This Kahlua Cake is an easy, delicious doctored-up cake mix recipe- made in a bundt pan.
I was born on this day… a long time ago. Yep, it’s my birthday. And it’s a big one. I have some wonderful friends coming into town this weekend to help me celebrate. It’s nice to have friends. It’s nice to have GOOD FRIENDS. And it’s nice to have birthdays.
Some people get kind of freaked out about birthdays in the later years. I’m probably going to be one of those people. This big birthday hasn’t quite hit me yet. I’m sure it will. And then I’ll be freaked out… like those people.
I’m so caught up in “birthdays” that we haven’t even discussed the cake at hand today. It’s a super-easy-to-make Kahlua Cake. If you’re the sort of person who scoffs at cake mixes, then you may be disappointed with this recipe I’m sharing today. But if you like a short-cut now and then… and you don’t mind starting with a boxed mix… well then this cake might be for you.
I make plenty of homemade cakes, but I did grow up on boxed cake mixes… so I don’t mind using them once in a while. This cake has a generous dose of Kahlua added to it. That boozes things up a bit. If you’re a lover of Kahlua, I’d say this cake might please your taste-buds. A brief shower of powdered sugar coats the cake.
Commonly asked question: Can I leave out the Kahlua and use something else?
I’m just going to go ahead and say, “No” on that one. It’s a Kahlua cake. If you just want a chocolate cake, then you should just look for a recipe for chocolate cake. In fact, I have an Easy Chocolate Cake recipe for you to try. And my Chocolate Pound Cake is pretty delicious too.
Another commonly asked question: Can I make this cake homemade– without a cake mix?
I’m going to give you another, “No” on that one. If you’d like to make a totally homemade chocolate cake without any kind of cake mix involved, I have a couple recipes for you to try. My Chocolate Sheet Cake is wonderful and super easy to make. And Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake is a delicious layer cake that turns out perfect every time.
Since it’s my birthday and all, I must say that I’m pretty happy with this Kahlua Cake. Happy birthday to me- and to everyone else who has a birthday today!
Thank you to Miranda from the CookieDoughAndOvenMitt.com blog for shooting beautiful photos of this cake for me. I think Miranda captured how delicious it is!
Here are a few more recipes using Kahlua that you might enjoy:
- Kahlua Peppermint Patties
- Kahlua Brownies
- Tiramisu Italiano
- Kahlua Chocolate Cheesecake
- Kahlua Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies
Kahlua Cake
Recipe Details
Ingredients
- 1 15.25-ounce box chocolate cake mix
- 1 3-ounce box instant vanilla pudding
- 16 ounces sour cream
- 3/4 cup Kahlua
- 3/4 cup vegetable or canola oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour a bundt pan.
- Mix together the cake mix, pudding, sour cream, Kahlua, oil, and eggs. Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Pour into the prepared bundt pan, and bake 55 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let cool. Turn out onto a decorative plate and dust the top with powdered sugar.
I have been making this exact recipe for over 20 years and LOVE LOVE LOVE it. My only comment is that I have made adjustments to it by substituting the chocolate cake for yellow, the Kahlua for Grand Marnier, and the chocolate chips for either white chocolate chips or dark chocolate chunks. It’s just as delicious, just lighter and a different flavor profile. I’ve also thought about trying it with Chambord in place of the Kahlua – because, who doesn’t love chocolate and raspberry together? Hint: a little chocolate drizzle or ganache on top is a nice finishing touch to this cake, as well!
Can I substitute Irish cream for Kahlua?
Sure!
Forgot to add sour cream cake looks ok?
How did it turn out?
So moist and delicious!!! <3 this easy to make cake
Question: Is 16 oz. of sour cream correct. Seems like a lot…..
That’s correct!
Delicious cake, easy baking!
Can I make individual Bundt cakes, gifted a 6 Bundt cake pan. How long would you bake them?
I think that would probably work. I’d probably google a recipe for 6-inch bundt cakes and see what they recommend for bake time 🙂
Easy recipe and tasted great but my cake caved in while cooling. Should I have let it cook longer? Tooth pick came out clean.
Seems like it must have not been cooked through… that’s what usually happens when things are not quite set.