Bourbon Layer Cake with Bourbon Ganache and Milk Chocolate Buttercream
I kind of shot myself in the foot when I made that incredible Rainbow Cake last year. As my little sister’s birthday approached, I kept thinking, “how on EARTH am I going to top the rainbow cake?” I mean, seriously. The only things that top rainbows are sparkles and unicorns.
Or booze.
And since a unicorn cake is entirely beyond my skill set, I went with the later. And set out to make the booziest, bourbonyest cake I could.
Bourbon buttermilk cake. Bourbon chocolate ganache. Milk chocolate buttercream. And I did not skimp on the bourbon, either. There’s a half a cup in the cake alone. You can literally smell the aroma the second you cut into it.
I’m not sure if it was the bourbon or the buttermilk or the butter, but this cake was so incredibly moist and buttery that the frosting and ganache had trouble sticking to it. Or maybe it was an issue with the frosting itself. I’ll say that’s why there’s not a slice photo here for you to see, but in reality it’s because we devoured that thing before I could find a free moment to snap a shot. You’ll just have to use your imagination.
What really sealed the deal and made this cake *officially* better than last year’s was the experience that went along with it. A day in Kentucky, experiencing a small part of what they call the Bourbon Trail. Even if you’re not a bourbon drinker seeing the process of how it’s made is incredibly intriguing. The science and precision and craft is awe inspiring. And the 10am bourbon tastings that come with the tours? Let’s just say I’m not complaining.
Yup. I think my sister had the best birthday (and best birthday cake) ever. No unicorns necessary.
Bourbon Layer Cake with Bourbon Ganache and Milk Chocolate Buttercream
Yield: 1 8-inch layer cake (about 16 servings)
Ingredients:
For Cake:
1 vanilla bean split and scraped, seeds reserved
1/2 cup (4 ounces) bourbon
2 cups (13.5 ounces) all purpose flour, sifted
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
5 eggs, room temperature
2 egg yolks
1 1/2 cups buttermilkFor Buttercream:
4 ounces dark chocolate
6 ounces milk chocolate
2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2-3 cups powdered sugar, or more as needed
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extractFor Ganache:
4 ounces dark or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon bourbonDirections:
Combine the bourbon and vanilla bean together in a small bowl. Steep overnight, or as long as you can before proceeding.
Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Butter and line 3 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper. Butter parchment.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg. Set aside.
Combine the sugar, butter, and reserved vanilla bean seeds in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat on medium speed for 10 minutes, until very light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl periodically as needed. Add almond extract.
Reduce the speed to medium low and add the eggs and egg yolk, one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition.
Add the flour mixture, one cup at a time, alternating with buttermilk, mixing on low speed until incorporated. Immediately add the bourbon (discard the vanilla pod) and mix until combined.
Divide the batter among prepared pans and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until tops are lightly browned and springy. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack until cool enough to handle. Run a small knife around the edges of each pan, then gently invert onto wire racks. Cakes should come out cleanly. Allow to cool completely. At this point, the cakes can be frozen until ready to use, up to 1 month. Simply wrap each layer individually in a double layer of plastic wrap and then store inside a large zip top bag. Personally, I always make my cakes a few days in advance and freeze them. I find the frozen cake to be much easier to level and frost than fresh cakes.
For the ganache, place chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring cream to a bare simmer over low heat. Pout hot cream over chocolate, and stir until smooth. Add bourbon. Set aside and allow to cool until thickened slightly (the room temperature ganache should be about the consistency of peanut butter). If it's too thick, you can add a little bit more hot cream and stir until smooth.
For buttercream, melt chocolates in a microwave or double boiler over low heat until smooth. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
In a large mixing bowl, beat butter until fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add cooled chocolate and beat until smooth. Add heavy cream and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy. Add more powdered sugar or heavy cream as necessary to acheive desired consistency.
To assemble, level each cake layer by cutting of the domed top with a long serrated knife. Place one layer, flat side down, on a cake stand or serving platter. To keep the platter clean while frosting, place 4 small strips of parchment or waxed paper just under the edges of the cake. This will allow you to frost the cake and then remove these strips cleanly later.
Spread half of the ganache evenly over top of layer, followed approximately 1/2 cup of buttercream. Position second layer on top and press to adhere. Repeat with remaining ganache, another 1/2 cup of buttercream, and final cake layer, flat side up.
Cover the entire cake with a thin layer of buttercream. This "crumb coat" will make frosting the cake easier. Refrigerate for about 15 minutes to allow this crumb coat to set.
Remove cake from refrigerator and frost with remaining buttercream, reserving some if you'd like to add any decorative details or borders.
Cake base adapted from BraveTart.
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Don’t Miss a Meal!
I wish I had a sister like you! I cannot believe how much booze you managed to squeeze into this cake, I am super impressed.
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I don’t drink at all, but I have no problems eating my alcohol, and there’s half a bottle of Maker’s Mark in my cabinet just waiting for a great recipe. I think I just found it!
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Can you be my sister? :) this is beautiful!
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Yikes! I’m usually not attracted to alcohol but this cake is going to have to be an exception. This cake looks yummy. Happy birthday to your sister!
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Well, at first I was mad you made this cake and didn’t save me a slice. BUT, then I realized it was for your sister’s birthday! haha… I think I know what cake I’m making for either my or Nathan’s next birthday!!!
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You should totally make this your post-baby celebration cake. :)
Lindsay! Oh my goodness…I wish it were my birthday. Delish!
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WOW! What an amazing cake. I’m sure your sister loved it :)
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Geez, how perfect looking is this cake??? Love it!
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I am seriously jealous of your icing skills. They’re impeccable! I need you to come by and give me a lesson :D My brother would be head over heels in love with this cake. In fact I might have to make it soon. Thanks!
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Ah YUM. I haven’t made a cake in a while after my Christmas baking, but i feel like I have been inspired again.
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WOW, that sounds absolutely fantastic :) And your cake decoration skills are totally amazing.
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Wow!! I love bourbon. I love cake. I love chocolate. And I wouldn’t be opposed to having a little “how-to” party on cake decorating ;)
The cake is absolutely beautiful!
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This cake is lovely! I need more bourbon in my life.
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Wow thats sounds fantastic….a very tempting cake.
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It’s soooo beautiful!!!
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This looks delicious! I want to try making it as cupcakes :)
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What a beautiful cake! Your decorating skills are something to be admired – and I’m sure this tasted amazing!
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This is genius. Have you been to the Dickel distillery yet? I actually grew up five minutes from there, 15 minutes from Jack Daniel’s, and despite Dickel being my bourbon of choice, only went on a tour there for the first time over Christmas. It’s about an hour from Nashville–you should go sometime!
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Cannot WAIT to try this! Chocolate and bourbon are two of my favorite things. Was the picture of the barrels taken at Buffalo Trace? I swear I stood in the exact same place and took that same picture.
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Buffalo Trace indeed! :) I know it’s not technically “on” the bourbon trail but we found it very interesting!
Pretty funny, Lindsay. I had to pull mine up to compare. The lighting on yours is better, but you can see it here: http://pinterest.com/pin/172192385722508745/ Thanks for the memory!
I can imagine it wouldn’t be so easy to beat your rainbow cake!
I loved it so much I want to keep it as my desktop wallpaper <3
This one looks amazing too – all these skyscraper cakes that you make are great :D
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Looks incredible! I’m not sure which part sold me first… chocolate, cake, frosting, bourbon or moist. Love it. :)
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Dear your sister, can we trade places, please, just for a day??? I promise to save you a few crumbs when we switch back the next day.
By the way, bourbonyest. That’s my new favorite word of the day.
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bourbon
chocolate
cake
dessert with booze in it
Yep, that about summarizes everything right with the world and this post :)
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You have got a lucky sister! This cake looks A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
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That is complete perfect from top to bottom. *LOVE*
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Wow this is so beautiful and it’s making my mouth water. I’m planning to make a birthday cake soon…maybe I’ll muster the courage to make this.
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I was just commenting to my husband that I really should cook or bake with all the bottles of alcohol that we have but never seem to drink from . This is perfect!
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Wow! The cake itself is so incredible and the bourbon tour makes the whole celebration even that much more special. What an amazing birthday. Two words: September 7. :-)
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oh WOW….just WOW!!
I think the title alone has Mr Shady Pine over here just swooning!
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I just want to eat straight out of the bowl of frosting that you used on that cake!
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Lindsay, absolutely gorgeous cake. You are a great sister! I am fascinated with the way that alcohol is made, thanks for the fun photos!
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I just wept a little. Bourbon and cake. Two of my favorite things. Together at last. Pinning this to must make board. Thank you.
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I am speechless! that cake is absolutely gorgeous!! I wish I could have a slice right now!
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Gosh!!! with that kind of alcohol in the cake..its gonna be one happy party!! :)
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Wow, I love the gorgeous simplicity of the outside and the flavor combos sound delicious!!
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Lindsay, your grandmother would have approved. Bettie had 2 bourbons every night before dinner. I’ll bet she would have been on this cake in an instance!!!
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Ohhh it’s soo good and pretty. Yummy!!
xoxo
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The cakes I’ve made with a lot of booze in always tend to turn out beautifully moist so I’m guessing that’s what did it for yours. Very impressed with how much you managed to squeeze in! And the frosting looks perfect – far more grown up and delicious than a unicorn cake (although I bet you’d do an awesome job of that too!)
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this is my dream in a cake. seriously.
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I think I’m in love. No seriously. I’m in love. :-)
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“The only things that top rainbows are sparkles and unicorns.” LOVE IT!
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I’m so grateful to you for including the weight of ingredients in your recipes. I can’t wait to make this one! many, many thanks
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I love bourbon. This looks fantastic! Do you think this would work well with dark chocolate buttercream?
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This is exactly what I need right now to cure this terrible cold I’m going through. Looks delicious and it is so prettily decorated.
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I have bourbon, I have chocolate. I must have this cake. Sounds and looks amazing!
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That cake looks like it was to die for! Yellow cake with chocolate frosting is my favorite combo- especially with all those layers! Yum!
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nothing wrong w/ eating it up before anybody can snap a picture – happens here all the time… LOL
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I tried cutting thisrecipe in half to make as cupcakes but it didnt work out for me, the cake came out really gummy but the aroma was heavenly. Im no novice so Im totally baffled as to what went wrong.
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Yvette, I just made the cake and it also turned out really gummy. Not sure why. I was hoping for a light, fluffy cake. The batter was also really liquidy before I baked it.
Lindsay – any thoughts? The taste was amazing but the texture was very off.
I will acknowledge that the texture of this cake wasn’t light and fluffy like some cakes. So much so that the frosting didn’t stick to it. But I saw it as more moist, not necessarily gummy. Wondering if maybe the batter got overmixed?
Guess I’ll just have to make it again and see! :)
This cake and I are planning a June wedding. You’re totally invited.
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I can’t get over the look of that cake — amazing! The chocolate color is so vibrant and delicious!
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I am mid-making this cake right now and I just noticed that while nutmeg and almond are in the ingredient list for the cake, they are not mentioned at all in the directions. I wasn’t sure if I should put them in or not, since I wasn’t sure if the error was in listing them, or in omitting them.
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You know… I honestly can’t remember. They’re in the original recipe so it won’t hurt to add them in, but I’m kind of thinking I omitted them just to focus more of the flavor on the bourbon. Damn you, short term memory!
FYI…I made this delicious cake last night. I wanted to let you know though that the Almond Extract is missing within the directions, so it got left out. I will need to make again and include the Almond Extract. Thanks for your fantastic blogs & recipes.
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The original recipe did call for almond extract, but I left it out to further emphasize the bourbon flavor. :) Recipe is now updated to reflect that. Glad to hear you enjoyed it!
I’m usually not a cake person, but the buttermilk, chocolate and bourbon in this recipe could change all that! Gorgeous.
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Booze and chocolate has to be the all time yummiest combination. Excellent choice.
And it looks so pretty too…
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That looks SO SCRUMPTIOUS!
I think i actually just drooled at my desk…
thanks for sharing!
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This looks absolutely delicious! What an achievement! Lucky sis…
xox
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Wow, this looks so delicious. I have seriously been waiting for your sister’s brithday since you posted the rainbow cake. I can’t wait to make this. Maybe I just found Dad’s new birthday cake? His is coming up. Thanks so much! :)
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Thanks for this recipe! Made it today, but switched out the bourbon for Kahlua. Bought the Kahlua for a recipe earlier this week that only called for 2 Tbsp. Was wondering how to use up the rest and thought of this recipe! It was yummy!
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considering i grew up stealing sips of my dads bourbon I cannot wait to try this cake out!! someone think of a good excuse to bake for me??
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Oh my! I’m almost speechless, what an amazing cake!
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