Perfect for National Rum Day
August 16th is National Rum Day. Right about now you are probably thinking, "What's this got to do with chocolate?"
Well, actually, there is rum in Kahlua!! So, it totally counts!
Kahlua is a sweet, coffee-flavored liqueur that hints at dark chocolate, at least to me. The drink that always come to mind for me is Kahlua and cream. If you think about it (after a couple of these) it's just an adult glass of chocolate milk, right?
Using some of that Kahlua in the batter will make your chocolate cake densely rich with chocolate flavor. A delight in every bite!
Ingredients Needed for this Kahlua Cake Mix Hack
How to Make this Kahlua Cake Mix Hack
Coffee is a popular additive to baked goods to enhance chocolate flavor, so this Kahlua chocolate cake seemed like a heavenly combination to me, especially since it starts with a box mix and only needs eggs, oil, sour cream and Kahlua to complete the ingredient list.
Simply mix all the ingredients together and pour the batter into a Bundt pan. I like to grease and dust the pan with cocoa powder (instead of flour). It helps the baked cake release from the pan without leaving a white residue on the lovely chocolate cake.
Bake the cake for 55 to 60 minutes. When done, a toothpick inserted in the middle should come out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 30 minutes.
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Invert the pan onto a wire rack to allow the cake to finish cooling. I typically leave the pan over the cake even while inverted and cooling, but that habit probably developed due to my pets. Large dogs can steal off a counter top, and cats will just jump up and nibble. Go ahead, ask me how I know this. 🤦🏼♀️
This frosting is a keeper!
The other decision is, of course, the frosting. The typical frosting for a Bundt cake is a chocolate ganache, which looks great in photos, but the last time I used ganache the man of the house felt there wasn't enough frosting.
I have been on a quest to find the perfect chocolate frosting and this time I stumbled across a keeper: Chocolate-Kahlua frosting. In addition to the usual ingredients in frosting (butter, powdered sugar, more butter, more sugar) this one includes cream cheese, cocoa powder and Kahlua. Yum!
How to make Chocolate Kahlua Frosting
The frosting is a simple variation of buttercream. With a mixer, cream the butter, add cream cheese and mix well. Add the cocoa powder, and then powdered sugar about one cup at a time. Mix well before adding the next cup. Once the powders are fully incorporated, add vanilla, Kahlua and a little heavy cream or milk.
Because of the cream cheese in this frosting, I recommend refrigerating the cake once it's frosted. I did so, and it was delightful for several days after baking. All I did was loosely wrap the plate with plastic wrap to prevent drying out. The cake stayed moist and flavorful.
📖 Recipe
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Kahlua Chocolate Cake
Video
Ingredients
- 1 package Devil's Food Cake mix
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup Kahlua
- ¾ cup oil
- Shortening and cocoa powder - for dusting pan
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 12-cup Bundt pan and dust with unsweetened cocoa powder.Shortening and cocoa powder - for dusting pan
- Combine all other ingredients in a bowl. Beat on low speed to moisten and then medium speed for 3 to 5 minutes.1 package Devil's Food Cake mix, 4 eggs, 1 cup sour cream, 1 cup Kahlua, ¾ cup oil
- Pour into prepared Bundt pan. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes until a skewer or toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean (just a few clinging crumbs is ok).
- Remove from the oven and allow the cake to cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Invert the cake carefully onto a rack to finish cooling.
- Once cake has fully cooled to room temperature, frost with Chocolate-Kahlua frosting (recipe below) or another frosting of your choice.
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
📖 Recipe
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Chocolate-Kahlua Frosting
Ingredients
- 12 TB (1½ stick) butter
- 4 oz (½ block) cream cheese
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 TB coffee liqueur Kahlua
- 1 TB heavy cream or milk
Instructions
- Place butter in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth.12 TB (1½ stick) butter
- Add cream cheese and continue to beat until fully incorporated and smooth.4 oz (½ block) cream cheese
- Add cocoa powder and beat to combine.⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- Add powdered sugar, no more than one cup at a time. Mix well and repeat until all sugar is mixed in.4 cups powdered sugar
- Add vanilla, 2 tablespoons Kahlua and 1 tablespoon heavy cream or milk.½ teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 TB coffee liqueur, 1 TB heavy cream or milk
- Beat until all liquid is fully incorporated and frosting is smooth and fluffy.
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
If you liked this Kahlua Chocolate Cake, you might want to try German Chocolate cake or some Toll House Brownies.
And if you need something to make with that bottle of Kahlua, a White Russian is the classic choice. For something even more decadent, try a Kahlua Mudslide.
elena
Already had a cake recipe so only used the frosting...and it is truly the best frosting I have ever had, bar none. I will be trying the cake recipe as well. Thank you so much, Sula, for such an incredible frosting! Happy Holidays-Elena
Sula
You're so welcome Elena! I always feel like a great frosting can elevate ANY cake!!
Marixi
I substituted sour cream with 3/4 C olive oil mayo and 1/4 chobani nonfat yogurt because I didn't have sour cream.
My instant chocolate pudding was expired so I used instant butterscotch. Also added about 3 T all purpose flour because my boxed cake mix was only 15.25 ounces.
Baked at 330° for 55 minutes. That was perfect.
I didn't have everything for the icing and I'm not a huge fan of frosting anyway so I made a glaze.
Made a glaze with:
1/4 C no sugar chocolate chips
2 T half and half
1 T butter
1/2 C confectioners sugar sifted
1/4 C Kahlua
Heated the half and half with chips for 30 secs in microwave. Stirred. Heated 30 more secs. Added butter. Stirred til melted. Added sugar. Stirred. Added Kahlua. Stirred and stirred vigorously.
Sula
Sounds yummy - I'll bet that butterscotch pudding was great with the chocolate. Thanks for sharing your tweaks!