A rich, boozy chocolate Bundt cake infused with whiskey.

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

Chocolate.

I think the moment my father spied this recipe in the New York Times he was a goner.

Chocolate Bourbon Cake

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

(“You had me at chocolate.")

Nothing was going to stop him from making this cake.

We were both wrong.

Chocolate Bourbon Cake on a cake stand with a giant slice out of it

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

With 1/2 cup we could barely taste the bourbon.

The second time we made the cake we used the full cup.

This whisky has a heady smokiness to it that works beautifully in this cake.)

Melting chocolate in a double boiler for Chocolate Bourbon Cake

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

This is a great cake.

it’s possible for you to slice it beautifully thin and it still holds its shape.

Great for us gals who like to take a very thin slice.

Smoothly melted chocolate ready to add to Chocolate Bourbon Cake

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

And then another one.

(Drives my father nuts.)

This is a whiskey cake; it requires whiskey.

Measuring out whisky for a Chocolate Bundt Cake recipe

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

Note: We updated the method for this recipe slightly on November 19, 2021.

No other change to the recipe.

Baking time will be less if you use loaf pans.

Creamed butter and sugar and an egg in a mixing bowl for a chocolate cake recipe

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

Test at 55 minutes.

Melt chocolate in a microwave oven or in a double boiler over simmering water.

Add enough very hot water to come up to the 1 cup measuring line.

Fluffy beaten butter and sugar in a bowl for a chocolate bundt cake recipe

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

Mix until powders dissolve.

Stir in the bourbon and salt.

Set aside and let cool.

Chocolate Bourbon Cake batter in the making

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

Beat butter until fluffy (2 to 3 minutes on high using an electric mixer).

Add sugar and beat a minute longer.

Add the eggs one at a time, beating a minute after each addition.

Chocolate Bourbon Cake batter in a mixing bowl with a measuring cup pouring in a coffee-bourbon mixture

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

Add the vanilla extract, baking soda, and melted chocolate.

With the mixer on the lowest speed, beat in a third of the bourbon espresso cocoa mixture.

When liquid is absorbed, beat in half of the flour (1 cup).

Chocolate Bourbon Cake batter with wet and dry ingredients in a bowl, ready to mix

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

Repeat additions, ending with bourbon mixture.

Scrape batter into prepared bundt pan and smooth the top.

Move the cake to a rack.

Chocolate Bourbon Cake batter, ready to pour into a bundt pan

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

Gently un-mold after 15 minutes and sprinkle the cake with a little more bourbon whiskey.

Let the cake cool completely before serving.

Sprinkle powdered sugar through a mesh sieve over the cake before serving.

Chocolate Bourbon Cake batter in a bundt pan, ready to bake

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

Unmolding a Chocolate Bourbon Cake from a bundt pan

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker