Kentucky Derby Mint Julep Cake Recipe

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With all of the elements of a Southern mint julep cocktail, this cake is perfect for Kentucky Derby Day. The rich pound cake has a white chocolate ganache frosting with a light mint flavor to complement the bourbon butter sauce infused in the cake. Don't wait for Kentucky Derby Day to make this cake. Even without the bourbon butter sauce and/or creme de menthe frosting, the cake will shine with a simple dusting of powdered sugar.

For a sheet cake, shorten the cooking time to 35 to 40 minutes.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 70 minutes

Ingredients:

Cake:

h 3 cups cake flour

Âh 2 cups white sugar

Âh 1 teaspoon salt

Âh 1 teaspoon baking powder

Âh 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Âh 1 cup buttermilk

Âh 1 cup butter

Âh 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Âh 4 eggs

.

Bourbon Butter Sauce:

Âh 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

Âh 1/3 cup butter

Âh 3 tablespoons water

Âh 2 teaspoons Bourbon whiskey

.

Mint Frosting:

Âh 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) white chocolate chips

Âh 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)

Âh 1 teaspoon white creme de menthe liqueur or 1/2 tsp mint extract (see Note)

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10-inch bundt pan.

Cake:

Whisk together flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a large bowl. Make a well in the center.

In a separate smaller bowl, combine buttermilk, butter, vanilla extract, and eggs.

Add wet ingredients to flour mixture. Beat at low speed for 1 minute, then increase to medium speed for 3 more minutes. Pour into prepared pan and smooth evenly around bundt center.

Bake for 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Ten minutes before cake is done, prepare Bourbon Butter Sauce.

Bourbon Butter Sauce:

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, 1/3 cup butter, and 3 tablespoons water. Stir until melted and combined. Do not boil. Remove from heat, continuing to stir for 2 minutes. Then stir in Bourbon.

When cake is done and still warm from the oven, use a skewer to poke holes around the top of the cake. Pour Bourbon butter sauce evenly over the top of the cake. Let cake cool to room temperature in the pan before removing.

Mint Frosting:

Melt chocolate chips with sweetened condensed milk in heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until chips are melted. Remove from heat and stir in creme de menthe liqueur (or mint extract). Let cool for 10 minutes, then spread evenly over the cooled cake. Garnish with fresh mint leaves. Chill to set chocolate ganache. Take cake out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before cutting to serve.

Yield: 12 to 18 servings, depending on slice cut

Note: You may substitute green creme de menthe for the white, however the color may not be appealing. Just add a drop or two of green food coloring.