Bourbon-Chocolate Cake with Browned Buttercream Recipe

Bourbon-Chocolate Cake with Browned Buttercream Frosting

5.0

(7)

7 Reviews

Up your chocolate cake game with a splash of bourbon.

Southern Living Test Kitchen

Updated on February 24, 2022

Bourbon-Chocolate Cake with Browned Buttercream — Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop styling: Lydia Pursell

Active Time:

35 mins

Bake Time:

25 mins

Cool Time:

55 mins

Total Time:

1 hr 55 mins

Servings:

It's safe to say that this fantastic layer cake is a bourbon-lover's dream come true. Our Bourbon-Chocolate Cake With Browned Buttercream Frosting is full of heavenly combinations and perfect pairings. Bourbon, chocolate, and browned butter: How could we ever resist?

A substantial dose of bourbon in both the cake layers and the icing imparts a stunning, oaky flavor to this towering cake. In the cake layers, bourbon and cocoa mingle together to create a sponge that's deeply rich and decadent (here, the bourbon works double-duty to add both flavor and moisture). In the buttercream, nutty brown butter underscores the essence of the bourbon; we'd venture to say that the bourbon-browned buttercream frosting makes this cake truly memorable.

Like many of our favorite boozy desserts, this festive layer cake is meant for year-round celebrations. Paired with our Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls, you've got a very spirited holiday dessert spread. If this is your first time attempting a layer cake, don't fret: We have lots of tips on how to stack and frost a layer cake like a pro.

Serve your finished cake with a cup of coffee or, of course, a glass of Southern bourbon.

Ingredients

Baking spray with flour
1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
½ cup canola oil
½ cup (4 oz.) bourbon
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ cup hot water
Browned Buttercream Frosting

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with baking spray. Line bottoms of pans with parchment paper; coat paper with baking spray. Whisk together granulated sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk together eggs, milk, oil, bourbon, and vanilla in a small bowl; add to flour mixture, and whisk until just combined. Add hot water to batter; whisk until combined.
Divide batter evenly among prepared pans (about 1 ½ cups each). Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted into centers of cakes comes out clean, 22 to 25 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; cool completely, about 45 minutes.
Measure ⅓ cup Browned Buttercream Frosting into a piping bag fitted with a star tip; set aside.
Spread remaining Browned Buttercream Frosting between cake layers and on top and sides of cake. Pipe reserved frosting in piping bag around top edges of cake.

Bourbon-Chocolate Cake with Browned Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients

Directions

Related Articles