Cook\'s Country - 2019-04-05

GREAT

AMERICAN

CAKE

Bourbon

Praline

Cake

*Our recipes for Bourbon–Brown Sugar Cake Layers

and Bourbon–Brown Sugar Frosting are available for

free for four months at CooksCountry.com/may19.

TO MAKE THIS CAKE, YOU WILL NEED:
1 cup pecans
¼ cup (13⁄4 ounces) granulated sugar
1⁄4 cup plus 1 tablespoon water
½ teaspoon table salt
1⁄3 cup packed (21⁄3 ounces) light brown
sugar
¼ cup bourbon
1 recipe Bourbon–Brown Sugar Cake
Layers
1 recipe Bourbon–Brown Sugar
Frosting

FOR THE CANDIED PECANS:
Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Bring pecans, granulated sugar, ¼ cup
water, and salt to boil in medium sauce-
pan over medium heat. Cook, stirring
constantly, until water evaporates and
sugar appears dry, opaque, and somewhat
crystallized and evenly coats pecans, about
5 minutes. Reduce heat to low and continue
to stir until sugar turns amber color, about
2 minutes longer. Transfer pecans to pre-
pared sheet and spread into even layer. Let
cool completely, about 10 minutes. Chop
pecans coarse.

FOR THE BOURBON SYRUP:

Bring brown sugar, bourbon, and remaining

1 tablespoon water to boil in small saucepan

over medium heat; cook until sugar dis-

solves, about 2 minutes.

TO ASSEMBLE:

Using skewer, poke 30 holes in top of each

cake layer. Brush bourbon syrup generously

over top and sides of each cake layer (use

all of syrup). Set aside 1 cup frosting for

piping rosettes. Combine 1½ cups remain-

ing frosting with ½ cup chopped candied

pecans in bowl. Place 1 cake layer on plat-

ter. Spread pecan-frosting mixture evenly

over top, right to edge of cake. Top with sec-

ond cake layer, press lightly to adhere, then

spread remaining 2½ cups frosting evenly

over top and sides of cake. Refrigerate until

frosting is firm, about 30 minutes.

TO DECORATE:

Fill pastry bag fitted with star tip with

reserved 1 cup frosting. Pipe rosettes

(spiraling from inside out) around edge of

cake. Sprinkle remaining candied pecans in

even layer inside ring of rosettes, covering

all exposed frosting. Serve.

Inspired by the Kentucky Derby,

this bourbon-laced cake sports

a winning combination of bourbon,

brown sugar, and pecans. A ring

of rosettes adds a finishing

touch worthy of the Triple Crown.

by Sarah Ewald