Kentucky Bourbon Cake/Whiskey Cake
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4.7
27 reviews
Excellent
Kentucky Bourbon Cake/Whiskey Cake
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History and a traditional recipe for Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Cake from food historian Gil Marks. Bourbon spiced cake filled with dried fruit and nuts.
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Ingredients
Fruit and Nut Ingredients
- 5 cups seedless dark raisins (24 ounces/680 grams)
- 1 cup candied pineapple or citron (5.25 ounces/150 grams)
- 2 cups good quality bourbon or Tennessee whiskey (do not use a blend) (16 ounces/450 grams)
- 4 cups coarsely chopped pecans (16 ounces/500 grams)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, sifted (2 ounces/60 grams)
Batter Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour (17 ounces/480 grams)
- 2 teaspoons freshly grated nutmeg (1 whole nutmeg) (or 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon grated nutmeg, and 1 teaspoon ground cloves)
- 1 teaspoon double-acting baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened (65 to 67°F) (3 sticks/12 ounces/340 grams)
- 2 cups granulated sugar (14 ounces/400 grams)
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar (7.5 ounces/210 grams)
- 6 large egg yolks (7 tablespoons/4 ounces/115 grams)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 6 tablespoons grated orange zest (optional)
- 6 large egg whites (¾ cup/6 ounces/180 grams)
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Instructions
- In a large bowl or jar, combine the raisins and pineapple. Add the bourbon, cover, and let soak for at least 8 hours or, for a more intense flavor, up to 48 hours.
- Drain the fruit, reserving 1 cup bourbon. (You can imagine what cooks do with any leftover bourbon.) Place the fruit and pecans in a large bowl, add the ½ cup flour, and toss to coat and separate any clumps.
- Position a rack in the center of the oven. Place a roasting pan or large baking pan on the lower rack of the oven and add 1-inch of boiling water. Preheat the oven to 275°F. Grease one 10- by 4-inch (16-cup) tube pan, two 9-inch springform pans or 8-inch (8-cup) tube pans, or four 1-pound coffee tins or 9- by 5- by 3-inch loaf pans, line the bottom and sides with parchment paper or greased pieces of brown paper bag, grease again, and dust with flour.
- To make the batter: Sift together the flour, nutmeg, baking powder, and salt.
- In a very large bowl, beat the butter on low speed until smooth, about 2 minutes.Increase the speed to medium, gradually add the sugars, and beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
- Beat in the egg yolks, one at a time. Add the vanilla and, if using, zest.
- Add the flour mixture in 3 stages alternately with the reserved 1 cup bourbon, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.
- In a large bowl, beat the egg whites on low speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium and beat until stiff but not dry, 5 to 8 minutes.
- Fold ¼ of the whites into the batter, then gently fold in the remaining whites.
- Stir in the fruit and nut mixture.
- Pour into the prepared pan, tapping to remove any air pockets, but do not pack down.
- Bake, rotating the pan every 45 minutes or so, until a wooden tester inserted in the center comes out clean or the internal temperature registers 200 to 208°F on an instant-read thermometer, about 3½ to 4 hours for a 10-inch tube pan, 3 hours for springform pans, 2¼ hours for 8-inch tube pans, and about 2 hours for loaf pans. Place on a wire rack and let cool in the pan, at least 2 hours.
- Remove the cake from the pan. The taste and texture improves as the cake ages. You can wrap the cake airtight and place in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months.
- Or to age the cake, wrap it in a cloth or double layer of cheesecloth dampened with bourbon, place in an airtight container or wrap in heavy duty aluminum foil, and let stand in a cool, dry place for at least 2 weeks.
Notes
- You will also need: One 10-inch tube cake, two 9-inch rounds, or four 9- by 5-inch loaves, large mixing bowls, sifter, hand mixer, roasting pan or large baking pan
- VARIATIONS
- VARIATIONS
- Chocolate Bourbon Cake: Omit the nutmeg. With the flour, sift 2 tablespoons non-alkalized (not Dutch-processed) cocoa powder and with the vanilla add 5 ounces (140 grams) melted unsweetened chocolate. If desired, also add ¼ cup instant espresso powder or coffee powder.
- Chocolate Bourbon Cake:
- Omit the nutmeg. With the flour, sift 2 tablespoons non-alkalized (not Dutch-processed) cocoa powder and with the vanilla add 5 ounces (140 grams) melted unsweetened chocolate. If desired, also add ¼ cup instant espresso powder or coffee powder.
- Substitute 3 cups (16 ounces/455 grams) seedless golden raisins for the dark raisins and pineapple.
- Substitute 3 cups (16 ounces/455 grams) seedless golden raisins for the dark raisins and pineapple.
- Pecan Fruitcake: Substitute 2 cups golden raisins (10 ounces/290 grams) for the dark raisins; increase the candied pineapple or citron to 2 cups (10.5 ounces/300 grams) – or use 2 cups coarsely chopped pitted dates (12 ounces/340 grams); and add 2 cups red candied cherries, halved (15 ounces/450 grams) or dried cherries (10 ounces/290 grams).
- Pecan Fruitcake:
- Substitute 2 cups golden raisins (10 ounces/290 grams) for the dark raisins; increase the candied pineapple or citron to 2 cups (10.5 ounces/300 grams) – or use 2 cups coarsely chopped pitted dates (12 ounces/340 grams); and add 2 cups red candied cherries, halved (15 ounces/450 grams) or dried cherries (10 ounces/290 grams).
Nutrition Information
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Calories
591kcal
(30%)
Carbohydrates
76g
(25%)
Protein
6g
(12%)
Fat
26g
(40%)
Saturated Fat
8g
(40%)
Cholesterol
76mg
(25%)
Sodium
53mg
(2%)
Potassium
406mg
(12%)
Fiber
4g
(16%)
Sugar
31g
(62%)
Vitamin A
430IU
(9%)
Vitamin C
4.8mg
(5%)
Calcium
56mg
(6%)
Iron
2.7mg
(15%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 24servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 591 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 591kcal | 30% |
| Carbohydrates | 76g | 25% |
| Protein | 6g | 12% |
| Fat | 26g | 40% |
| Saturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Cholesterol | 76mg | 25% |
| Sodium | 53mg | 2% |
| Potassium | 406mg | 9% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 31g | 62% |
| Vitamin A | 430IU | 9% |
| Vitamin C | 4.8mg | 5% |
| Calcium | 56mg | 6% |
| Iron | 2.7mg | 15% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.7
27 reviews
Excellent
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