This post is sponsored by Evan Williams Bourbon. All opinions are mine. Thank you for supporting the brands I love and making it possible for me to continue creating content for you! 

There’s nothing like a simple yet good cocktail. One with no frills and just easy to make. That’s this apple bourbon cocktail. It is plain ole good and the perfect seasonal drink to enjoy with friends and family this holiday season. 

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Now that Halloween is far behind us, the holiday season is in full effect and with that comes holiday movies!! This year, I am looking forward to ALMOST CHRISTMAS, a comedy bringing together families for the holiday season and of course that comes with some drama. The film has an all-star cast featuring Gabrielle Union, Omar Epps, Mo’Nique and so many more. We all know family dramas and food is what the holiday season is made of. I always focus on the sweets instead, it’s easier and safer to satisfy everyone. Like this eggnog bourbon cake!

Eggnog is a debatably one of those family controversies in our family where half of us can’t do it and the other half can’t have a holiday without it. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, my father-in-law makes sure there is enough eggnog for all. Two years ago, I found a way with these eggnog cupcakes with bourbon frosting to bring everyone onto the same side. It was hit and we always have some for our holiday gatherings now. This year, I turned that favorite recipe into this holiday season spectacular Eggnog Bourbon Cake.

This cake starts with a soft, moist and fluffy eggnog cake. I thought as a cake the recipe might be a bit dense but I mixed the eggnog with milk to lighten it up and the resulting cake was just as fluffy as the cupcakes. The spiced up cake and dash of bourbon adds a great flavor to the already delicious cake. The cake is then filled and wrapped in a whipped eggnog bourbon buttercream. Just the perfect combination for an elegant holiday season cake.

Even though I can’t agree with the half of my family that drinks eggnog, I love baking with eggnog and can share new holiday recipes and traditions with my family. It’s all about making memories at the holiday dinner table.

Just like the family in ALMOST CHRISTMAS that get together during the holiday and try to get along. Be sure to watch the trailer below and then make a date with some of your family members to see the film in theaters to get into the holiday season spirit.

What are some of your favorite holiday recipes for your family?

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Yield: 1 two-layer 8-inch cake

Eggnog Bourbon Cake

Prep Time 40 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Additional Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes

Ingredients

For Spiced Eggnog Cake

Toggle ingredient group

• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 1½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 3 eggs, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon bourbon flavoring or 1-2 teaspoons of bourbon
• 1/2 cup whole milk, room temperature
• ½ cup eggnog, room temperature

For Whipped Bourbon Frosting:

Toggle ingredient group

• 3 ½ sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 3-4 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3 tablespoons eggnog (or more to taste)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon bourbon emulsion or 2-3 teaspoons bourbon
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

For Cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment. Grease the parchment.
2. In a medium bowl sift together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes on medium speed. Add eggs one at a time, beating until combined after each addition. Beat in vanilla extract and bourbon. In a medium mixing cup, combine the eggnog and milk.
4. Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly add about a third of the flour mixture. Add half of the milk mixture, another third of the flour and the rest of the milk and ending with the rest of the flour, mixing well after each addition. Beat until just combined. Scrape down the side of the bowl as needed.
5. Divide batter evenly into prepared pans. Smooth the surface and bake cakes until lightly golden or a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30-35 minutes.
6. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and finish cooling on a wire rack.

For the Whipped Bourbon Frosting:

1. Whip butter for 8 minutes on medium speed using the paddle attachment of an electric mixer. The butter will become pale and creamy. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix on low speed for 1 minute. Then increase speed to medium and mix for 6 minutes until the frosting is light, creamy and fluffy.
2. Frost cooled cake layers with frosting and garnish with sugared cranberries if desired.

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The post Eggnog Bourbon Cake appeared first on A Classic Twist.

Yes I went there and started holiday baking a whole month in advance!! Say what? It’s the best time of the year and I have so many recipes to test and share with you guys so let’s get started with the season!! (FYI: The universal holiday declarer started their holiday menu almost two weeks ago).

It is always a debate as to when to start baking holiday sweets, listening to Christmas music and oh gosh, when the tree goes up. Those who just want more time to enjoy Christmas everything and those who are in the “It’s too soon, geez loiuse” camp. I kinda fall in the latter but only for shopping and music. When it comes to baking, the sooner the better for me because 4 weeks is just not enough time to bake all the things I want to. There are way too many peppermint mocha things, eggnog this and gingerbread that to keep to 4 weeks!!

When we spotted eggnog at the grocery store two weeks ago and we quickly grabbed a carton. The hubs loves it and he has been enjoying it every night! I, on the other hand, can’t stand the viscosity of eggnog. Yuck! But put it in baked goods like these eggnog macarons or spiced eggnog cupcakes then I’m all over it.

I couldn’t wait to share these with you. Adapting my absolute favorite vanilla cupcake recipe, I infused eggnog and bourbon (because uhmmm it’s cold and we need warmth) into the moist cupcakes. The result is a crumbly soft cupcake topped with whipped eggnog buttercream (with more bourbon). Just plain good!!!

And it’s a simple and delicious way to start the holiday season. And oh it’s upon us!!

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Yield: 24 cupcakes

Eggnog Cupcakes with Whipped Bourbon Buttercream

Get into the holiday season with these moist eggnog cupcakes with whipped bourbon buttercream! 

Prep Time 40 minutes

Cook Time 14 minutes

Total Time 54 minutes

Ingredients

For Spiced Eggnog Cupcakes

Toggle ingredient group

• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 1½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon bourbon flavoring or 1-2 teaspoons of bourbon
• ½ cup milk, room temperature
• ½ cup eggnog, room temperature

For Whipped Bourbon Frosting:

Toggle ingredient group

• 3 ½ sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 3-4 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3 tablespoons eggnog
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon bourbon emulsion or 2-3 teaspoons bourbon
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two muffin pans with cupcake liners or silicone baking cups.
2. In a medium bowl sift together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes on medium speed. Add eggs one at a time, beating until combined after each addition. Beat in vanilla extract and bourbon. In a medium mixing cup, combine the eggnog and milk.
4. Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly add about a third of the flour mixture. Add half of the milk mixture, another third of the flour, and the rest of the milk and ending with the rest of the flour, mixing after each addition. Beat until just combined. Scrape down the side of the bowl as needed.
5. Pour batter into prepared pans. Fill liners about ⅔ full. Bake cupcakes until lightly golden or a toothpick inserted into the center come out clean, about 12-14 minutes.
6. Cool in pan 1-2 minutes, then remove cupcakes from pan and finish cooling on a wire rack.
7. For the Whipped Bourbon Frosting:
8. Whip butter for 8 minutes on medium speed using the paddle attachment of an electric mixer. The butter will become pale and creamy.
9. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix on low speed for 1 minute. Then increase speed to medium and mix for 6 minutes until the frosting is very light, creamy, and fluffy.
10. Frost cooled cupcakes with frosting and garnish with sugared cranberries if desired.

Notes

This recipe can be baked as a two layer 8-inch round cake. Bake for 30-35 mins and let cool 10 mins in the pan before inverting onto a cooling rack.

Making this Recipe?

Share it with us on Instagram using #aclassictwist so we can see what you are baking up in your kitchen!

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