Kentucky Derby

Anyway, no mother of mine was going to the work potluck with a plastic tray of cookies from the Kroger down the road. And because my mom needed something she could transport to work, ice cream and popsicles were clearly off the table fitness.

I mulled over Mint Julep Cupcakes for a little while, but I really didn’t want to use extract for flavoring and I have so far been unsuccessful in creating a real mint frosting that I’m proud of (one of my many Try-Try-Again projects). Plus, transporting cupcakes is a pain in the butt and the frosting usually looks all bajankity by the time you get to where you’re going unless you have a couple of those cupcake carriers. And what am I, the prince of a small island nation? Who has the money for that?

I did a search for “bourbon cake” which reminded me of the Kentucky Bourbon Cake from the Vintage Cakes book I’ve owned for a while now. I fuhreaking love that book. It’s obscenely gorgeous. I pined for the Heritage Bundt pan for months because of that specific cake alexander hera.

I decided to infuse the bourbon with fresh mint leaves, and also the butter for the glaze, and crossed my fingers that the flavor would be strong enough without adding extract. You need to start a day or two in advance to fully let the mint flavor get all up in the bourbon. Luckily for you, you have quite a few days before the Kentucky Derby, which means you have absolutely no excuse to not make this cake in time for large-hat-wearing and watching horses and guys in colorful jackets run around a track.

Because halle-freaking-lujah, this cake. I sliced myself off a sliver so paper-thin not even the most persnickety accountant would notice it was missing. And then I lost my shit over how amazing it is. Natural mint flavor in a buttery, boozy, moist cake. Dead. I texted my mom and said it’s a damn good thing I love her because I wanted to eat the whole thing myself. I mean, what have her coworkers ever done for me, anyway designer bags for less?