Louie's Derby Cake

When we were watching the pre-race show for the Kentucky Derby, my mom mentioned that when they were visiting my brother he had ordered this cake for them. It's Mert's Louie's Derby Cake. It sounded so good the way she described it I decided I wanted to make it. I googled it and I found out it was featured on Food Network on the Deen brother's show (Paula Deen's boys). No recipe but I found a description of how it was made. Click here for the website to order the cakes. I think I've got it pretty close. It's a moist butter praline cake with chocolate and fine Kentucky bourbon. It's also best if it's covered and sits overnight.

I forgot to get a picture of it before we cut into it.......so here's one after we cut into it.


Grease and flour an 8 inch springform pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
PRALINE
3/4 c. coarsely chopped pecans
1/4 c. butter
1/8 c. heavy whipping cream
1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar

Sprinkle pecans into bottom of prepped pan. Heat butter, cream, and brown sugar in sauce pan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until boiling. Turn heat down but continue to boil for about 5 minutes. Pour over pecans.

CAKE
3/4 c. butter
1 3/4 sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
2 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 1/4 c. milk
1 oz Kentucky Bourbon

In large mixer bowl, mix butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until fluffy. Beat 5 minutes on high, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally. On low speed mix in flour, baking powder, and salt alternating with milk. Pour into pan. Bake for 60-70 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Place plate over top of pan, flip cake over onto plate. Remove sides of pan. Place parchment paper over another plate, place on top of cake and flip cake over again so the praline side is down. Pour bourbon over cake and let it soak in. Turn cake back over onto cake plate so praline side is up.

1/2 cup milk chocolate or semi sweet chocolate morsels (can also use dark chocolate if preferred)
Melt and drizzle lightly over praline.

Cake tastes better if it's allowed to sit for several hours to a day (less bourbon flavor).

Chocolate Mint Bars

These are so seriously awesome! A friend of my Mom's made them for her after she (Mom) had surgery. It was all I could do not to just pull up a fork and eat the whole pan, lol. You can use the brownie recipe included here or your favorite brownie mix but still only bake 28 minutes.

BROWNIE

1 C. margarine or butter

2 C. sugar

4 eggs

2 C flour

dash salt (1/8 tsp)

1 tsp vanilla

4 heaping Tbsp cocoa

Mix together and bake in a greased 9 X13 pan in a 350 degree overn for 28 minutes. Let cool.

FROSTING

1 tsp milk

1/2 C margarine or butter

3 oz cream cheese

2 C powdered sugar

1 tsp. peppermint extract

couple drops green food coloring

Mix ingredients and spread on cooled brownies.

TOPPING

1 C. chocolate chips

6 Tbsp. margarine or butter

Melt chips and margarine/butter and pour over green layer.

Keep bars refrigerated until serving.

ADDENDUM: I made these yesterday using Ghiardelli Double Chocolate Brownie Mix and they were not as good as the ones made with a Betty Crocker Brownie Mix!