Southern Holiday Nut Cake

We’re celebrating the beginning of the Winter season with this delicious Southern Holiday Nut Cake. It’s perfect for all of your holiday baking needs! A rich and dense molasses-y cake loaded full with a mix of raisins and chopped pecans. Oh, and a splash of bourbon to round out the delicious flavors. Honestly, this cake is mouthwatering and oh so good. Every bite is layered with crunchy pecans, raisins, bourbon, and hints of molasses. It’s so simple, but it tastes exquisite! The best part? There is just enough batter to hold in all the delicious goodies. Once baked, serve warm for a cake that quite literally melts in your mouth. This is the perfect nut cake for any and all occasions. Bonus? It’s so much easier to make than you might think, and it makes for the perfect gift during the holiday season!

→ This post is also available as a Web Story: Bourbon Nut Cake

About The Recipe

Making this cake is a tradition in our house. I’m not kidding! The holidays don’t start until this cake is freshly baked and being enjoyed by our friends and family.

I can remember making this with my mom as a little girl. It was something all of our friends and family loved and always asked for come Christmas time! I can’t tell you how many times we’ve given this cake as a gift because that’s all someone wanted.

It’s truly special. I know that’s weird to say that about a cake, but there’s just something about it. It’s not your traditional fruit cake, it’s not a traditional nut cake, it’s something for everyone!

Plus, this cake has a secret technique to keep it fresh and moist, even after it’s been sitting out for a few days!

You ready?

You need to douse this cake with a capful (about 1 tablespoon) of bourbon every few days!

It maintains the cake’s moisture, making it incredibly delicious. Every bite feels like indulging in a freshly baked treat, especially when generously soaked. This has become a holiday tradition for us, creating it at the beginning of the season and enjoying it all the way through Christmas.

There is no better way to start your day than with a mug of your favorite coffee and a large slice of this special bourbon nut cake.

Equipment Needed

• A Mixer
• Large Bundt Pan
• Baking Spray
• Cake Tester
• Cooling Racks

Ingredients

• Molasses – Adding a deep, rich flavor that really pulls the whole cake together, molasses also contributes to the sweetness.
• Baking Soda – While neutralizing the acid in the molasses, baking soda also contributes to the rise.
• Pecans – The classic sweet, buttery, nutty pecan is the perfect nut to use in this cake.
• Raisins – Adding textural contrast to the pecans, raisins also contribute sweetness.
• All-Purpose Flour – The flour in this cake serves a dual purpose. First, as the base ingredient, it creates the structure of the cake. And second, the pecans and raisins are tossed with an additional portion before adding them to the batter to keep them from sinking to the bottom.
• Cinnamon – Adding to the warmth and depth of flavor, cinnamon adds a sweet and spicy kick.
• Ground Cloves – With a more intense, warm flavor, cloves also contribute to the depth and warmth of the flavors in this cake.
• Salted Butter – Adding richness and moisture to the cake, butter also contributes to the overall flavor.
• Granulated Sugar – Not only does it sweeten the cake, sugar contributes to the crumb and texture.
• Eggs – The binder for the filling, eggs also contribute structure, stability, moisture, and richness.
• Bourbon – An ingredient found in lots of Southern cakes and pies, bourbon adds warmth and complexity.

Instructions

Mix the molasses and baking soda together with a spoon. It will start to expand and become a beautiful caramel color. Once it reaches about one cup, set it aside.

In a large bowl, combine chopped pecans, raisins, and 1/2 cup flour. Set aside.

Whisk together the remaining flour, cinnamon, and ground gloves.

In the mixer with the beater attachment, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. About 3-5 minutes.

Add the eggs one at a time. Make sure to beat well after each addition.

Pour in the molasses mixture and mix thoroughly.

Add the flour mixture and mix well! Scrape down the sides as needed.

Stir in the raisins and chopped pecans.

Add the bourbon and mix well!

Transfer the batter into the prepared bundt or tube pan. Bake at 250 degrees for 2 hours!

Let the cake cool in the pan before turning out. Serve and enjoy!

What To Serve With This Nut Cake

The best thing about this cake is that it’s a great breakfast, snack, or even dessert! So, whether you’re feeding your whole family or just yourself, here are a few of our favorite things to serve with this cake!

• Vanilla Ice Cream
• Caramel Sauce
• Latte or Coffee
• Hot Chocolate
• Chantilly Cream

How To Store

Once this cake is baked and cooled, you can store it in a large cake plate and keep covered on the counter for about one month. Just remember to keep it doused with bourbon!

Substitutions

• You can use any kind of dried fruit you like!
• Same with nuts. Not a fan of pecans? Feel free to use almonds or walnuts!
• We use bourbon, but whiskey or rum can be used in it’s place!

Expert Tips

• Make sure you gather all your ingredients before you start mixing! Trust me, this will make things much easier.
• Using a food processor to chop the pecans will be faster and easier than doing it by hand.
• Once the molasses and baking soda are mixed, work quickly. It will continue to rise.
• This cake will become more flavorful as it cools. It will also develop more flavor after a few days.
• Adding 1 Tablespoon of bourbon every few days will keep this cake moist and delicious!

When you make this Southern Holiday Nut Cake, leave a comment down below! We love hearing from you and answering any questions you might have! Also, be sure to tag us on social media and hashtag it #BakersTable.