Deep South Eggnog Cake

Ingredients

• 1.25 cups white sugar
• 0.5 cups butter , room temperature
• 3 large eggs , room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 0.25 teaspoons finely grated lemon peel
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup prepared eggnog
• 2 tablespoons bourbon whiskey

Instructions

1. 1

   To make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.

2. 2

   Beat 1 ¼ cups sugar and 1/2 cup butter with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1/4 teaspoon lemon peel.

3. 3

   Combine 2 cups flour, baking powder, and 1 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Pour flour mixture into the batter alternately with 1 cup eggnog, mixing until just incorporated. Stir in bourbon. Divide batter evenly between prepared pans.

4. 4

   Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of both cakes comes out clean, about 30 to 35 minutes. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before inverting on a wire rack to cool completely.

5. 5

   To make the frosting; Combine 1/4 cup flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a saucepan. Gradually whisk in 1 ½ cups eggnog until smooth.

6. 6

   Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. When mixture boils, cook for 2 minutes, whisking constantly, until thickened. Remove from heat and let cool completely to room temperature.

7. 7

   Beat 1 ½ cups sugar and 1 cup butter in a bowl until lighter in color and fluffy. Mix in cooled eggnog mixture, 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract, rum extract, and 1/8 teaspoon grated lemon peel. Beat on high speed until frosting is fluffy.

8. 8

   Spread frosting onto the cooled cake layers. Stack layers; frost top and sides. Coat the sides with toasted pecans by pressing the nuts onto the sides in small handfuls. Refrigerate until ready to serve.