Southern Hangover Cake

This is our Southern take on the Italian hangover cake; ours is made super Southern with our use of bourbon and a glaze that’s flavored like lemony sweet tea thanks to limoncello. It's a hair-of-the-dog sort of cake, as the alcohol burn is quite present (as it should be; we don't want to cook off the alcohol).

The cake itself is wonderfully moist, plush, velvety, tender, and soft. When you cut into the cake, you'll see parts where the interior has darkened from the glaze seeping in. The butter in the glaze tends to make the tea bags less porous, so you'll need to press the bags occasionally to release more tea into the glaze.

What Is A Southern Hangover Cake?

If we know of one way to soothe a hangover, it's with a Southern hangover cake. This boozy confection can be just the remedy you need, although even if it doesn't work, it's still a delicious way to get through the day.

This cake is rich, moist, and decadent, with a generous dose of Southern bourbon in the mix, along with a tea-infused glaze that brings and earthy balance to each slice of this plush treat. You don't need to have a hangover to enjoy this cake. It's a comforting, indulgent treat to enjoy year-round, at brunch, celebrations, or as an afternoon sweet.

It's inspired by the Italian hangover cake, also known as Resca or Ressc—a rich and dense cake with a splash of grappa or rum meant to be enjoyed at celebratory occasions, or the morning after a celebratory night out.

Ingredients for Southern Hangover Cake

A moist, classic Bundt cake is given a boozy dose of bourbon and limoncello in this Southern cake recipe for an adults-only treat you'll want to make on repeat. To make a Southern hangover cake, you'll need:

For the cake:

• Baking spray with flour: Prevents the cake from sticking to the pan.
• Bourbon: Adds a deep, rich, caramel-like flavor and moisture to the cake.
• Canola oil: For a soft, tender crumb.
• Vanilla extract: Adds depth of flavor.
• Large eggs: Binds the batter.
• Cake flour: Gives the cake structure, with a light, tender crumb thanks to cake flour's low protein content.
• Granulated sugar: Sweetens the cake.
• Dark brown sugar: Sweetens and adds a subtle complexity to the cake with notes of molasses. You can also use light brown sugar if that's what you have on hand.
• Baking powder: A leavening agent to give the cake its rise.
• Table salt: Enhances the overall flavor.
• Unsalted butter: Adds richness and a buttery flavor to the cake.

For the glaze:

• Unsalted butter: Adds richness to the glaze.
• Water: Helps dissolve the sugar and gives the glaze the right consistency to soak the cake.
• Granulated sugar: Sweetens the glaze.
• Bourbon: Adds a boozy kick and depth to the glaze.
• Limoncello: For a bright, citrusy addition that adds to the boozy nature of the glaze.
• Table salt: Enhances and balances the flavor of the glaze.
• Family-size tea bags: Infuses the glaze with a subtle, earthy flavor, adding complexity. The type of tea is up to you—opt for Earl Grey, chai, or green tea for a unique result.

How To Make Southern Hangover Cake

This cake is pretty easy to whip up, but it can also be made in advance, giving the flavors time to meld and deepen as it sits. Full instructions are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started:

• Step 1. Preheat oven and spray to coat Bundt pan.
• Step 2. Combine liquid ingredients.
• Step 3. Cream the butter into a mixture of flour, sugars, baking powder, and salt.
• Step 4. Add about one-third of egg mixture. Repeat twice, then beat until creamy and thick.
• Step 5. Add batter to pan.
• Step 6. Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Step 7. Make cake glaze.
• Step 8. Poke holes in cake, and add glaze.
• Step 9. Invert cake onto a wire rack set over a platter. Poke holes all over and brush remaining glaze over top and sides. Transfer cake to the platter to soak up any excess glaze.

Southern Hangover Cake Variations

To change up this hangover cake, consider these ingredient additions and substitutions:

• Bourbon: Depending on what you like, you can substitute the bourbon with rum, brandy, whiskey, or other types of alcohol as preferred.
• Extract: Swap the vanilla with almond, coconut, orange, or other types of extracts as desired.
• Cake flour: If you don't have cake flour on hand, measure out all-purpose flour, replacing 2 tablespoons per cup with cornstarch for a similar texture.
• Limoncello: Substitute with lemon juice and zest with simple syrup, lemonade, or another type of citrus liqueur, like Triple Sec or Cointreau.
• Spice: Add a hint of spice to the cake, including cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice.
• Nuts: Fold in chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds for a nutty crunch.
• Mix-ins: Add chocolate chips, shredded coconut, or dried, fresh, or frozen fruits into the batter before baking for a unique twist.
• Glaze: Swap the limoncello and tea with espresso or coffee liqueur, or add maple in the place of the sugar for a maple-bourbon twist.

Our Tips for the Best Southern Hangover Cake

While this dessert is pretty easy to pull together (even after a big night out), keep these tips in mind for the best Southern hangover cake:

• Coat the pan: Using a baking spray with flour will help your cake easily release from the pan, but if you're working with a Bundt pan that tends to stick, you can also use cake goop for a guaranteed easy release.
• Quality bourbon: Since you'll really taste the bourbon in this cake, it pays to use a variety you'd be happy to sip on.
• Room temperature: Bring the eggs and butter to room temperature before using for a smooth batter.
• Don't overmix: Avoid overmixing the cake batter, which could cause a dense or rubbery result.
• Check for doneness: When a toothpick inserted comes out clean (or even with a few moist crumbs), take your cake out to keep it moist.
• Soak while hot: Soak the cake as soon as it comes out of the oven so it soaks up every drop of the glaze.
• Cool completely: While it's tempting to cut right in, let the cake cool completely before slicing for best results.

How To Store Southern Hangover Cake

Store this cake covered or well-wrapped at room temperature for up to four days. It can also be frozen, ideally in individually-wrapped slices for quick thawing, for up to two months. Bring to room temperature before serving.

What To Serve With Southern Hangover Cake

A slice of this cake can be the ultimate indulgence in the morning with a cup of coffee, but it can also work nicely as a boozy dessert. Serve this cake with a dollop of whipped cream or scoop of ice cream to cut through the alcohol-heavy flavor, or pair with fresh berries, roasted or grilled fruits, fruit compote, a drizzle of lemon curd, or other toppings as desired.

More Boozy Dessert Recipes You'll Love

Add a fun kick to your next event by serving any of these spirited, crowd-pleasing desserts:

• Rum Balls
• Rum Cake
• Peach-Bourbon Upside-Down Bundt Cake
• Kentucky Bourbon Pie
• Margarita Balls
• Bushwacker Pie