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So much for that New Year’s diet, eh? This weekend I hosted family for brunch, and I decided to make a decadent cake featuring chocolate, coffee, and Irish whiskey for the occasion.

With all that’s been going on, I have barely cooked in my new kitchen. Heck, the kitchen, like most of the house, isn’t even fully unpacked yet! We’re getting there though, and normal little things like spending a Saturday morning puttering around the kitchen are starting to make the place feel a bit more like home.

I wanted to make something with a bottle of Slane Castle Irish whiskey that we received as a housewarming gift, and this cake was absolutely perfect.

First, a glimpse at some of the ingredients that made it so stellar. . . I LOVE sour cream in cakes!  Slane Castle is a favorite whiskey, nice and smooth and full of flavor.

Our kitchen is a stark contrast to the modern one in the condo we moved from, but I love its charm and the views into the backyard.

This cake recipe had a number of different steps; it wasn’t super difficult but did require lots of bowls and pots. It also called for a stand mixer to whip the butter and sugar, but I did just fine without.

As with many of my baking escapades, I ended up short on cake batter and was only able to partially fill my bundt pan. I followed measurements exactly, so I am not sure how this happened. I just kept an eye on the cake, and it ended up being finished about 15 minutes earlier than the recipe called for. Unfortunately, while I was tapping the cake out of the bundt pan, it broke into a few pieces, and presentation was not what I had hoped. I salvaged the cake by slicing it into easily servable slices, perfect for topping with homemade whipped cream.

I made the cream simply by whipping heavy cream in my Ninja blender.  I love unsweetened whipped cream, and it is so easy to make!

This cake was dense, chocolate-y, and decadent, like a chewy brownie with a kick of whiskey and coffee. I would not hesitate to make it again for a brunch or other occasion, especially when a chocolate lover is involved!

Chocolate Whiskey Cake Recipe

For the cake:

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
• 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1 3/4 cups cake flour
• 1/2 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
• 1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup Irish whiskey
• 1/4 cup brewed coffee, at room temperature
• 2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 3/4 cups packed light brown sugar
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature

Source: Yummly