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This boozy chocolate liqueur cake is made with Irish cream and loads of chocolate. Perfect for special occasions and date night!

Boozy Chocolate Liqueur cake slice on a plate.

Liqueur cake is the definition of decadence. The rich layers of chocolate cake are soaked with Irish cream liqueur, then slathered with layers of sweetened condensed milk-spiked cake cream. Warning: Eating a slice will bring you instant nirvana!

If you’ve never baked with liqueur before, you’re in for a treat. The addition of a little booze not only improves the taste of cakes, but it also makes for such a moist, melt-in-your-mouth texture. With so many different flavor and styles of liqueur out there, the possibilities are endless.

Preparing Chocolate Liqueur Cake

To make your life easier, gather all the ingredients and measure them out before you get started.

  • Prepare Sponge Cake: Follow our chocolate sponge cake recipe, a 7-9 inch sized cake is perfect for this recipe.
  • Soak the Cake: Whip up the soaking cream by combining the milk and liqueur together. Spoon a generous amount onto each layer.
  • Make the Cake Cream: Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave and whip with the softened unsalted butter and sweetened condensed milk. In a separate bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream until you get soft peaks. Fold in the melted chocolate mixture.
  • Assemble the Cake: Place a cake layer on your favorite decorative plate or stand. Spread on a layer of cake cream and repeat until you run out of layers. Use the remaining cream to frost the cake. Decorate with cacao powder and chocolate shavings. Enjoy!
Chocolate cake slices soaking.
Heavy whipping cream whipped.
Chocolate mixture added to heavy whipping cream.
Cream added to layers of cake.

Pro Tips for the Tastiest Liqueur Cake

A couple of handy tips will help you nail this boozy cake recipe.

  • Don’t overmix the batter. To prevent the cake from losing it’s fluffiness, avoid over mixing the batter.
  • Use the toothpick trick. To check the doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, it’s ready!
  • Use extra cold heavy whipping cream to make the frosting. Cold heaving whipping cream will yield the fluffiest cake cream possible. If you have to, stick it in the freezer for 5-10 minutes before you beat it to soft peaks.
Boozy Chocolate Liqueur cake on a cake stand.

Storing & Freezing Tips

Whether you’re preparing your cake a day or two in advance or freezing the layers for the future, here are all the tips you need for storage.

  • Storing: To protect the structure and freshness of the cake, store it in an airtight cake container in the fridge.
  • Freezing: If you’d like to have the cake layers on hand for the future, freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Once completely frozen, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and store them in a freezer-safe bag for up to a month. To thaw, place them in the fridge overnight.

FAQ

Does alcohol cook out of cake as it bakes?

Yes, the alcohol in the liqueur will evaporate at the cake bakes. All that’s left will be the delicious flavor of the liqueur! 

What are some different examples of liqueur for baking?

Amaretto, Baileys Irish Cream, Cointreau, Frangelico, Kahlúa, and limoncello are all liqueurs that are commonly used for baking.

What can you use instead of liqueur?

In a pinch, you can use your almond extract instead. 

Does alcohol-infused cake get you drunk?

Alcohol-infused cake will not get your drunk. During the baking process, the alcohol cooks off and merely adds a nice depth of flavor. 

More Boozy Cakes to Try

Recipe

Boozy Chocolate Liqueur cake slice.

Boozy Chocolate Liqueur Cake (So Easy)

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Servings
12 servings
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
This boozy chocolate liqueur cake is the definition of decadence. Your new favorite chocolate cake recipe for special occasions!

Ingredients

Sponge Cake

Chocolate Cake Cream

  • 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
  • 10 oz sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream very cold

Decorating & Soaking

  • 1 cup milk for soaking
  • 1/2 cup Irish cream liqueur for soaking
  • 1 shaved chocolate bar for decorating

Instructions

  • Bake one chocolate sponge cake in a 7 to 9 inch pan.
    Chocolate sponge cake in a pan
  • Allow the cake to completely cool and slice it into three evenly-thick layers.
    A cake layer cut into 3 pieces horizontally
  • To make the soaking cream, combine milk and liqueur together. Use a spoon, pastry brush or squirt bottle to saturate each layer with the soaking cream.
    Chocolate cake slices soaking.
  • Melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring them every 10-15 seconds until silky smooth. Using a stand or hand mixer, beat the melted chocolate, softened butter, and condensed milk together until well-combined.
    Chocolate butter and condensed milk in a mixing bowl.
  • In a separate bowl, beat the very cold heavy whipping cream until it reaches soft peaks. Fold in the chocolatey butter mixture with a spatula.
    Chocolate mixture added to heavy whipping cream.
  • To assemble the cake, place the first cake layer on a plate or cake stand. Spread on a layer of cake cream. Repeat until you run out of cake layers.
    Cream added to layers of cake.
  •  Using the remaining cream, decorate the outside of the cake. Dust sides of the cake with shaved chocolate. Enjoy!
    Boozy Chocolate Liqueur cake on a cake stand.
Nutrition Facts
Boozy Chocolate Liqueur Cake (So Easy)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 609 Calories from Fat 387
% Daily Value*
Fat 43g66%
Saturated Fat 26g130%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 11g
Cholesterol 123mg41%
Sodium 210mg9%
Potassium 329mg9%
Carbohydrates 48g16%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 38g42%
Protein 7g14%
Vitamin A 1203IU24%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 156mg16%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Posted December 29, 2022

About Author

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Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.