Chocolate & Coffee Whiskey Cake – Do you believe in God? I’m not ashamed to say that I do indeed and as I’ve grown older I’ve come to believe that He shows up in different forms and at different times.
Tonight, He dropped off a piece of heaven right in our very own kitchen. Don’t fret that you weren’t here. We have all the ingredients and the complete recipe for this miracle dessert.
This cake makes a strong case that it’s easier (and more delicious) to get to heaven than you could have ever imagined.
Chocolate & Coffee Whiskey Cake
Chocolate & Coffee Whiskey CakePeople who know me really well may or may not be aware of the fact that I accidentally overdosed on chocolate at an early age, around 4 or 5.
Chocolate, Whiskey, Coffee & Cloves
Indeed, I was rushed to the emergency room, given a shot of epinepherine, directly in the buttocks (as Forest Gump might say,) and instructed by the white coat in attendance to abstain from all chocolate for six months. True story.
I don’t recall exactly but I’m pretty certain I failed to abstain for an entire six months. I’m thinking it may have been more along the lines of six days. Such is often the nature of any addiction.
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No matter, my dependence to chocolate resumed right where it had left off and I can only be thankful it has not sent me to he hospital since.
See our Latest Recipe Here!
By the grace of God, I don’t share the same affinity for whiskey. Never before in my presence had the twain united. Until tonight.
©Platter Talk
My, oh my! What a combination. Dark coffee, rich chocolate, a dash of ground cloves and ground black pepper. And whiskey.
©Platter Talk
When I saw this Chocolate & Coffee Whiskey Cake in The New York Times, I knew it wasn’t if I would recreate this dessert but rather when. I didn’t wait anywhere close to six days.
©Platter Talk
With the simplest of ingredients, you can create some of the most heavenly recipes. Cocoa, butter, sugar, eggs, chocolate, and whiskey. Those are the primary ingredients to this divine dessert.
Make it, and for the love of God, don’t wait six days. -Dan
Here are some of my other favorite cake recipes
(we have nearly 40 of them on Platter Talk!)
Let us know if you have tried this Chocolate Whiskey Cake by leaving a comment below. You can also FOLLOW US on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see what we have cooking!
Chocolate & Coffee Whiskey Cake
Ingredients
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into 1-inch pieces, more for pan
- 85 grams unsweetened cocoa powder about 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons
- 1 ½ cups brewed strong coffee
- ½ cup Irish whiskey
- 200 grams granulated sugar about 1 cup
- 156 grams light brown sugar about 1 cup
- 240 grams all-purpose flour about 2 cups
- 8 grams baking soda about 1 1/2 teaspoons
- 3 grams fine sea salt about 3/4 teaspoon
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
- Powdered sugar for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Heat oven to 325 degrees. Butter a 10-inch springform pan. Dust with 2 tablespoons cocoa powder.
- In a medium saucepan over low heat, warm coffee, Irish whiskey, 12 tablespoons butter and remaining cocoa powder, whisking occasionally, until butter is melted. Whisk in sugars until dissolved. Remove from heat and cool completely.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, pepper and cloves. In another bowl, whisk together eggs and vanilla. Slowly whisk egg mixture into chocolate mixture. Add dry ingredients and whisk to combine. Fold in chocolate chips.
- Pour batter into prepared pan. Transfer to oven and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean, 55 to 65 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack, then remove sides of pan. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Nutrition
Patty says
I made a half recipe for myself a week ago and tomorrow I will make it again for friends, to help us through a stormy winter. Tomorrow we will pair it with whipped cream and red wine. When I made it the first time I used some random cocoa powder I had in the cupboard. For the cake tomorrow I bought new cocoas, both plain cocoa and Dutch processed cocoa. That led to much refresher research on when to use each, and pairing each with it’s most appropriate rising agent, namely baking soda for regular cocoa and baking powder for Dutch processed. This brings me to my question. Your recipe indicates simply “unsweetened cocoa” which makes me think regular, not Dutch. Also your rising agent is baking soda which matches regular cocoa. But there is a link in your recipe to Amazon where they are selling Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa, which happens to be Dutch processed! I’m considering splitting the baby, by using half of each. The cake was perhaps a little heavier than it could be and I may cut back on the soda and add some baking powder. There is plenty of acid in the recipe already (coffee and whiskey), so less soda shouldn’t hurt in any case. Any words of advice?? Thanks, Patty
Dan from Platter Talk says
Patty, first, what a great way to deal with winter; I like your style! Second, it sounds like you have indeed been doing a lot of reading on that matter. I would go with splitting the cocoa. As I recall I don’t believe this cake is, by nature, going to be on the lighter side in terms of density, making it even more suitable for a stormy winter and red wine. Thanks so much for the wonderful questions and insight.
Chilly says
What can be used as frosting over this cake… Ganache??
Dan from Platter Talk says
Sure, or none at all, as we show served.
Chilly says
What can be the replacement for the irish whiskey… Would any whiskey do??
Dan from Platter Talk says
Any whiskey should work with this chocolate cake recipe.
Kim says
Oh my goodness! This recipe was delicious! It was so rich and decadent! I bought a 12 year single malt scotch to go in it and wasn’t disappointed. What a great dessert to make for friends!
Dan from Platter Talk says
Thanks for the great feedback, Kim! We’re happy to hear that you enjoyed this homemade chcoolater cake!
Aparna says
Baked this cake today… Smells awesome. Has risen beautifully. Havent tasted yet though. I tweaked the recipe as in i prepared the coffee whiskey cocoa sauce as instructed but used only half of it since it would made the cake dough very watery i think half cup strong coffee should be enough. I supplemented with extra butter cocoa coffee and whiskey to make for the missing half.
Dan from Platter Talk says
Mmmmmm; I wish we were there to taste this beauty. Thanks for the feedback and hope you enjoy!!!
Caitlyn says
Could you make this in a bundt pan?
Dan from Platter Talk says
Caitlyn, I think this recipe would work great in a bundt pan. Be sure to see how we grease and flour a cake pan. Thanks for the great question and please let us know how this turns out!
May says
Made this cake and turn out wet mushy at the bottom, and hard on top. Does not have a cake texture but more like a hard pudding.
What did I do wrong ?
Dan from Platter Talk says
Hi May. It sounds like your oven temp was hot on the top and cool on the bottom, but not knowing any other particulars it is impossible to say why you did not have a good experience with this chocolate cake.
Jennifer E. says
I have made this cake before. It is wonderful and you never have to worry about taking home leftovers. I wonder, can you use this same recipe to make cupcakes?
Dan from Platter Talk says
Cupcakes would be a delicious form of this winning recipe. Thanks so much for the wonderful words and for reading Platter Talk!
Susan Whitehurst says
Exquisite, devine, heavenly, all inadequate words to describe this masterpiece of chocolate paradise.
Dan from Platter Talk says
Could not have said it better!
cookilicious says
Just the name was enough to drag me to this wonderful recipe. Its got coffee and whisky in it..plus its a cake..what more does one want from life!!! Such a simple recipe to get some heaven on earth! 🙂
Dan from Platter Talk says
I hope you try this dessert soon!
Martha says
I made this yesterday for my dad’s birthday – he loves coffee and whiskey. The texture was quite dense and moist (the batter was very runny too) but still good and the flavour was delicious! The coffee, whiskey and spices really round out the chocolate for a cake that is not too sweet but still very indulgent. Thanks for a great recipe!
Dan from Platter Talk says
Sounds like it was a hit! Thanks for the feedback.
Jovita @ Yummy Addiction says
Wow, this cake looks great! I love everything with bourbon so I guess whiskey will be right up my alley too. Thanks for the recipe!
Dan from Platter Talk says
Jovita, it’s so nice to hear from you here on Platter Talk and yes, absolutely – try this cake soon!
Aish Das-Padihari says
I had made this cake when it was published in NYT. But my cake didn’t come out very well – not that spongy and there was a strong scotch flavor. I’ll try to make this cake again by adding coffee as you have done.
Dan from Platter Talk says
I read similar reviews, in the original NYT recipe. We couldn’t have had more delicious results from our experience!
katrinajeancarter says
Love your opening statement! I believe chocolate is indeed one of the blessings from God as well. It makes a lot of people happy and brings them together! This recipe is awesome. So moist and so scrumptious!
http://www.KatrinaJeanCarter.wordpress.com
Dan from Platter Talk says
Thanks so much, Katrina; I could eat this gift of the Gods every day.
Florentina says
I have some good whiskey in the Mancave, so this needs to happen pronto! Chocolate yum!
Dan from Platter Talk says
Thanks for the comments, Florentina; as a bonus this is sure to make your Batman happy!
[email protected] the best says
wow, chocolate, coffee and whiskey. Great flavors to combine in a cake. I love it
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine says
So many amazing flavors! (and photos!)
2 Sisters Recipes says
OH my… dark coffee, rich chocolate, ground cloves, black pepper and whiskey? This cake has to be amazing!!!
We are drooling just looking at your cake. Fabulous recipe!
Cindy Lapp says
Ohhhhh……wow!!!!! I just hafta!!!!
Dan from Platter Talk says
Oh, yes, Cindy!!!
Jeff Antonissen says
You had me at whiskey! I will have to make this
Dan from Platter Talk says
Can’t wait to see what touches of your own that you add!
Patty Haxton Anderson says
Your post was thoroughly enjoyable!
Dan from Platter Talk says
Thanks, Patty. You have to try this cake!