Whiskey-Soaked Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake

Updated Feb. 29, 2024

Whiskey-Soaked Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake
Craig Lee for The New York Times
Total Time
1 hour 30 minutes, plus cooling
Rating
5(1,948)
Comments
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This recipe is a more sophisticated (and boozier) version of one found in Maida Heatter's "Book of Great Chocolate Desserts.” The cake is rich, dense and full of chocolate, with a spicy, peppery, burnt caramel tang.

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Ingredients

Yield:10 to 12 servings
  • 1cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, more for greasing pan
  • 2cups all-purpose flour, more for dusting pan
  • 5ounces unsweetened chocolate
  • ¼cup instant espresso powder
  • 2tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1cup bourbon, rye or other whiskey, more for sprinkling
  • ½teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2cups granulated sugar
  • 3large eggs
  • 1tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1teaspoon baking soda
  • Confectioners’ sugar, for garnish (optional)
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (12 servings)

492 calories; 23 grams fat; 14 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 7 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 55 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 35 grams sugars; 6 grams protein; 208 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Grease and flour a 10-cup-capacity Bundt pan (or two 8- or 9-inch loaf pans). Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In microwave oven or double boiler over simmering water, melt chocolate. Let cool.

  2. Step 2

    Put espresso and cocoa powders in a 2-cup (or larger) glass measuring cup. Add enough boiling water to come up to the 1 cup measuring line. Mix until powders dissolve. Add whiskey and salt; let cool.

  3. Step 3

    Using an electric mixer, beat 1 cup butter until fluffy. Add sugar and beat until well combined. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating well between each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract, baking soda and melted chocolate, scraping down sides of bowl with a rubber spatula.

  4. Step 4

    On low speed, beat in a third of the whiskey mixture. When liquid is absorbed, beat in 1 cup flour. Repeat additions, ending with whiskey mixture. Scrape batter into prepared pan and smooth top. Bake until a cake tester inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 1 hour 10 minutes for Bundt pan (loaf pans will take less time, start checking them after 55 minutes).

  5. Step 5

    Transfer cake to a rack. Unmold after 15 minutes and sprinkle warm cake with more whiskey. Let cool before serving, garnished with confectioners’ sugar if you like.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
1,948 user ratings
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Comments

A moist and rich cake, but I found crust dry and a tad bitter. So, the next time I prepped the pan with fine sugar instead of flour. I also reserved 4 ozs of the bourbon and made a glaze using it and butter, sugar, a drop of brown icing gel and vanilla. A keeper!

This has become my foolproof go-to bundt cake secret weapon. The crumb is so fine that it can be sliced super-thin if serving a crowd. This cake also stays moist for days -- and is notably better the second day after mellowing so I recommend making it a day ahead. The character of the whiskey or bourbon you chose is prominent enough that it adapts well to individual tastes or preferences based on which you select. Once I used Four Roses bourbon and Five Roses flour to make a 9 Roses Bundt. BOOM!

The first time I made the batter I was tempted to lock all the doors, turn off the lights and ladle every drop of it down my throat. I got hold of myself and poured the batter into the pan. The cake was marvelous! I am about to make it again and am so happy to see all the notes on this.

I made this for a family gathering and we all agreed ( except for the one bourbon lover) that the cake was too boozy. The chocolate was completely overpowered by the 4 Roses bourbon, which is pretty disappointing since I used Valrhona chocolate. I loved the texture but next time I’ll cut the bourbon in 1/2.

HALVED this recipe (rounded-up to two whole eggs) and baked in a 6-cup Bundt pan for 38 min -- PERFECT. Buffalo Trace Is A Beautiful Thing.

How much whiskey do you add in step 2?

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