Deep South Eggnog Cake

This festive eggnog cake will be a welcome addition to any holiday party menu.

Eggnog Cake Ingredients

These are the ingredients you'll need to make this delicious and crowd-pleasing eggnog cake recipe:

· Sugar: You’ll need 2 ¾ cups of white sugar (1 ¼ for the cake, 1 ½ for the frosting).· Butter: This eggnog cake starts with butter creamed with sugar. You’ll also need two sticks of butter for the icing.· Eggs: Eggs add moisture and act as a binder, which means they help hold the batter together.· Extracts: Vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor of the cake and the icing. Rum-flavored extract, meanwhile, lends a bit of booziness to the frosting.· Lemon peel: Grated lemon peel adds brightness and fresh flavor.· Flour: Opt for all-purpose flour for this eggnog cake recipe.· Baking powder: Baking powder acts as a leavener, which means it helps the cake rise.· Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the flavors of the other ingredients, but it won’t make it taste salty.· Eggnog: Use store-bought eggnog or make your own eggnog at home.· Bourbon: Spike the eggnog cake batter with two tablespoons of bourbon whiskey.· Pecans: Pecans are optional, but they add nutty flavor and welcome crunch.

How to Make Eggnog Cake

You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make this top-rated eggnog cake:

1. Make the batter: Beat the sugar and butter. Add the eggs, vanilla, and lemon peel. Mix the dry ingredients in a separate bowl, then slowly add the dry mixture to the wet mixture.2. Bake the cake: Divide the batter evenly between two prepared cake pans. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.3. Make the frosting: Combine flour and salt in a saucepan. Whisk in the eggnog and bring to a boil. Let cool. Beat in the remaining ingredients until the frosting is light and fluffy.4. Frost the cake: Spread the frosting over the cooled cake. Coat with pecans, if desired.

How to Store Eggnog Cake

Cover the cake or place it in an airtight cake carrier. Store it in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Cookdap Community Tips and Praise

"A dash of ground nutmeg (freshly ground is best) in the frosting and ¼ tsp. in the cake underscores the eggnog flavor," says Baricat. "Because it is so moist, it's a great keeper and freezes perfectly."

"The frosting is really the star here, but the cake is delicious too," according to LESLEYJAN. "I used homemade eggnog and the taste really comes through."

"This cake was delicious and I loved the icing," raves svanderdys. "I didn't have bourbon so I used Bailey's and it was tasty. Everyone loved it!"