Recipe: Jack Daniel's Chocolate Birthday Cake

Jack Daniel's Chocolate Birthday Cake
From: Wendy.Ohio
Makes a 9" tube cake

1-1/2 c. water
1/2 c. Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whisky
1 T. instant coffee
2-1/2 sticks unsalted butter
1 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
2 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 c. all purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. coarsely chopped pecans
2 T. Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whisky
For serving: gobs of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream

In a very large saucepan, heat and stir the water, 1/2 c. Jack Daniel's, coffee, butter and cocoa until the butter melts. Remove from the heat and beat in the sugar. Cool slightly then whisk in the eggs, blending thoroughly. In a bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt, using a whisk to blend completely. Beat into the chocolate mixture until incorporated. Stir in the pecans. Turn the batter into a greased and floured 9" tube pan. Smooth the top of the batter with a spatula. Bake the cake on the middle level of a preheated 325 degree oven for 60-75 minutes, until a cake tester or toothpick comes out clean. Immediately sprinkle with the 2 T. Jack Daniel's. Let cool on a rack and then remove the cake from the pan.

Note: The cake is so rich it doesn't need any icing, but it doesn't hurt to serve it with lots of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. It's also good warm, right out of the pan.