Apple Bourbon Bundt Cake

A last minute search came up with an Apple Bourbon Bundt Cake by Melissa Clark published by The New York Times in 2011. I wished to change things around a tad from my favorite apple cake I bake every year. For 5773 I upped the stakes and went all boozy and I like it!

The original cake is more of a spice cake with candied ginger, nutmeg and a hefty dose of cinnamon and vanilla extract. I adjusted it to my sensibilities and it came out great. I think either way it is a spectacular cake and I am so happy I came across this version to change around the Rosh HaShana antics.
I did not grate the apples and was tempted to preheat the oven at my comfort zone to 350F. I was worried I wouldn't get that puff effect of the cake rise at 325F, but the batter was different from my apple chiffon cake so I just went on a limb being curious of the results. The cake as you can tell does not suffer from lack of height. I could not resist it and dug into the apple bourbon cake and it is absolutely divine.
Wishing all of you a healthy 5773, as I said on social media, all the rest then will fall into place! Love you all and can't wait to kick start the new year with our continued friendship and support.
Note for the kosher crowd: Substitute butter with margarine and use soy based yogurt instead of the sour cream. You can also bake the cake as is and have a slice for breakfast or along with your afternoon tea.

Apple Bourbon Bundt Cake
10 to 12 servings
Adapted from A New York Times recipe

Ingredients
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more to grease pan
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup sour cream
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus more to dust the pan
2 tablespoons bourbon
1 1/2 cup Sugar in the Raw
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Zest from 1 medium/large lemon

2 medium/large Granny Smith apples peeled, cored, and finely diced
1/4 cup Sugar in the Raw

Bourbon Syrup
Ingredients
1/2 cup Sugar in the Raw
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 cup bourbon


Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour a bundt pan. Dust excess flour off the pan by flipping it up side down and tapping the bottom.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the 1 1/2cups sugar and butter on medium-high speed, until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, until incorporated.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour with the baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the sour cream and vanilla. Pour in the 2 tablespoons of bourbon and whisk until smooth. Stir in zest.
With the mixer on medium speed, add the dry mixture and sour cream mixture to the wet mixture in three additions, alternating between the two. Add a 1/4 cup sugar to apples, mix and fold the apples into the batter. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until the cake is golden brown and a skewer inserted into the cake comes out dry, about 1 hour.
While the cake cools in the bundt pan make the bourbon syrup. Combine the 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup bourbon in a small saucepan. Over low heat, gently stir until the sugar dissolves. Stir in the lemon juice and take off the heat.
While the cake cools, make 15-20 holes on top with a skewer and pour half the bourbon-syrup on the still-warm cake. When the cake is fully cool run a knife around the edges of the pan, flip it and pour the rest of the bourbon syrup on the top side and serve.

47 comments:

  1. That cake must taste divine! Wonderful.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  2. That does indeed look very tasty! I adore apple cake :)

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  3. What a lovely recipe, especially with the addition of bourbon! :-) Okay, I should know this....but what is 5773? I love reading all the apple recipes, Fall recipes make me so happy! Looks gorgeous, Hugs, Terra

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    1. TY Terra & Good question. It's the Jewish New Year (Rosh HaShana in Hebrew)5773. Just like we are now in 2012 in the Gregorian calendar. :) & I know, right?! LOVE all the apple recipes. Apple & honey are symbolic to The Jewish New Year, for a sweet and happy new year! :)

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  4. What a lovely, lovely cake, Shulie. I especially love the sound of the bourbon syrup! I'll definitely be making this during our apple season.

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  5. This is simply perfection! I adore the apples with the bourbon syrup. I bet this tastes incredible. I'll have to bookmark this for sure!

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    1. Thx Kate. At first I thought it's way too much bourbon but when tasted it was perfect.:)

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  6. Beautiful bundt cake! I love the apple and bourbon pairing!

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    1. Thx Laura. I never paired the two together so it was discovery! :)

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  7. Absolutely gorgeous, Shulie! Bourbon and apple is such a wonderful combination.

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  8. That's a great cake to start off the year. Shana tova! Have a wonderful sweet new year.

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  9. You got such beautiful height on this cake Shulie! Apples and bourbon are a great combination. L'Shana Tova to you and your family.

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    1. I know, right?! Considering it is not a fluffy chiffon like. Shana Tova Deb.

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  10. Oh my, what a beautiful cake. That bourbon syrup needs to make it on my next bundt cake! :)
    L'shanah tovah!

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    1. ahaha not such a simple syrup anymore! Shana Tova!

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  11. What a gorgeous cake, very timely for this apple season.

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    1. True. TY. I still want to actually go myself and pick apples this season.

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  12. Gorgeous! Your photos are gorgeous and I know I would love this!

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  13. I am just learning to appreciate bourbon in baking. Perfect for the fall harvest of apples in MN! Saving this for "a free weekend." Is it 5773 already? Happy New Year!

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    1. I am new to Bourbon in general, Claudia, much less in baking.:) Turns our going on alimb was fruitful. :) Yep 5773! :)

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  14. Ahh! Fall is loose - bourbon and spices with fruit and I am sold. Such a warm and comforting kind of cake!

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    1. "warm" very articulate description Meeta. Even more so if you follow the original recipe.

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  15. Replies
    1. I know, me too. Though J snagged the last slice. He said he offered it to me. I don't recall. lol

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  16. I still have not decided what kind of cake to make for my birthday... I know Jason would LOVE this cake, this may have to be it! Happy New Year to you!

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    1. TY Kristina. If he likes a banana bread he would love this. Happy bday to your hubs.

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  17. Gorgeous cake and photos Shulie! Funny, I was eyeballing some bundt pans the other day when I was planning out my daughter's birthday cake. In the end, I went with a sheet cake, but I'm thinking a gluten-free version of this cake is definitely in order soon!

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    1. I got three different bundt cakes from this simple one to more elaborate. Then mini ones too, on design.:) Would love to see your GF version. Happy bday to your daughter.

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  18. Shulie, I made an apple cake last week, but regrettably, it had no booze whatsoever. Clearly, I need to make this one this week! It looks absolutely delicious. Wishing you a good Rosh Hashanah!

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  19. What gorgeous cake and clicks, Shulie! happy new year to you too.

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  20. Just beautiful, Shulie! Thank you for sharing, my friend, and for making my day a bit more happy and delicious. I hope you are having a wonderful week!

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    1. Aww Monet. You are the sweetest! You too do the same!

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  21. I hope you had a beautiful holiday, Shulie. Gorgeous cake and love the bourbon glaze and the really pretty yellow tube pan. This is the season where I could bake a cake like this every day (and sample a little;)

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    1. You are a baking machine my friend. I don't know how you keep so skinny! :)

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  22. This cake certainly looks wonderful !!
    I'm curious as I've never used bourbon....
    Hope your'e having a great holiday now

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  23. Boozie is always better, Liz. I've actually had a hankering for a rum based apple cake but now that I've seen and almost "smelled" this Apple Bourbon Bundt Cake of yours, I just may need to buy me some Bourbon!

    Thanks for sharing and a Happy, Healthy New Year to you and yours!!!

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  24. I love the idea of a bourbon syrup. This looks delicious!

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  25. Ah that bourbon syrup sounds pretty divine with the apples!

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  26. This is a perfect apple bourbon bundt cake that looks so delicious. This is really great recipe of bundt cakes. I appreciate for the excellent presentation. I love this cakes. Thanks for share.

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