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
Amy says
I made so,e cupcakes over the weekend and had leftover buttercream. It’s a Bailey’s Irish Cream buttercream and I knew this cake would be perfect. I made it in a 9 in springform pan and it was delicious! Super moist and fudgy.
Thanks for a great recipe! Much love from Gensac, France.
Kathi & Rachel says
Hello France! So glad you loved the cake, thank you for the nice note!
Christy says
Do you think this will bake up ok cutting the sugar with something like stevia or monk fruit sweetener blends?
Kathi & Rachel says
I would not recommend. Sugar is integral part of the consistency of the cake.
Nauka says
Hi, love this recipe but have a question- what does a cup of flour in your recipe measure out to? 120 grams or 125 grams or more?
Thanks
Kathi & Rachel says
Since we use US Metric I couldnt be sure about grams. However, I can tell you I always ‘fluff up’ my flour before measuring.
Ping says
Would it be alright to reduce the sugar? How much can i reduce?
Kathi & Rachel says
Hi Ping – The recipe is perfect as written :). I would not recommend reducing the sugar.
Arlene Elendiuk says
Hot a huge fan of whisky. Could I use white rum??
Kathi & Rachel says
Sure – dark would give more flavor.
Tammy says
I’ve been making this cake for a few years now. It’s a birthday tradition for one of my kids. He’s 21 by the way. LOL Everyone loves it. It’s almost like a big brownie. I’ve got one in the oven at this very moment. Smells divine. I’ve told everyone I know about this cake. Great, easy to follow recipe. Thanks Kathi and Rachel!
Kathi & Rachel says
Thank you so much Tammy! It’s one of our faves too…we have killer Margarita cupcakes too if your ever looking for more boozy desserts! Truly appreciate your 5 stars and nice comment! Clink!
Renee says
Can you make this as a layer cake? Thanks!
Kathi & Rachel says
Hi Renee – the ganache won’t hold up as a layer of chocolate in between. You would need to substitute a thick ‘frosting’ for the middle layer.
Kate says
Is it ok to add extra whiskey without compromising texture?
Will you still be able to taste the whiskey in the cake, like a rum cake? After all, that is the purpose no?
Thanks.
Kathi & Rachel says
Hi Kate – I would not advise adding extra whiskey. Too much liquid would ruin the cake. The best way to get the most kick in your cake is (as mentioned in the recipe) is to use a bourbon or Tennessee whiskey and not a blend. ie: Jack Daniels opposed to Crown Royal. The smoother blends tend to bake out.
Greg Zyn says
I have been trying to find the perfect recipe to make Double Chocolate Whiskey Cake for my friend’s birthday. He really likes whiskey so I think this will be perfect for him.
Prarthna says
Can you suggest a replacement for sour cream please?
Kathi & Rachel says
Full fat greek yogurt or softened butter should work but I have not tried either of these so buyer beware :).
Cathe says
Any way to make this into a smaller cake. Can I cut the recipe in half ?
Kathi & Rachel says
Hi Cathe – inside the recipe card, if you hover over the serving size a pop up will appear. You can slide it to reduce or increase the recipe.
Janet McLaughlin says
Looks amazing. I received a bottle of bird dog chocolate whiskey as a gift. Found your recipe when searching for things to make with it. Do you think it would enhance or hurt your recipe?
Pat jones says
I made this cake three times… added 1/4 cup more oil and 1/4 cup more coffee the second and third time and it was out more moist that the first time I made it. It has gotten rave reviews. Yummy and the spiked ganache is a perfect topping! Delicious.
LaughingSpatula.com says
Thank you Pat! We are so glad you loved it, it is always a show stopper!
SONNET says
Can you make it in to cupcakes?????
LaughingSpatula.com says
Would be delicious sonnet! Will make 24-30 cupcakes, simply reduce the baking time to around 25 minutes. Same oven temp. Hope they are a hit!