Bourbon Cake Recipe

This vintage-inspired homemade bourbon cake recipe bakes up moist, buttery, and loaded with pecans—then gets soaked in more bourbon and topped with a rich glaze that’s got a kick all its own. It’s easy, indulgent, and just the kind of dessert your grandma made when the preacher wasn’t lookin’.

Course Dessert - Cake

Cuisine American - Southern

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 1 40

Total Time 1 55

Servings

Calories 566kcal

Author Marye Audet-White

Equipment

Ingredients

Butter for greasing pan
Sugar for pan
2 cups butter
2 cups sugar
6 eggs
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 cups chopped pecans
¾ cup bourbon
3 tablespoons of bourbon for pouring

Glaze

1-½ cups Confectioner's sugar
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 tablespoon bourbon
¼ cup chopped pecans

Instructions

Have all ingredients at room temperature before beginning.
Grease a bundt pan and add about ¼ cup sugar.
Move the bundt pan around and gently shake until the sugar coats the pan.
Pour out any excess sugar.
Preheat the oven to 325F.
Cream the butter and 2 cups of sugar together until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.
Beat in ½ cup of the bourbon.
Blend the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg together.
Add to the creamed mixture a little at a time.
Stir in the remaining ¼ cup bourbon and pecans.
Spoon into the prepared bundt pan.
Bake at 325F for 1 hour 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted halfway between the side and the center has just one or two crumbs attached to it.
Remove cake from oven.
While still hot pour the 3 tablespoons of bourbon over the cake along the outside edge.
Let cool in the pan.

Glaze

Add the Confectioner's sugar to a bowl.
Stir in the melted butter until well blended.
Add enough bourbon to make a thick glaze.
Spoon the glaze over the cooled cake and sprinkle with more chopped pecans.

Video

Notes

Storage:

This bourbon cake is best if you make it a day or so ahead of time. Leftovers can be stored at room temperature for about 4 days. Cover with plastic wrap or place in a cake carrier to keep it fresh.

This cake freezes very well for up to 3 months.

Tips:

It's good without the bourbon, if you don't drink. Just substitute a good, spicy ginger beer or ginger ale for the bourbon if you don't imbibe. Apple cider will work, too.

Nutrition