Alternative To Rum For Rococoa Cake

Our answer

Nigella's Rococoa Cake (from FEAST) uses rum in the mascarpone cream filling and also in the coffee syrup that is brushed over the slices of chocolate cake. If you don't like rum then brandy could be used as an alternative.

Marsala would also be a good alternative as marsala wine is used in both zabaglione and tiramisu and the Rococoa Cake has elements of both of these desserts. Try to use a sweet (dolce) marsala rather than a dry one. Sweet madeira wine would be another alternative, as this is similar to marsala. If you need to avoid alcohol altogether then you can omit the rum from the zabaglione mixture and for the coffee syrup use 60ml/1/4 cup extra hot water plus 1 teaspoon extra of espresso powder instead of the rum.