The Best Bourbon Chocolate Cake with Blackberry Buttercream Recipe

Bourbon chocolate cake tantalizes taste buds with its rich, decadent essence that revolutionizes an ordinary dessert into an extraordinary culinary experience.

Deep, complex flavors merge seamlessly, creating a sophisticated treat that elevates traditional cake boundaries.

Intense chocolate notes dance with warm, subtle bourbon undertones, promising a sensory journey that delights sophisticated palates.

Soft, velvety textures complement the robust ingredients, ensuring each bite feels like a luxurious indulgence.

Unexpected layers of complexity emerge from carefully balanced components, making this dessert more than just a simple sweet.

Delicate blackberry buttercream adds a bright, fruity counterpoint that cuts through the cake intense richness, providing perfect harmony.

This remarkable recipe challenges conventional dessert expectations and invites you to savor a truly memorable confection.

Bourbon Chocolate Cake with Blackberry Frosting

• Savor Rich, Complex Flavors: This bourbon chocolate cake delivers an incredible depth of taste with dark cocoa, subtle bourbon notes, and tangy blackberry buttercream that dance together in perfect harmony.
• Master a Sophisticated Baking Technique: The Swiss meringue buttercream method creates an ultra-smooth, silky frosting that elevates this cake from simple dessert to culinary masterpiece, making you feel like a professional pastry chef.
• Impress at Special Gatherings: Perfect for adult celebrations like birthdays, anniversaries, or dinner parties, this cake brings a touch of elegance and gourmet flair that will have guests talking long after the last slice.
• Enjoy Decadent Texture Contrast: Moist, tender chocolate cake layers paired with light, creamy blackberry buttercream provide an incredible sensory experience that balances rich chocolate with bright, fruity undertones.

What’s Inside the Bourbon Chocolate Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: A fundamental base that provides structure and texture to the cake.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a tender crumb.
• Cocoa Powder: Delivers rich chocolate flavor and deep color to the cake.
• Baking Soda, Baking Powder: Essential leavening agents that help the cake rise and become light.
• Salt: Enhances and balances the overall flavor profile.

• Buttermilk: Adds moisture and creates a tender, soft cake texture.
• Vegetable Oil: Ensures a moist and soft cake with rich consistency.
• Large Eggs: Provide structure, richness, and help bind the ingredients.
• Bourbon: Introduces a complex, deep flavor that complements the chocolate.
• Vanilla Extract, Almond Extract: Adds depth and complexity to the cake’s flavor.

• Egg Whites: Create a stable, fluffy base for the buttercream.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and stabilizes the meringue.
• Unsalted Butter: Provides creamy texture and rich flavor.
• Blackberry Puree: Adds fruity flavor and beautiful color to the buttercream.

How to Make This Chocolate Blackberry Buttercream Cake

Step 1: Prepare Baking Equipment

Warm oven to 350°F. Grease three 9-inch cake pans. Line pan bottoms with wax paper.

Step 2: Create Dry Cake Mixture

• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Cocoa powder
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Salt

Step 3: Blend Wet Cake Ingredients

• Buttermilk
• Vegetable oil
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract
• Almond extract
• Bourbon whiskey

Step 4: Combine Cake Batter

Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients on low speed. Pour hot coffee into batter and blend completely.

Step 5: Bake Cake Layers

Divide batter evenly into prepared pans. Bake 20-30 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. Cool cakes completely.

Step 6: Prepare Blackberry Buttercream Base

Create a double boiler. Whisk egg whites and sugar over simmering water until sugar dissolves and mixture reaches 160°F.

Step 7: Whip Buttercream

Transfer mixture to mixer. Whip on medium-high speed for 5 minutes until stiff peaks form.

Step 8: Add Butter and Flavor

Lower mixer speed. Add softened butter piece by piece. Fold in blackberry puree until buttercream becomes fluffy.

Step 9: Assemble Cake

Spread blackberry buttercream between cake layers and cover entire cake surface. Serve and enjoy!

Tips for a Rich, Boozy Chocolate Cake

• Master Bourbon Integration: Add bourbon gradually to enhance cake’s moisture and depth without overpowering other flavors.
• Prevent Cake Dryness: Use hot coffee to activate cocoa’s rich taste and create a supremely moist chocolate base.
• Achieve Perfect Buttercream Texture: Consistently monitor egg white temperature when whisking to ensure smooth, stable frosting consistency.
• Optimize Cake Layering: Allow cakes to cool completely before frosting to prevent buttercream from melting and sliding.
• Boost Blackberry Flavor: Strain blackberry puree to remove seeds, ensuring a silky-smooth buttercream with pure fruit essence.

Storage and Reheating Tips for Chocolate Cake

• Refrigerate: Wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container. Keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to maintain freshness and prevent drying out.
• Freeze: Slice the cake, wrap individual pieces in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months for longer storage without losing quality.
• Reheat: Thaw frozen cake slices in the refrigerator overnight. Bring to room temperature for 30 minutes before serving to restore the cake’s soft texture and enhance the bourbon and blackberry flavors.

What Pairs Nicely with Bourbon Chocolate Cake

• Pair with Bold Red Wine: Select a full-bodied red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot that complements the rich chocolate and bourbon flavors, cutting through the cake’s sweetness with its robust tannins.
• Serve with Blackberry Liqueur: Enhance the blackberry buttercream’s fruity essence by offering a chilled shot of blackberry liqueur alongside the cake, creating a harmonious flavor profile that elevates the dessert experience.
• Match with Espresso: Brew a strong espresso to highlight the cake’s bourbon and coffee undertones, providing a bitter counterpoint that balances the cake’s decadent sweetness and cleanses the palate between bites.
• Accompany with Vanilla Ice Cream: Add a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream to create a delightful temperature contrast and mellow out the cake’s intense flavors, offering a smooth and refreshing complement to the rich dessert.

New Flavors to Try with This Chocolate Cake

• Bourbon Berry Blitz: Replace blackberry with raspberry puree for a tangy, vibrant flavor profile that complements the rich chocolate and bourbon notes.
• Mocha Bourbon Charm: Incorporate espresso powder directly into the cake batter and top with a coffee-infused buttercream for an intense cafe-style dessert experience.
• Chocolate Whiskey Fusion: Swap bourbon for Irish whiskey and add a hint of cinnamon to the cake batter, creating a warm, spiced version of the original recipe that deepens the chocolate complexity.
• Nutty Bourbon Dream: Fold chopped toasted pecans into the cake batter and sprinkle crushed nuts between layers for added texture and a subtle nutty undertone that enhances the bourbon’s warmth.

Bourbon Chocolate Cake with Blackberry Buttercream Recipe

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4.7 from 35 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Rich bourbon chocolate cake discovers pure indulgence through layers of deep cocoa and silky blackberry buttercream. Complex flavors merge seamlessly, inviting dessert enthusiasts to savor each luxurious chocolate-infused moment you’ll treasure.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cups cocoa powder
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup hot coffee

Leavening and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

Wet and Flavor Ingredients:

• ½ cup canola oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon almond extract
• 3 tablespoons bourbon

Buttercream Ingredients:

• 4 egg whites
• 1 ¼ cups sugar
• 3 sticks (0.75 pound or 340 grams) unsalted butter, softened and cut into pieces
• 1 ¼ cups pureed blackberries

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Instructions

1. Prepare the cake pans by coating with butter and lining with wax paper, ensuring even coverage for easy cake removal.
2. Sift together all dry ingredients in a spacious mixing vessel, creating a uniform powder mixture of flour, cocoa, sugar, and leavening agents.
3. Whisk together liquid components in a separate bowl, blending buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla, almond extract, and bourbon until smooth and integrated.
4. Gradually incorporate wet ingredients into dry mixture, stirring at low speed to prevent overmixing and maintain cake’s delicate texture.
5. Stream hot coffee into the batter, mixing until the consistency becomes silky and homogeneous with no visible flour streaks.
6. Distribute batter evenly across three prepared cake pans, gently tapping to release potential air bubbles.
7. Slide pans into preheated oven and bake until a slender testing skewer emerges clean when inserted into cake’s center, approximately 25 minutes.
8. Allow cakes to cool completely on wire racks, preventing condensation and maintaining structural integrity.
9. For buttercream, create a double boiler setup and combine egg whites and sugar, whisking persistently until sugar dissolves and mixture reaches precise temperature.
10. Transfer mixture to stand mixer, whipping at medium-high speed until meringue forms stiff, glossy peaks.
11. Introduce softened butter incrementally, allowing each piece to fully integrate before adding the next.
12. Gently fold blackberry puree into buttercream, creating a vibrant, swirled texture.
13. Assemble cake by layering buttercream between each chocolate disc, then generously coating exterior with remaining frosting.
14. Chill briefly to set buttercream and enhance flavor melding.

Notes

• This decadent bourbon chocolate cake combines rich, deep cocoa flavors with a smooth blackberry buttercream for an indulgent dessert experience.
• Bourbon adds a warm, complex depth to the chocolate cake, creating a more sophisticated and adult-friendly treat that elevates traditional chocolate cake.
• Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smoother mixing and a more consistent cake texture, which helps create a tender and moist crumb.
• Carefully monitor the egg white and sugar mixture when heating to precisely 160°F to guarantee food safety and perfect meringue consistency.
• Softened butter is crucial for achieving a silky, stable buttercream that spreads smoothly and holds its shape when frosting the cake.
• Fresh blackberry puree brings a vibrant, natural sweetness and gorgeous purple color to the buttercream, making this cake visually stunning and deliciously fruity.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 411
• Sugar: 40 g
• Sodium: 263 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 50 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 72 mg