Go Back
Print Pin

Bourbon Cherry Chocolate Cake

Course Dessert, Snack
Total Time 3 hours
Servings 10

Ingredients

Ganache

  • 10 ounces semi-sweet chocolate 58%
  • 10 ounces cream 1 1/4 cups

Cherry Filling

  • 15 ounce canned whole dark cherries in syrup
  • 1/8 cup bourbon
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 3/4 tbsp cornstarch

Cake

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 5 ounces semi-sweet chocolate 58%
  • 1 cup butter
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cup strong brewed coffee
  • 1/2 cup bourbon
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp almond extract
  • bourbon as needed for soak
  • 35-40 cherries halved and pitted

Instructions

Ganache

  • Chop chocolate and place into a bowl. Bring cream to a simmer. Slowly pour the cream over the chocolate. Mix until chocolate has completely melted. Allow to cool until it is a spreadable consistency.

Cherry Filling

  • Strain cherries and put the juice into a pot. Mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of juice and set aside. Add the sugar and bourbon to the pot with the juice. Bring the pot to a boil and dissolve the sugar. Whisk in the cornstarch mixture. Cook for 1-2 minutes until thick. Remove from heat and cool. Mix the cherries back in.

Cake

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line the bottom of 2-9 inch springform pans with parchment. Grease and flour the pans. Mix the flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa together. Melt the chocolate over a water bath and cool. Mix the coffee, bourbon, vanilla, and almond extract.
  • Cream together the butter and sugar. Mix in the eggs, then the chocolate. Add the flour and coffee mix in three additions, alternating between the two. Divide the batter between the two pans. Bake for 40-45 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean. Cool the cakes completely.
  • Fill a pastry bag with half of the ganache. Place one of the cakes on a platter. Brush the cake with bourbon. Pipe ganache around the edge of the cake. Spread the cherry filling inside the ganache. Top with the other cake layer and brush with bourbon. Spread a thin layer of ganache over the entire cake. Pipe the remaining ganache to decorate the cake. Garnish with fresh cherries. Slice into 10 pieces and serve.