Kentucky Bourbon Cake

 

(for the cake)

3 cups sifted cake flour

1 t baking powder

1/2 t baking soda

1 t fine sea salt

1 cup unsalted butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

4 eggs, at room temperature

1/4 cup bourbon

1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature

(for the glaze)

6 T unsalted butter

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup bourbon

[how to make]

(for the cake)

*Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

*Sift together the flour, baking powder, soda, and salt in a bowl, then whisk the mixture by hand to ensure that the ingredients are well mixed.

*In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugars together on medium high speed until fluffy, about 5 minutes.

*As you make the batter, stop the mixer frequently and scrape the paddle and the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.

*Blend in the eggs one at time.

*Combine the bourbon and buttermilk in a small bowl.

*With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the buttermilk-bourbon mixture in two parts, beginning and ending with the flour

*After each addition, mix until just barely blended and stop and scrape the bowl.

*Stop the mixer before the last of the flour has been incorporated and complete the blending by hand with a rubber spatula.

*Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it out evenly.

*Place the pan in the oven and bake until the cake is golden and springs back when touched, 40 to 45 minutes.

(for the glaze)

*Combine the butter, sugar, and bourbon in a small saucepan over low heat just until the butter melts and she sugar dissolves, whisking to combine.

*Remove the cake from the oven but leave it in the pan.

*Poke holes all over the top of the cake with a wooden skewer.

*Pour three-quarters of the glaze slowly over the cake, saving the remaining glaze.

*Allow the cake to cool for 30 minutes, then flip it our onto a serving plate so the glazed par is on the bottom.

*Brush the top with the remaining glaze.

*If the glaze has thickened, rewarm it over low heat.

-makes 10 to 12-