- 10
Ingredients
- Batter:
- 1 1/2 cups finely chopped pecans
- 1 tablespoon plus 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup best Kentucky bourbon, or whiskey
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, warmed to room temperature
- 3 large egg yolks, warmed to room temperature
- Topping:
- 1 to 2 tablespoons confectioner's (powdered) sugar
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Prepare one 9 inch fluted tube pan; lightly grease the pan with shortening and dust with flour.
Batter:
In a small mixing bowl, combine the chopped pecans with 1 tablespoon flour. Sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of the pecans in the bottom of the prepared pan. Set rest of pecans aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine 2½ cups flour, baking powder, and salt; whisk together to mix. Set aside.
In a small cup, combine the bourbon and vanilla. Set aside.
In a large bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
With the mixer still on medium speed, slowly add the brown sugar and granulated sugar to the butter, either one tablespoon at a time, or in a very slow steady stream, taking from 4 to 8 minutes to add all of the sugar, and beating until the butter and sugar are fully incorporated and the mixture is a light, or pale yellow color, with a fluffy texture. While adding the sugar, stop the mixer occasionally to scrape the mixture off the paddle and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula so the mixture blends evenly.
Add eggs and egg yolks one at a time, beating until thoroughly mixed.
With the mixer on low speed, add about one third of the flour mixture, mix just until the flour is almost completely blended. Scrape the bowl down, and add about one half of the bourbon mixture, blending just until mixed. Scrape the bowl down again and continue alternating with the flour mixture and bourbon mixture, ending with the last portion of the flour, and stirring just until blended.
Using a large rubber spatula, gently fold floured pecans into the batter.
Bake:
Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the surface with the back of a large spoon. Bake 65 to 75 minutes or until a long toothpick, wooden skewer, or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Place pan on a wire cooling rack to cool for 10 to 15 minutes then remove cake from the pan and place the cake on the wire cooling rack to finish cooling.
Topping:
Before serving, use a fine-mesh sieve to dust the top of cake with confectioner’s sugar.