Southern Comfort Bourbon Pecan Cake (Print)

Decadent chocolate cake, bourbon pecans, vanilla pudding, and whipped cream in a Southern-style layered dessert.

# Components:

→ Chocolate Cake

01 - 1 (9-inch) chocolate cake, homemade or store-bought, cut into cubes (approximately 6 cups)

→ Bourbon Pecan Layer

02 - 1 cup pecan halves
03 - 1/4 cup Southern Comfort bourbon liqueur
04 - 3 tablespoons brown sugar
05 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

→ Vanilla Pudding

06 - 3 cups whole milk
07 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
08 - 1/4 cup cornstarch
09 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
10 - 4 large egg yolks
11 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

→ Whipped Cream

12 - 2 cups heavy cream
13 - 1/3 cup powdered sugar
14 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Garnish

15 - Additional toasted pecans
16 - Chocolate shavings

# Directions:

01 - In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add pecan halves and brown sugar; cook, stirring constantly, until pecans are evenly coated and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and carefully incorporate the Southern Comfort bourbon liqueur. Allow mixture to cool completely.
02 - In a saucepan, whisk together the whole milk, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring continuously, until the mixture thickens and starts to bubble. In a separate bowl, lightly beat the egg yolks. Gradually whisk in about 1 cup of the hot milk mixture to the yolks, then return this blend to the saucepan. Continue cooking and stirring for 2 to 3 minutes until fully thickened. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla extract, let cool to room temperature, and then refrigerate.
03 - In a chilled mixing bowl, beat the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Refrigerate until ready for assembly.
04 - In a large glass trifle bowl, arrange one-third of the chocolate cake cubes in an even layer. Distribute one-third of the bourbon-soaked pecans over the cake, followed by one-third of the vanilla pudding and one-third of the whipped cream. Repeat this layering process two more times, finishing with the remaining whipped cream as the top layer.
05 - Adorn the final whipped cream layer with extra toasted pecans and generous chocolate shavings. Refrigerate the assembled trifle for a minimum of 2 hours prior to serving to allow flavors to develop.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in just over an hour with easy-to-follow steps
  • Can be made ahead freeing up your time on the day of serving
  • Impressive presentation with minimal effort required
  • Customizable with store-bought shortcuts or made-from-scratch components
02 -
  • Can be made up to 24 hours ahead for best flavor development
  • Serves 10 generously perfect for gatherings
  • Contains alcohol though most cooks off during preparation
  • Offers impressive presentation with minimal technical skill required
03 -
  • The success of this trifle depends largely on allowing adequate chilling time - at least 2 hours but preferably overnight. This rest period allows the cake to absorb moisture from the other components while flavors meld together beautifully.
  • When preparing the bourbon pecans watch them carefully as nuts can go from perfectly toasted to burnt in seconds.
  • For the most dramatic presentation reserve some of each component to create a final decorative top layer right before serving.

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