Festive & Flavorful: The Ultimate Bourbon Eggnog Sheet Cake Recipe for the Holidays
The holiday season is synonymous with warmth, joy, and of course, delicious treats. Among the many festive delights, eggnog holds a special place, evoking nostalgic memories and a cozy spirit. But what if you could take that beloved holiday beverage and transform it into an equally enchanting dessert? Enter the Bourbon Eggnog Sheet Cake – a culinary masterpiece that seamlessly blends the rich, creamy flavors of traditional eggnog with the convenience and crowd-pleasing appeal of a classic sheet cake.
This isn’t just any cake; it’s a celebration in every bite. Our Bourbon Eggnog Sheet Cake boasts an incredibly soft and moist crumb, infused with the quintessential holiday spices of cinnamon and nutmeg. To elevate these warm, inviting flavors even further, a generous splash of bourbon is incorporated into the cake batter, adding not only depth and complexity but also a subtle hint of caramel that beautifully complements the eggnog. The magic doesn’t stop there. This delightful cake is crowned with a truly exceptional light-as-a-cloud eggnog buttercream frosting, making it an irresistible centerpiece for any festive gathering. Prepare to impress your guests and satisfy every sweet craving with this decadent holiday dessert!
How to Make the Bourbon Eggnog Sheet Cake
Creating a perfectly moist and flavorful sheet cake is all about technique and attention to detail. Follow these steps carefully to ensure your Bourbon Eggnog Sheet Cake turns out absolutely divine.
- Prepare Your Workspace and Dry Ingredients: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures the oven is at the correct temperature for even baking as soon as your batter is ready. Prepare a 9×12-inch baking pan by greasing it lightly with cooking spray and lining it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisking ensures they are thoroughly combined and evenly distributed throughout the batter, preventing pockets of unmixed ingredients.
- Achieving a Light and Fluffy Base: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), combine the large eggs, white sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat these on high speed for about 4-5 minutes. This step is crucial. You want the mixture to become significantly lighter in color, thick, and tripled in volume. This aeration creates the foundation for a light, fluffy cake. Once fluffy, reduce the mixer speed to medium-low and slowly drizzle in the vegetable oil. Continue beating for an additional minute after all the oil has been incorporated, ensuring it’s fully emulsified into the egg mixture.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl or measuring cup, gently stir together the traditional eggnog and bourbon. This ensures an even distribution of the spirited eggnog flavor throughout the batter.
- Alternating Dry and Wet for a Smooth Batter: With the stand mixer on low speed, begin adding the dry ingredient mixture to the wet mixture in three additions, alternating with the eggnog-bourbon blend. Start and end with the dry ingredients. For example: add 1/3 of the dry, mix until just combined; then add 1/2 of the wet, mix until just combined; then another 1/3 of the dry, mix; the remaining 1/2 of the wet, mix; and finally the last 1/3 of the dry, mixing only until smooth. The key here is not to overmix! Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, leading to a tough, dense cake. Mix only until the streaks of flour disappear.
- Bake to Golden Perfection: Pour the beautifully smooth Bourbon Eggnog cake batter evenly into your prepared 9×12-inch pan. Transfer the pan to your preheated oven and bake for approximately 30-35 minutes. The exact baking time can vary depending on your oven, so keep an eye on it. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached. Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. It is absolutely essential for the cake to be fully cooled before you even think about frosting it, otherwise, your luscious buttercream will melt.
HOW TO MAKE THE EGGNOG BUTTERCREAM
No festive cake is complete without an equally festive frosting, and this Eggnog Buttercream is truly the star. It’s incredibly light, fluffy, and bursting with all the holiday flavors, perfectly complementing the bourbon-infused cake.
- Whip the Butter to Perfection: Begin by placing the room-temperature unsalted butter into the bowl of your stand mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat the butter on high speed for 5-7 minutes. This extended whipping time is crucial; it incorporates air into the butter, making it incredibly pale in color and significantly increased in volume. This creates the light, airy base for your buttercream, ensuring it’s not dense or heavy.
- Gradually Add Confectioners’ Sugar: Reduce the mixer speed to low. Gradually add the sifted confectioners’ sugar, about a cup at a time, allowing each addition to be fully incorporated before adding the next. Sifting the sugar beforehand prevents lumps and ensures a super smooth frosting. Once all the sugar is in, increase the speed to medium and beat for another 2-3 minutes until the mixture is well combined and slightly fluffy.
- Infuse with Eggnog and Spices: With the mixer still on low, add the traditional eggnog, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract. These ingredients are what give your buttercream its signature eggnog flavor. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat for another 3-5 minutes. Continue mixing until the buttercream is wonderfully smooth, light, and incredibly fluffy. Taste and adjust sweetness or spice levels if desired. If it’s too thick, add a tiny bit more eggnog (one teaspoon at a time); if too thin, add a bit more sifted confectioners’ sugar.
- Frosting and Finishing Touches: Once your Bourbon Eggnog Sheet Cake has cooled completely (this is vital!), use an offset spatula or knife to spread the luscious eggnog buttercream evenly over the top. For an extra touch of indulgence and visual appeal, consider a light dusting of freshly grated nutmeg and a decadent drizzle of caramel sauce over the frosted cake. This adds another layer of flavor and makes for a truly stunning presentation.
Types of Eggnog & Key Ingredients for a Delicious Cake
Crafting the perfect Bourbon Eggnog Sheet Cake relies on a few star ingredients that bring out its signature holiday essence. Understanding each one’s role will help you achieve the best flavor and texture.
Choosing the Right Eggnog
The foundation of this festive cake is, of course, the eggnog itself. When you browse the dairy aisle during the holiday season, you’ll likely encounter a few options: light eggnog, classic eggnog, and traditional (often labeled “old-fashioned”) eggnog.
- Light Eggnog: While a healthier option, light eggnog typically has reduced fat and sugar, which can impact the moisture and richness of your cake. For baking, it’s generally best to avoid this variant if you want a truly decadent result.
- Classic Eggnog: This is a good all-around choice. It offers a balanced flavor and richness.
- Traditional (Old-Fashioned) Eggnog: This is my top recommendation for this Bourbon Eggnog Sheet Cake recipe! Traditional eggnog is notably higher in fat content and often features a more pronounced spice blend, resulting in a richer, creamier, and more intensely flavorful liquid. This robust flavor profile translates beautifully into baked goods, ensuring your cake has that unmistakable, deep eggnog taste. Its higher fat content also contributes significantly to the cake’s moistness and tender crumb.
Opting for a high-quality, full-fat traditional eggnog will make a noticeable difference in the final product, providing that authentic, cozy holiday essence we all crave.
The Role of Bourbon
A splash of bourbon in this recipe does more than just add a hint of alcohol; it acts as a flavor enhancer, bringing a subtle warmth and complexity that elevates the entire cake. Bourbon, with its notes of vanilla, oak, and caramel, perfectly complements the creamy sweetness of eggnog and the warmth of the spices. It helps to round out the flavors, creating a more sophisticated and memorable dessert. If you prefer to omit alcohol or are serving children, you can substitute the bourbon with an equal amount of additional eggnog or even a touch of rum extract mixed with milk to maintain some of that signature boozy flavor without the alcohol content.
Essential Spices: Cinnamon and Nutmeg
Cinnamon and nutmeg are the quintessential eggnog spices, and they are crucial to achieving that authentic holiday taste in your sheet cake. Freshly grated nutmeg, in particular, offers a much more vibrant and aromatic flavor than pre-ground varieties. These spices infuse the cake with a comforting warmth that pairs perfectly with the creamy eggnog and rich bourbon, making every bite feel like a cozy holiday embrace. Don’t skimp on these!
Why This Bourbon Eggnog Sheet Cake Will Be Your New Holiday Favorite
During the bustling holiday season, finding a dessert that is both stunning and simple to serve can be a game-changer. This Bourbon Eggnog Sheet Cake ticks all the boxes, making it an ideal choice for family dinners, festive parties, or even a cozy night in. Here’s why this recipe deserves a permanent spot in your holiday baking repertoire:
- Effortless Elegance: Sheet cakes are inherently easier to transport and serve than multi-layered cakes, making them perfect for potlucks and gatherings. Despite its simplicity in form, the rich flavors and creamy frosting give it an air of sophisticated elegance.
- Irresistible Flavor Profile: The combination of warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg with the distinct creamy notes of eggnog creates a symphony of holiday flavors. The bourbon adds a sophisticated undertone, deepening the caramel and vanilla notes without overpowering the traditional taste.
- Perfectly Moist & Tender: Thanks to the inclusion of oil and eggnog in the batter, this cake bakes up incredibly moist and stays fresh for days. No dry, crumbly cake here – just pure, melt-in-your-mouth goodness.
- Crowd-Pleasing Portions: A 9×12-inch sheet cake yields plenty of servings, easily accommodating a larger group. You can slice it into smaller squares for a dessert buffet or generous portions for a satisfying end to a holiday meal.
- Customizable Fun: While the classic version is divine, this recipe offers plenty of room for personalization. Add a sprinkle of toasted pecans, a drizzle of white chocolate, or even a touch more bourbon to the frosting for an extra kick!
Essential Tips for Baking the Best Bourbon Eggnog Sheet Cake
Even with a straightforward recipe, a few expert tips can make all the difference, ensuring your Bourbon Eggnog Sheet Cake is a smashing success every time.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: For both the cake batter and the buttercream, ensure your eggs and butter are at room temperature. This allows them to emulsify properly, creating a smooth, cohesive batter and a fluffy, lump-free frosting. For butter, take it out about 1-2 hours before baking. For eggs, simply place them in a bowl of warm water for 5-10 minutes.
- Measure Flour Correctly: Baking is a science! Using too much flour is a common pitfall that can lead to a dry cake. The best way to measure flour is to “fluff, spoon, and level.” Fluff the flour in its container, then spoon it into your measuring cup, and finally, level it off with a straight edge (like the back of a knife). Avoid scooping directly with the measuring cup or packing the flour down. For ultimate precision, use a kitchen scale (1 cup of all-purpose flour typically weighs 120g or 4.25 oz).
- Do Not Overmix: After adding the dry ingredients to the wet, mix only until just combined. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, resulting in a tough, chewy cake rather than a tender, moist one. A few small streaks of flour are better than an overmixed batter.
- Cool the Cake Completely: Patience is key! Frosting a warm cake will cause the buttercream to melt into a buttery puddle. Ensure the cake is entirely cool to the touch, which can take a couple of hours, before you even think about applying that delicious frosting.
- Freshly Grated Nutmeg: While pre-ground nutmeg is convenient, freshly grated nutmeg offers a significantly more potent and aromatic flavor. It truly elevates the holiday essence of both the cake and the buttercream. A small microplane grater is perfect for this task.
Customizing Your Bourbon Eggnog Sheet Cake
One of the joys of baking is being able to tailor a recipe to your preferences. Here are some ideas to customize your Bourbon Eggnog Sheet Cake:
- Non-Alcoholic Version: If you’re serving a crowd that includes children or those who prefer to avoid alcohol, simply omit the bourbon from the cake batter. You can replace it with an equal amount of traditional eggnog, or for a touch of simulated “boozy” flavor, add a teaspoon of rum extract or brandy extract to the eggnog.
- Alternative Spirits: While bourbon offers wonderful caramel notes, other spirits can also work beautifully. Consider dark rum for a deeper, molasses-like flavor, or brandy for a fruity, slightly sweet undertone. Even a spiced rum could add an interesting twist.
- Add-Ins: Elevate the texture and flavor by folding in some delightful add-ins. Toasted pecans or walnuts would provide a lovely crunch. White chocolate chips would melt into gooey pockets, adding another layer of sweetness. Dried cranberries or cherries could introduce a tart counterpoint to the richness.
- Garnish Galore: Beyond the caramel drizzle and extra nutmeg, consider other garnishes. Candied pecans, a sprinkle of festive sprinkles (gold or silver work well), or even a few fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary can turn your cake into a showstopper. A dusting of powdered sugar over the frosted cake adds a beautiful, snowy finish.
- Spice Variations: If you love a bolder spice profile, feel free to slightly increase the amounts of cinnamon and nutmeg, or even add a pinch of allspice or ground cloves for an even deeper holiday warmth.
Serving and Storing Your Bourbon Eggnog Sheet Cake
Once your stunning Bourbon Eggnog Sheet Cake is complete, knowing how to serve and store it properly will ensure everyone enjoys its deliciousness to the fullest.
Serving Suggestions:
- Holiday Centerpiece: This beautiful sheet cake makes an excellent centerpiece for your holiday dessert table. Slice into neat squares or rectangles for easy serving.
- Pairings: Serve alongside a steaming cup of coffee, a warm mug of tea, or even a small glass of chilled traditional eggnog (with or without a splash of bourbon!). The creamy cake pairs wonderfully with these beverages.
- Dessert Buffet: If you’re hosting a large gathering, cut the cake into smaller, bite-sized pieces so guests can enjoy a variety of desserts.
Storage Instructions:
- Room Temperature: If stored in an airtight container, the frosted Bourbon Eggnog Sheet Cake can be kept at room temperature for up to 2 days. This is ideal if your home is cool, as the butter in the frosting will remain stable.
- Refrigeration: For longer storage, or if your home is warmer, refrigerate the cake in an airtight container for up to 5-7 days. Bring slices to room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving for the best flavor and texture.
- Freezing: You can freeze unfrosted cake layers or individual slices of frosted cake. Wrap unfrosted cake tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 2-3 months. For frosted slices, freeze uncovered until firm, then wrap individually in plastic wrap and foil. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for a few hours.
Embrace the Holiday Spirit with This Eggnog Delight!
There’s something truly magical about the aroma of holiday baking filling your home, and this Bourbon Eggnog Sheet Cake promises to deliver that enchanting experience. With its moist crumb, warm spices, a subtle bourbon kick, and luscious eggnog buttercream, it’s more than just a dessert; it’s a taste of festive cheer. Whether you’re baking it for a grand holiday feast or a quiet family gathering, this cake is sure to become a cherished part of your seasonal traditions. So, gather your ingredients, fire up your oven, and prepare to spread some delicious holiday joy with every delightful slice of this incredible Bourbon Eggnog Sheet Cake!
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Bourbon Eggnog Sheet Cake
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Ingredients
Bourbon Eggnog Sheet Cake
- 2 ¼ cups (270g) All Purpose Flour,, measured correctly †
- 1 ½ tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 tsp Table Salt
- 3/4 tsp Cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp Nutmeg
- 1 ½ cups (300g) White Sugar
- 3 Large Eggs
- 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 3/4 cup (170g) Vegetable Oil
- 1 cup (240g) Traditional (Old Fashioned) Eggnog
- 1/4 cup (60g) Bourbon
Eggnog Buttercream
- 1 cup (227g) Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
- 3 ½ cups (420g) Confectioners Sugar, sifted
- 1/3 cup (80g) Traditional Eggnog
- 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp Nutmeg
- 1 tsp Vanilla
Equipment
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Stand mixer
Instructions
Bourbon Eggnog Sheet Cake
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Preheat oven to 350°F, and prepare a 9×12” pan with cooking spray and parchment. In a large sized mixing bowl, add the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg, then whisk together to combine.
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In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Beat on high for around 5 minutes, the mixture should look thick, fluffy, and be tripled in volume. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and then slowly drizzle in the oil. After all the oil has been added, beat for an additional minute.
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Add the bourbon to the eggnog, then stir together.
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On low, add the dry mixture to the stand mixer in 3 additions, alternating with the bourbon eggnog in between. Beat only until the batter becomes smooth.
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Add the batter to the pan, then bake in the oven for around 35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.
Eggnog Buttercream
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Add butter to a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on high until butter is doubled in volume, and looks light and fluffy.
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Turn the stand mixer to low and slowly add the confectioners sugar. Beat until completely incorporated, then add in the eggnog, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Beat until well-combined and fully incorporated.
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Spread the eggnog buttercream over the cooled cake, then dust with additional nutmeg and optionally drizzle with caramel sauce.