Double Chocolate Whiskey Cake with Whiskey Ganache! – Whiskey and Chocolate you were made to be BFF’s!
Who loves booze and chocolate? Raise your forks!
I have found it…the best cake in the world! It’s got chocolate, it’s got whiskey, it’s got more chocolate! It will make your kitchen smell like a distillery! (I mean that in the best possible way).
I used my Best Choclolate Cake recipe and just tweaked it a bit. I reduced the baking powder to give it a more dense cake texture. I added additional chocolate chips to the batter and of course the booze!
(Obligatory ganache pour shot. :). Look at that bourbon bottle shining like a new diamond in the background. Fairly empty …not sure how that happened…hiccup.)
Tips to make to make this Chocolate Whiskey Cake with Whiskey Ganache!
- Cake: Use good chocolate and cocoa! I made this for my BFF in Palm Springs last week. I was in a hurry and used an off brand of cocoa and chocolate chips (Trader Joes). It was a DISASTER! Sorry dear Raela and Bob, I made you a broken cake…what good is a BFF that has a food blog if she can’t make you a decent cake? Now the good news is, your chocolate and cocoa doesnt have to be some high end unavailable stuff. Ghiradelli is my first choice but I have made this cake with Nestle Semi-Sweet chocolate chips, and it was fabulous. I used Hersheys Unsweetened Cocoa ,which is in most of our cupboards already. Just saying, don’t buy the cheap-o stuff.
- Whiskey: I am no whiskey officiando. I can talk wine all day long but don’t ask me to explain the difference between whiskey and bourbon. But what I do know is that, for this recipe, you need a full flavored whiskey-bourbon. Something like Jack Daniels. A nice Kentucky mash would work as well. I used Woodinville Whiskey. A distiller right outside of Seattle. Avoid the Canadian blends like Crown Royal. The flavor won’t hold up while baking. You will need a total of 4.5 ounces. You might consider buying those little bottles we call ‘spark plugs’ around here. They are great for recipes and other stuff…:).
- Ganache: Ganache is equal parts cream and chocolate. Thats it. It sounds sooooo fancy but it’s remarkably easy to make. I make my ganache in the microwave. Doesn’t get much easier. Warm up the chocolate, heat the cream to almost a boil. Pour hot cream over chocolate, mix and you got a fancy schmancy chocolate topping for just about everything. Make the ganache first and chill while the cake is baking. This will thicken it up so it’s the consistency in the photo below. Yum.
This recipe will work in a 10″ spring form pan or a 9 x 13 inch cake pan. I like this cake best when made a day ahead but not essential. Just make sure it’s cool before you frost it.
Looking for a more family friendly chocolate cake? Got ya covered here!
Best Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cake!
Best Chocolate Cake! One bowl easy and comes with a recipe for an 8 x 8 or 9 x 13 pan…so you can have a little, or a lot!
Or how about a big sheet pan full of Chocolate and Cherries? This beauty was a Pillsbury Bake-Off Winner and tastes like it!
To boozy desserts!
Clink!
Kathi
What do you think about this recipe? Have questions? Comment below! Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, and connect with us on Instagram and tag your @Laughingspatula recipes with #laughingspatula, while you’re at it…We love to see your pics!
Double Chocolate Whiskey Cake with Whiskey Ganache
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1 cup sour cream light is okay - do not use fat free
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup brewed coffee - cooled
- 1/2 cup whiskey/bourbon
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup rough chopped chocolate for garnish optional
Ganache Frosting
- 8 ounces semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons whiskey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Spray a 10" spring form pan or a 9 x 13 baking pan with non stick spray.
- In large mixing bowl combine egg, sugar, sour cream, vegetable oil, and vanilla until well blended.
- Add cocoa powder, whiskey and coffee. Mix until no lumps are evident.
- Add flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
- Mix until just combined.
- Add 1/2 cup chocolate chips.
- Pour into prepared pan.
- Bake 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean
- Let cool completely.
- For Ganache Frosting
- Pour chocolate chips in large microwave save bowl and microwave for one minute until chips are just soft.
- In another microwave safe bowl, heat cream until it just begins to boil. About 2 minutes.
- Pour over chocolate chips.
- Let sit for 2 minutes before stirring.
- Stir with whisk. Chocolate will melt and will become a creamy consistency.
- Add vanilla and whiskey and salt
- Cool in refrigerator for about 30 minutes or longer until a thick consistency. (You can make this the day before and just microwave for 20 seconds before frosting)
- Spread over cake and sprinkle with chocolate pieces.
Nutrition
This is super delicious ! amazed at how well the whiskey and coffee worked in a chocolate cake, will definitely do again !
We are so glad you liked it Kirsten! It’s one of our favorite recipes on the blog…booze and dessert! Yay!j
Bourbon works well in most anything. I just made molasses donuts with a splash of Wild Turkey
Wow. I made this cake using Jack Daniels… Yummy! I made small bundt cakes and cooked for 20 minutes and it is delicious!
I am lactose intolerant so I used coconut cream for the ganache and it came out splendid!
Thanks for the delicious recipe.
Thanks so much for making this note, Christine! I was hoping to make for a friend who doesn’t tolerate dairy well & was wondering if coconut cream would work. Does the coconut flavor overwhelm the whiskey, though?
I was wondering if this cake would work in a nonstick bundt pan? I think a round cake would look much prettier than rectangular, but I don’t have a 10” springform (only an 8”). Thanks!
Yes! In fact ive been wanting to make it that way! Please let me know how it turns out!
Can I use this ganache for fondant cakes? Thank you!
I’d love to try your whiskey chocolate cake, but I was wondering if It’s okay to give my children the cake? They really love cakes, but not sure if it’ would be okay to give them.. Thank you!
The cake yes. All the alcohol would cook out but the ganache is probably not kid friendly. Here is the same yummy cake with no whiskey! https://laughingspatula.com/the-best-chocolate-cake/
You had me at chocolate and whiskey! I need to make this cake! I love your pour shot (not “poor,” Lol). And, I’m with you on the Ghirardelli chocolate chips. I used them for my buckeye candy recipe today. Pinning!
Thank you Andrea! I’ve always wanted to try buckeye’s…will check out your blog!
Wow this does look good and LOL at the pour shot – has to be done!
It’s one of my very few photography tricks…LOL! Thank you for the comment!
I always add whiskey to cake haha it’s something that I’ve learnt from my Mum. I love a good chocolate cake, this looks amazing!
Hi Diana, that is so interesting! It never occurred to me. I also saw where people are adding red wine…love this new trend!
OMG! What a cake. I need to make it. I never tried whiskey ganache but I would definitely love it.
It makes the chocolate ganache taste like a boozy truffle! Thank you for the comment!
That looks wickedly, decadently GREAT!
Hope you get a chance to try it! Thank you for your comment!
Woo Hoo another version of chocolate cake that I can try! Thanks for the tips on the chocolate chips, I will not be trying your cake with anything but the ingredients you recommend (which I also happen to use). Whiskey in a cake, you made my day!
Thanks for the note Susan! It was a super fun cake to make!