If you like the combination of whisky or bourbon and chocolate, this cake is simply irresistible. It's complex, it's deep, it's unique. The crumb is tight but light, the glaze is intense but stays soft, and the flavor is out of this world fantastic! Use Irish whisky, and it's the best St. Patrick's Day dessert.
I love bundt cakes.
Baking them, eating them, buying new bundt pans, trying to get decent photos. I love all of it. Especially having an ever-growing bundt cake recipe archive.
That said, this is my favorite bundt cake EVER.
If there ever comes a time when someone other than myself bakes a cake for my birthday - I try every year, but it's not happening people - this would be my number one choice, hands down!
It's that good. It rocks so badly that I once exchanged it for an air conditioner repair.
I do have other amazing recipes here with whisky and bourbon in case you're interested: whisky brownies with raisins, orange caramel bourbon cake, a fabulous pecan tart and even a barbecue sauce.
Why use this recipe
- Rich and decadent flavor: it's unique and complex, and everyone raves about it.
- Make ahead: the cake keeps for a few days at room temperature and can be frozen for a month.
- Perfect for special occasions: whether it's a birthday celebration, holiday gathering (St. Paddy's if you use Irish whisky), or dinner party, this cake is impressive and sophisticated yet approachable.
- Versatile serving options: enjoy it on its own, pair it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or drizzle it with caramel sauce with a touch of bourbon or with chocolate glaze; it's always finger-licking good.
Bourbon vs. whisky
Both are alcoholic products or spirits distilled primarily from grains.
Both can be used for this cake.
Bourbon is also called American whisky and should be at least 51% corn to be called that. The most traditional ones are said to come from the South of the US, mainly from Kentucky.
Whisky is originally from Scotland. My Irish family says there's nothing like Irish whiskey and for the purpose of St. Patrick's Day, I use it for this cake instead of bourbon. Not that they would know the difference, but it makes them happy.
My favorite for this cake is Jack Daniels, the regular one or the honey flavored. I've tried it with at least half a dozen brands, and this is my favorite. It might be more expensive, but the flavor difference is huge, in my opinion.
That said, use whatever you have the first time and go from there. No need to buy an expensive one from the start.
Preparing the bundt pan
If you love making bundt cakes, you probably know the pain of not being able to remove it from the pan in one piece. It has happened to me many times!
There are several ways of dealing with this:
- Shortening and flour: use soft shortening to grease the pan, every angle, every nook and cranny until it's completely covered. Using your fingers is messy but effective. You can also use a brush. Sprinkle flour and rotate the pan to cover it completely. You'll have to do it to one side and then the other. Make sure you flour the center tube. Turn the pan upside down over the kitchen sink and smack lightly it against the edge. The excess flour will fall, leaving a thin layer behind. Your pan is ready to be filled.
- Cake goop or cake pan-release paste: it's one of my favorites, together with the shortening method above, because it's very effective. Mix equal parts (volume: cups or tablespoons) of shortening, flour and vegetable oil (sunflower or canola) to make a paste. Use it to coat the pan with a brush. Store it in an airtight container (I use a jar) for a month at room temperature or up to 3 months in the refrigerator.
- Butter and flour: I used this method for years, but now use one of the above-mentioned ones. Good if you don't like shortening. Use soft butter (not melted) to patiently cover the whole pan, every nook and cranny, every sharp angle and space available. I use a brush or my fingers. I then flour the pan and refrigerate it while putting together the batter. I take it out at the last moment when I need to fill it, and it goes cold into the oven. Not everyone has success with this method.
- Baking spray: use a spray labeled as having flour or specifically made for baking (as opposed to cooking). It has to have flour; otherwise, you have a high chance of the cake sticking when removing it. At least, that's my experience.
- Recipe: whenever I find a great bundt cake recipe that can be easily removed from an intricate bundt pan, even though I didn’t follow step 1 above, I cling to it like life itself.
Steps to make chocolate bourbon cake
The technique for this moist chocolate cake is similar to the brownie cookies recipe.
Melting butter and chocolate: always start with chopped chocolate with butter pieces in a microwavable or glass bowl. You can use the microwave (short 10-15 second spurts stirring well between each one until it's fully melted) or a double boiler with the bowl not touching the water. In both cases, make sure it doesn't scorch.
Whipping sugar and eggs: they're whipped until tripled in volume and light in color. The melted chocolate mixture and whisky are added to it.
Use a spatula to fold in the ingredients and don't overdo it so the mixture deflates as little as possible.
Flour mixture and cocoa powder: it's essential to sift it before adding it to wet ingredients to avoid clumps that won't dissolve during baking.
Pan size: use the pan size given in the recipe and never fill more than ¾ of its capacity. The batter needs space to grow comfortably.
Chocolate glaze
This chocolate glaze is the perfect topping for this bourbon cake.
- I use two types of chocolate, semi-sweet and milk, because they balance the other flavors. I'm not a huge fan of milk chocolate, but sometimes it's just perfect, like in this glaze.
- The addition of corn syrup helps soften it. It will never harden completely as a traditional ganache does. If you don't have syrup use runny honey.
Always glaze the cake when it's completely cold. Even better if you do it the next day.
If you're adding something on top of the glaze (like the cocoa nibs, or maybe sprinkles or chopped nuts), do so immediately after you pour it, before it starts to set.
The glaze will also help in keeping this cake super moist.
Kitchen Notes
- Organization: read the recipe first and ensure you have ingredients at the correct temperature, equipment, and enough workspace. This will make the process so much easier.
- Baking time: consider that all ovens and pans are different, even if they look similar. The baking time in my recipes is as accurate as it can be, but it might take you more or less time. You can use a thermometer(like the OXO oven thermometer) to check that your oven is at the right temperature. I recommend you keep track of how your oven works and what tiny details you might need to adjust.
- Prepare the bundt pan: it is important to use the right size and to prepare it well so the cake doesn't stick when removing it. Find the details in the post for Chocolate Bundt Cake.
- Bourbon: you can use any other whisky and you will get great results. Just remember that the better the bourbon, the better the flavor.
- Baking and eating: I suggest glazing and eating it the next day. The flavors have time to meld and the result is much better.
Related recipes you might like:
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PrintBourbon Chocolate Bundt Cake
If you like the combination of whisky or bourbon and chocolate, this cake is simply irresistible. It's complex, it's deep, it's unique. The crumb is tight but light, the glaze is intense but stays soft, and the flavor is out of this world fantastic! Use Irish whisky, and it's the best St. Patrick's Day dessert.
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter
- 4.5 oz (125g) semisweet chocolate, roughly chopped
- ½ cup (45g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups (270g) cake or all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (250g) sour cream
- ¾ cup (180ml) bourbon (I use Jack Daniels)
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
For the chocolate glaze:
- ¼ cup (60ml) cream
- 2 oz (60g) semisweet chocolate, roughly chopped
- 2 oz (60g) milk chocolate, roughly chopped
- 2 Tablespoons corn syrup
Instructions
For the cake:
- Preheat oven to 350ºF/180ºC
- Coat with soft margarine or shortening a large 10 or 12-cup bundt cake pan. I use my fingers, but you can use a brush. Make sure every nook, cranny and angle is finely covered. Flour it completely, shaking off excess. Reserve.
- In a medium bowl, melt chocolate and butter (in the microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring well after each one until just melted). Add the cocoa powder. Mix well and reserve.
- Sift flour with baking soda and salt. (I do it directly over the batter later).
- In a large bowl beat eggs with sugar until light and creamy, about 2 or 3 minutes.
- Add sour cream, bourbon, vanilla and the cooled chocolate mixture. Mix at low speed until well mixed.
- Add dry ingredients and mix only until well combined.
- Pour into the prepared pan, spreading evenly and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean.
- Let cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack and carefully unmold on the wire rack.
- Let cool completely. (At this point you can wrap it in film and aluminum paper and freeze it for a couple of weeks. Thaw in the refrigerator and then let if get to room temperature before glazing).
- Pour the glaze over and let it drip down the sides.
For the chocolate glaze:
- Put chocolate in a glass or heat resistant bowl.
- Heat cream unitl small bubbles appear in the rim of the saucepan and it's about to boil.
- Remove from the fire and add to the chocolates. Wait for 1 minute and mix until very well blended.
- Add corn syrup and mix well.
Notes
- Baking time: consider that all ovens and pans are different, even if they look similar. The baking time in my recipes is as accurate as it can be, but it might take you more or less time. You can use a thermometer(like the OXO oven thermometer) to check that your oven is at the right temperature. I recommend you keep track of how your oven works and what tiny details you might need to adjust.
- The bundt pan: it is important to use the right size and to prepare it well so the cake doesn't stick when removing it. I use shortening and flour and it works great. Click for more details on how to prepare a bundt pan.
- Bourbon: you can use any other whisky and you will get great results. Just remember that the better the bourbon, the better the flavor.
- Baking and eating: I suggest glazing and eating it the next day. The flavors have time to meld and the result is much better.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Cakes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/10
- Calories: 684
- Sugar: 57.3 g
- Sodium: 292.1 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Carbohydrates: 84.5 g
- Fiber: 3.6 g
- Protein: 8.6 g
- Cholesterol: 117.4 mg
Adapted from Home Baked Comfort by Kim Laidlaw
Miriam Goodwin says
There are no eggs listed in the ingredients but they are in the recipe....how many do you use?
Paula Montenegro says
Hi Miriam, the recipe lists 3 eggs and they’re beaten with the sugar (step 5).
Donel Hakes says
I have made this recipe several times, and each delicious! I make my own bourbon vanilla and add it to the glaze. My friends all give it a 10/10! And I agree! Thank you for sharing! Love it!
Paula Montenegro says
Hi Donel, thanks for letting me know! This is my favorite cake and the one I like to have for my birthday. So I couldn't agree more with you lol. Love that bourbon vanilla. Do you simply use only bourbon or mix some of it with vodka?
Jacki says
In the pan prep section, you recommend dusting with fine bread crumbs and shaking off the excess. Is that correct or do you actually use bread crumbs or is that a typo? This recipe looks spectacular!
Paula Montenegro says
Hi Jacki! Yes, I do use fine breadcrumbs and they work really well. It's a trick I learned years ago. You can use flour and refrigerate the pan while you make the batter. It's what I'm doing now mostly, especially when I use more intricate pattern.
Ali says
Can we substitute the sour cream for Greek yogurt?
Paula Montenegro says
Hi Ali, you should have no problem, it's the same volume, 1 cup for 1 cup. I never tried it in this recipe, but my experience with yogurt is that it changes the texture a bit, more humid and sometimes less cakey, but still great. Hope this helps.
Earl C Williams says
Beautifully complex flavors in this wonderful cake. I love it.
I am ready to start trading favors now.
Paula Montenegro says
Haha, thanks Earl! This is my favorite cake, hands-down. Have a great week!
Michelle Dawson says
I’m a little concerned at the discrepancies between the ingredient list and method. In the ingredients you mention 1 tsp baking Sosa and 250 g sour cream but in the method the instructions say add baking powder and cream cheese. These are very different ingredients. Can i assume it should be baking powder and sour cream all the way through the recipe?
Paula Montenegro says
Hi Michelle! Thanks for the heads-up. It is baking soda and sour cream, I checked the recipe with the original. Sorry about that.
Tiffany @ Dilesia says
Sweet and choco! This is going to be one of my favorite desserts. Easy and delicious! Thanks a lot for sharing!
Paula Montenegro says
Thanks Tiffany! It's definitely one of my favorite cakes!
Anne@ASaladForAllSeasons says
Ackkk! Paula...how did I miss this beautiful bundt! Bourbon and chocolate are just made for each other! And that chocolate glaze....just amazing! 🙂
Gourmet Getaways says
What a delicious way to drink your hot chocolate. The combination in a body would be irresistible!
Thanks so much for sharing!
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
Lora @savoringitaly says
I am totally craving chocolate these days, even though I should only be eating clear broth after all the Christmas cookies! Gorgeous, gorgeous cake, Paula! Love the addition of Bourbon!! Cheers for a Healthy and Happy New Year!
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
Your bundt cake wouldn't last long in our house as I would definitely be cutting big slices of it. 🙂
The Ninja Baker says
Aha! Corn syrup is the trick to shiny irresistible chocolate glaze...And any cake coming from Paula's Vintage Kitchen has got to be the one to make. This bourbon chocolate bundt is no exception! Thank you for the keeper recipe =)
Kitchen Riffs says
Bourbon and chocolate is such a terrific combo, isn't it? Love it! And love this cake. But I'm always a sucker for bundt cakes -- such an interesting shape. This is wonderful -- thanks.