Bourbon-Infused Chocolate Cake with Blackberry Buttercream Recipe

Rich, decadent chocolate sings a luxurious melody when paired with smooth bourbon chocolate cake that dances with tantalizing depth.

Deep cocoa notes blend seamlessly with warm bourbon undertones, creating an indulgent dessert experience.

The velvety cake layers promise intense flavor and remarkable texture.

blackberry buttercream adds a bright, fruity accent that balances the cake deep, robust profile.

Each forkful reveals a complex symphony of flavors that will delight sophisticated palates.

Elegant yet approachable, this dessert makes any occasion feel special.

Dive into this show-stopping recipe and impress everyone at the table.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Calories: 420 kcal

Servings: 13

What Goes in Bourbon Chocolate Cake with Blackberry Buttercream

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides the cake's sturdy foundation, choose unbleached for richer flavor.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and helps create a tender crumb, look for fine-crystal options.
• Cocoa Powder: Delivers deep chocolate intensity, Dutch-processed works best for smooth flavor.
• Baking Soda, Baking Powder: Essential leavening agents that help cake rise and become light.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor complexity and balances sweetness.

• Buttermilk: Adds moisture and tanginess, creates tender cake texture.
• Vegetable Oil: Ensures a moist, soft cake with longer shelf life.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients and provide structure, room temperature works best.
• Bourbon: Introduces rich, complex flavor notes to chocolate cake.
• Vanilla Extract: Deepens chocolate flavor, choose pure extract for best results.
• Almond Extract: Adds subtle nutty undertone, use sparingly.
• Hot Coffee: Intensifies chocolate flavor, brings out deeper cocoa notes.

• Egg Whites: Creates silky, stable meringue base for buttercream.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and stabilizes meringue.
• Unsalted Butter: Provides creamy richness and smooth texture.
• Blackberry Puree: Adds vibrant fruity flavor and beautiful color.

Tools for Baking Bourbon Chocolate Cake

• Mixer: Essential for blending cake batter and whipping buttercream to perfect consistency.
• Cake Pans (three 9-inch): Crucial for creating even cake layers.
• Heatproof Bowl: Needed for heating egg whites and sugar over simmering water.
• Whisk: Perfect for combining dry ingredients and creating smooth buttercream.
• Toothpick: Helps check cake doneness by testing center.
• Spatula: Great for folding ingredients and spreading buttercream.
• Measuring Cups/Spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient proportions.
• Cooling Rack: Allows cakes to cool evenly after baking.

Instructions to Make Bourbon Chocolate Cake with Blackberry Buttercream

Bourbon Chocolate Wonderland

• Cake Pan Preparation

Create a welcoming home for your cake by softly coating three 9-inch pans with gentle grease and a protective wax paper base.

• Dry Ingredient Symphony

Gather cocoa, flour, sugar, and other dry companions into a large mixing bowl, blending them into a harmonious chocolate powder.

• Liquid Magic

In a separate vessel, combine buttermilk, eggs, oils, and bourbon – a liquid dance that will transform your cake’s personality.

• Batter Fusion

Gently marry wet and dry ingredients, allowing them to whisper sweet nothings while mixing on low speed. Welcome hot coffee as the final dance partner, stirring until perfectly united.

• Oven Adventure

Slide your cake pans into a warm 350°F oven, letting them bake for 20-30 minutes until a toothpick emerges clean and victorious.

• Buttercream Elegance

Create a silky buttercream by warming egg whites and sugar, then whipping them into a cloud-like frosting. Fold in blackberry puree for a burst of fruity romance.

• Cake Assembly

Once cooled, stack cake layers with luxurious blackberry buttercream between each level, coating the entire masterpiece in creamy decadence.

Tips for Rich Flavor in Bourbon Chocolate Cake

• Replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend for guests with dietary restrictions, ensuring everyone can enjoy this delectable dessert.
• Experiment with different berry purees like raspberry or mixed berry to create exciting variations of the blackberry buttercream frosting.
• Prepare cake layers in advance and freeze wrapped tightly in plastic wrap for up to one month, allowing for stress-free party planning and preparation.
• Garnish the finished cake with fresh blackberries, chocolate shavings, or edible flowers to elevate its visual appeal and add extra textural interest.

Serving Bourbon Chocolate Cake Like a Pro

• Elegant Dessert Pairing: Complement this rich bourbon chocolate cake with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of freshly whipped cream to balance the intense chocolate and bourbon flavors.
• Wine and Drink Companion: Serve alongside a smooth bourbon, port wine, or a dark roast coffee to enhance the cake's deep, complex taste profile and bring out the subtle blackberry notes.
• Garnish Glamour: Decorate the cake with fresh blackberries, chocolate shavings, or a light dusting of cocoa powder to add visual appeal and provide a hint of the cake's luxurious ingredients.
• Celebration Centerpiece: Perfect for adult birthday parties, anniversary dinners, or sophisticated gatherings where guests appreciate gourmet desserts with a delightful blend of classic and contemporary flavors.

Storage Advice for Bourbon Chocolate Cake

• Cake Longevity Strategy: Store this decadent bourbon chocolate cake in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days, ensuring maximum flavor and moisture retention.
• Refrigeration Wisdom: When chilling the cake, wrap it carefully in plastic wrap to prevent the buttercream from absorbing unwanted refrigerator odors, keeping its delicate blackberry essence intact.
• Freezing Magic: Individual cake slices can be frozen for up to one month. Wrap each slice separately in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container to maintain texture and taste.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the cake layers and buttercream up to two days in advance. Keep cake layers wrapped at room temperature and refrigerate buttercream, bringing both to ideal consistency before assembling the final masterpiece.

Luxurious Bourbon Chocolate Cake with Blackberry Buttercream

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4.5 from 34 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Moist bourbon chocolate cake brings rich, complex flavors to dessert tables across Southern kitchens. Dark chocolate and blackberry buttercream create an indulgent pairing that delights guests with sophisticated sweet notes you’ll savor completely.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 cups (400 g) sugar
• 1 ¾ cups (220 g) all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup (75 g) cocoa powder
• 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
• 1 cup (240 ml) hot coffee
• 2 tsps baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ cup (120 ml) canola oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp almond extract
• 3 tbsps bourbon
• 4 egg whites
• 1 ¼ cups (250 g) sugar
• 3 sticks (340 g or 12 oz) unsalted butter, softened and cut into pieces
• 1 ¼ cups (300 ml) pureed blackberries

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Prepare three cake pans by generously buttering and lining with wax paper to ensure seamless cake extraction.
2. Dry Blend: Sift flour, cocoa powder, sugar, and leavening agents in a large mixing bowl, creating a uniform dry foundation.
3. Liquid Fusion: Whisk buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla, almond extract, and bourbon in a separate vessel until completely emulsified.
4. Batter Construction: Merge wet and dry ingredients at low speed, stirring carefully to maintain batter’s delicate consistency, then integrate hot coffee until silky and homogeneous.
5. Baking Transformation: Distribute batter evenly across prepared pans, gently tapping to eliminate air pockets, then bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for approximately 25 minutes, confirming doneness with a clean skewer test.
6. Cooling Protocol: Rest cake layers on wire racks until completely cooled, preserving structural integrity and preventing moisture condensation.
7. Buttercream Technique: Create meringue by whisking egg whites and sugar over a double boiler until sugar dissolves, then transfer to stand mixer and whip to stiff, glossy peaks.
8. Frosting Finesse: Gradually incorporate softened butter into meringue, then delicately fold blackberry puree to create a vibrant, marbled buttercream.
9. Cake Assembly: Layer chocolate discs with blackberry buttercream, coating the entire exterior with remaining frosting for a luxurious finish.
10. Flavor Refinement: Chill cake briefly to set buttercream and allow flavors to harmonize before serving.

Notes

• Prevent Overmixing: Stir batter gently at low speed to maintain the cake’s tender, delicate crumb and avoid a tough, dense texture.
• Coffee Temperature Matters: Use hot coffee to enhance chocolate’s deep, rich flavor profile and create a smoother, more integrated batter.
• Buttercream Technique: Whisk egg whites and sugar carefully in a double boiler, ensuring precise temperature to achieve glossy, stable meringue base.
• Chill for Perfection: Brief refrigeration helps buttercream set and allows flavors to meld, resulting in a more cohesive and intense taste experience.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 420
• Sugar: 36 g
• Sodium: 220 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 48 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg