Defazio's Hangover Cake - The Perfect Cure

When you wake up with a pounding head, queasy stomach, and exhaustion from a night of overindulging, nothing cures a hangover quite like a hearty slice of Defazio’s Hangover Cake. This savory breakfast cake from the famous Troy, NY pizzeria is loaded with eggs, sausage, potatoes, cheese, and veggies baked into a sturdy, satisfying bread-like cake. Customized with your choice of mix-ins, it provides the perfect salty, greasy, cheesy remedy to help soak up all the alcohol and rehydrate. Read on to learn about the history of this renowned hangover cure, tips for making it at home, and how to customize your own hangover cake recipe.

History of Defazio’s Hangover Cake

The hangover cake was first created in 1987 by Al Defazio, founder of the iconic Defazio’s Pizzeria in Troy, NY. Al invented it as a tasty cure for his own hangovers and began serving it at the restaurant on Saturday and Sunday mornings. It grew so popular that Defazio’s now ships these cakes nationwide.

Benefits of Defazio’s Hangover Cake

This hearty cake is the perfect hangover cure for several reasons:

Eggs

Packed with protein, electrolytes, and cysteine to help replenish nutrients.

Potatoes

Carbs to help absorb alcohol and restore glucose levels.

Grease

Bacon grease and oil help coat the stomach lining.

Sodium

Helps rehydrate the body and replenish salt loss.

B Vitamins

Whole milk, cheese, and veggies provide B vitamins depleted by alcohol.

Tips for Making the Perfect Hangover Cake

To make a hangover cake with the ideal texture and flavor, follow these pointers:

Use Stale Bread

Older, firm bread makes the best base for absorbing egg mixture.

Keep it Greasy

Don’t skimp on the bacon grease or oil for a moist cake.

Load Up on Mix-Ins

Pick hearty meats, veggies and cheeses that appeal when you’re feeling ill.

Bake Low and Slow

Gentle baking helps blend flavors and achieve the right texture.

Rest before Serving

Letting the cake rest makes it easier to slice and absorb juices.

Defazio’s Hangover Cake Ingredients

Bread Base

1 loaf stale bread, cubed

Egg Mixture

12 eggs, 1 cup whole milk, salt, pepper, dash hot sauce

Mix-Ins

Sausage, bacon, potatoes, onions, peppers, mushrooms, cheese, etc.

Binding

Bacon grease, olive oil, or melted butter

Step-by-Step Recipe

Here's how to assemble this hearty hangover cure:

Prep bread and mix-ins

Cube bread. Cook sausage, bacon, potatoes, onions, peppers, etc.

Whisk egg mixture

Whisk eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and hot sauce.

Combine

Toss bread cubes, egg mixture, and desired mix-ins together.

Add binding

Drizzle with bacon grease, olive oil, or melted butter.

Bake

Pour into a greased baking dish. Bake at 350°F for 45-60 minutes.

Rest and Serve

Let cake rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Customize Your Hangover Cake

Tailor your cake to your tastes with mix-ins like:

Meats

- Sausage, bacon, ham, chorizo

Veggies

- Onions, peppers, tomatoes, spinach, broccoli

Cheeses

- Cheddar, Monterey Jack, provolone, Swiss

Starchy Binders

- Potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash

Herbs & Spices

- Thyme, rosemary, red pepper flakes, hot sauce

Storing and Reheating Tips

To enjoy leftovers:

Storage

Store cake loosely covered in fridge for 2-3 days.

Reheating

Microwave slices until warm, about 30-60 seconds.

Freezing

Freeze slices up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in fridge.

Conclusion

With its hearty combination of eggs, grease, carbs, and sodium, Defazio’s hangover cake is the ultimate cure for a pounding head and uneasy stomach. Easy to whip up at home with leftover bread and any mix-ins you desire, this savory breakfast cake soaks up the alcohol and replenishes depleted nutrients. Customize it to your liking, and say goodbye to hangovers!

FAQs

1. Can I use fresh bread instead of stale?

Stale bread works best to absorb all the egg mixture. Use fresh bread if needed.

2. How long does assembled unbaked cake last in the fridge?

You can assemble it 1-2 days in advance before baking.

3. What's the best way to customize it?

Pick your favorite meats, cheeses, veggies and seasonings to personalize.

4. Can I freeze and reheat leftovers?

Yes, freeze slices then reheat in microwave until warm.

5. Is bacon grease essential as the binder?

Bacon grease is ideal but olive oil or melted butter also work.