Chocolate-Praline Bundt Cake + Cajun Fun on the Bayou

Here's a Cajun delight that I love to make for special occasions or when I'm having guests. When I was invited to a wedding shower recently and asked to bring a dessert, I knew exactly what I wanted to bring. This rich, delectable cake is out of this world and will have you going back for more and is even more decadent when you add a little bourbon! Cheers! Bon appetit!

Chocolate-Praline Bundt Cake

2 sticks butter

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

1 cup water

1/8 cup bourbon (optional)

1/2 cup buttermilk

2 eggs

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. vanilla or almond extract

2 cups sugar

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp. salt

Spray a bundt  pan with Baker's Joy, baking spray. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On low heat, cook the first three ingredients in a saucepan, stirring constantly, until butter melts and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

In large bowl, beat buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, and extract, with an electric mixer, until smooth. Add butter mixture to buttermilk mixture, beating until well blended. In small bowl, combine the remaining dry ingredients and add to the bowl, beating until well blended.

Pour into prepared bundt cake pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely on wire rack and invert on cake plate, before frosting. (recipe below)

Praline Frosting

1/4 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup whipping cream

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup chopped pecans

Bring first three ingredients to a boil in a 2 quart saucepan and boil for 1 minute, stirring often. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla extract and powdered sugar until smooth. Stir in pecans and stir gently for about 3 minutes or until frosting begins to cool and thicken. Frost immediately because it will harden quickly. And yes, you will want to lick the spoon! Cest bon, cher!

I'll be sharing this cake at  Sweet Treats Thursday, It's a Hodgepodge Friday, Friday Potluck,  Sweets for a Saturday, Saturday Nite Special,  Sunday Showcase, A Themed Baker's Sunday, and Savory Sundays. Join in the fun!

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Cajun Fun on the Bayou

We had an absolute blast at the Spring Finale' of Rhythm's on the River in River Ranch on Thursday evening. An enormous crowd gathered to see the fabulous Marcia Ball and her talented band.

The honky tonk sounds of this fantastic band filled the Town Square and they were really jammin'up a storm. Marcia plays a mean keyboard and her soulful brand of Louisiana boogie is the best!

It was a warm and sultry evening and the drink booths were hoppin' and the wine was flowing. After all, it has been a very stressful week in Cajun country and it was almost the weekend.

Many were coming straight from work and decided to indulge in a nice dinner while relaxing with friends on the patio at the City Club. Others opted for the Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya at the Rouse's Market booth. Yum!

Then of course, there was plenty of dancing to work that dinner off and to relieve the stress of the work week. Cajuns consider dancing a good form of therapy and love every minute of it!

I took quite a few clips, that I will be sharing with ya'll, but here is my fave. My friend, Tom, was cutting the rug and really twirling that lucky girl around. This one's for you, cher!

Hope ya'll have a wonderful weekend, filled with fun! Merci beaucoup for stopping by!