes to a simmer.
• Using a toothpick, poke holes in each cake. Slowly spoon syrup evenly over cakes. Cool in pans 1 hour or until cakes absorb syrup. Remove cakes from pans.
• For glaze: In a medium bowl combine the remaining bourbon mixture, the powdered sugar, an additional few dashes of bitters to taste, and the 1 to 2 Tbsp. orange juice to make drizzling consistency. Drizzle over cakes. Top with cherries and orange zest. Makes 6.