Sweet Bourbon Desserts You’ll Want to Try

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Here in the American South, Bourbon has never met a dessert it didn’t make better—just ask Gooey Caramel Espresso Brownies, Pecan Pie Cream Puffs, or that dangerously good Salted Bourbon Apple Crumble Coffee Cake. From Chocolate Covered Bourbon Cherries to Bourbon Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls, these treats don’t just hint at booze—they embrace it. Whether you’re into Nonnie’s Kentucky Derby Pie, Bourbon Caramel Ice Cream, or a batch of Brown Butter Bourbon Pecan Cookies, one thing’s certain: these sweets are all grown-up!

Gooey Caramel Espresso Brownies

Brownies drizzled with caramel, arranged in a grid pattern.
Photo Credit: Ugly Duckling Bakery.

Gooey Caramel Espresso Brownies don’t mess around—espresso amps up the flavor while bourbon caramel swirls steal the spotlight in this ultra-rich treat.
Get the Recipe: Gooey Caramel Espresso Brownies

Unbelievable Butterscotch Pudding (Homemade)

Spoonful of homemade butterscotch pudding with salted caramel in glass cup
Photo credit: Sally’s Baking Recipes

This homemade butterscotch pudding is unbelievably delicious, combining the flavors of caramelized brown sugar and butter. This creamy stovetop pudding recipe is simple to make and can be customized with a splash of scotch, rum, or bourbon! Top with salted caramel, toffee bits, or whipped cream for an extra treat.
Get the Recipe: Unbelievable Butterscotch Pudding (Homemade)

Pecan Pie Brownie Bites

Pecan Pie Brownie Bites- A super-fudgy brownie topped with a bourbon pecan pie filling.  Perfect for a party!   #superbowl #dessert
Photo credit: Baking a Moment

These pecan pie brownie bites are the perfect finger food! Fudgy brownie bites are topped with an easy bourbon pecan pie topping. These are great for Superbowl snacking or any party!
Get the Recipe: Pecan Pie Brownie Bites

Cherry Strawberry Streusel Cake

overhead photo of Cherry Strawberry Streusel Cake with cake pieces cut and ice cream on cake
Photo credit: Half Baked Harvest

This Cherry Strawberry Streusel Cake is the perfect summer dessert. It’s easy to make, moist, light, and airy, and it looks as good as it tastes! Enjoy it any time of day!
Get the Recipe: Cherry Strawberry Streusel Cake

Bourbon Whipped Cream

A glass jar filled with swirled, whipped cream, a checkered cloth, and a wooden spoon.
Photo Credit: Aleka’s Get Together.

Bourbon Whipped Cream is what happens when dessert toppings decide to grow up—light, fluffy, and just boozy enough to raise eyebrows at the table.
Get the Recipe: Bourbon Whipped Cream

Gluten-Free Maple Bourbon Cake (Dairy-Free)

A close-up of a cake with cream-colored frosting topped with crumbled pieces and a slice missing, displaying its dense, moist texture. The blurred background shows glassware.
Photo Credit: Caked by Katie.

Gluten-Free Maple Bourbon Cake (Dairy-Free) proves that dietary restrictions don’t have to skip the party—bourbon and maple still bring the flavor fireworks.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-Free Maple Bourbon Cake (Dairy-Free)

Pecan Pie Cream Puffs

A cream-filled choux pastry topped with a pecan sits on a gray ceramic plate, accompanied by a yellow chrysanthemum flower and pecan halves.
Photo Credit: Live to Sweet.

Pecan Pie Cream Puffs take your holiday favorite and sneak it into a pastry shell—bourbon filling included, just to keep things interesting.
Get the Recipe: Pecan Pie Cream Puffs

Bourbon Caramel Ice Cream

Scoops of caramel-colored ice cream in a white bowl with a glass of whiskey in the background.
Photo Credit: Cupcake Savvy’s Kitchen.

Bourbon Caramel Ice Cream is cool, creamy, and secretly a little wild—just one scoop in and that bourbon-caramel combo means business.
Get the Recipe: Bourbon Caramel Ice Cream

Brown Sugar Bourbon Cake Glaze Icing Recipe

A cast iron skillet filled with cinnamon rolls being topped with icing, with a bag of flour in the background.
Photo Credit: Couple in the Kitchen.

Brown Sugar Bourbon Cake Glaze Icing Recipe is the finishing move your cakes have been begging for—sweet, boozy, and dangerously easy to drizzle.
Get the Recipe: Brown Sugar Bourbon Cake Glaze Icing Recipe

Nonnie’s Kentucky Derby Pie

Nonnie's Kentucky Derby Pie | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest
Photo credit: Half Baked Harvest

This Kentucky Derby Pie is a family favorite that’s simple to make and loved by all. It features a rich, buttery filling with chocolate chips and pecans, all baked in a flaky pie crust. It’s the perfect dessert for any occasion, especially a Kentucky Derby party!
Get the Recipe: Nonnie’s Kentucky Derby Pie

Peach Cobbler Pound Cake with Bourbon Glaze

Bundt cake with white icing, garnished with peach slices, on a white plate with a serving knife beside it.
Photo Credit: Live to Sweet.

Peach Cobbler Pound Cake with Bourbon Glaze is summer comfort cake at its finest—juicy peach flavor meets a buttery glaze with a splash of bourbon swagger.
Get the Recipe: Peach Cobbler Pound Cake with Bourbon Glaze

Chocolate Covered Bourbon Cherries

Chocolate-covered cherries with decorative toothpicks on a white plate.
Photo Credit: Quiche My Grits.

Chocolate Covered Bourbon Cherries are bite-sized bombs of bold flavor—juicy, spiked, and cloaked in dark chocolate for grown-up snacking.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Covered Bourbon Cherries

Brown Butter Bourbon Pecan Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Brown Butter Bourbon Pecan Chocolate Chunk Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com
Photo credit: Half Baked Harvest

These Brown Butter Bourbon Pecan Chocolate Chunk Cookies are the perfect combination of gooey, warm, and delicious! The crinkled edges add a delightful texture to every bite. These cookies are quick and easy to make, making them perfect for any occasion.
Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Bourbon Pecan Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Hibiscus Cherry and Ginger Beer Ice Cream Floats

Hibiscus Cherry and Ginger Beer Ice Cream Floats | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest
Photo credit: Half Baked Harvest

These Hibiscus Cherry and Ginger Beer Ice Cream Floats are a fun and festive treat. The combination of hibiscus, cherries, and ginger beer is perfect for summer celebrations, especially the 4th of July! Plus, it’s a vegan and gluten-free dessert that everyone can enjoy.
Get the Recipe: Hibiscus Cherry and Ginger Beer Ice Cream Floats

Bourbon Poached Peaches

A metal plate with two whole glazed peaches, one half peach topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and a mint leaf garnish.
Photo Credit: Culinary Ginger.

Bourbon Poached Peaches are elegant without trying too hard—tender, boozy, and made for showing off atop ice cream or shortcakes.
Get the Recipe: Bourbon Poached Peaches

Baked Pumpkin Donuts

A stack of three iced pumpkin doughnuts with a bite taken out of the top doughnut, placed on a white background.
Photo Credit: Waiting for Blancmange.

Baked Pumpkin Donuts get a warm, bourbon-kissed upgrade—spiced just right and perfect for mornings with coffee (or a flask).
Get the Recipe: Baked Pumpkin Donuts

Bourbon Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon rolls with creamy icing and crispy bacon pieces.
Photo Credit: Cambrea Bakes.

Bourbon Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls hit every craving—salty bacon, sticky maple, and a splash of bourbon baked into a breakfast you won’t soon forget.
Get the Recipe: Bourbon Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls

Salted Bourbon Apple Crumble Coffee Cake

Salted Bourbon Apple Crumble Coffee Cake | halfbakedharvest.com
Photo credit: Half Baked Harvest

This Salted Bourbon Apple Crumble Coffee Cake is the perfect fall treat! It’s easy to make and packed with sweet apple flavor. The bourbon adds a little kick, and the crumble topping is the perfect finishing touch.
Get the Recipe: Salted Bourbon Apple Crumble Coffee Cake

Whisky Soaked Chocolate Bundt Cake

A chocolate bundt cake with a glossy layer of chocolate ganache.
Photo Credit: Cinnamon&Coriander.

Whisky Soaked Chocolate Bundt Cake by Cinnamon&Coriander is what happens when your dessert takes a shot before baking—dark, rich, and laced with deep bourbon whiskey flavor.
Get the Recipe: Whisky Soaked Chocolate Bundt Cake

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About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

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2 Comments

  1. Hi, Jenny, very little cooking going on in my kitchen in the last 9 months, but this page – well, THIS PAGE YUM! Thank you for putting something like this together. It looks tasty and fun and well, worth trying to take a stab at some of them. Feels like my crockpot is probably going to get a go next week (after Mardi Gras week)!

    1. Nikki…bourbon…let’s break your 9-month hiatus! Between this ingredient and your slow cooker, I think you’ll manage – I’ll keep my eyes peeled for the good recipes to send your way! x – Jenny