This Cake Is So Amazing I'm Giving It To My Dad For Father’s Day

A cake so good that no gift is required.

My everyday baking is usually limited to cookies and the occasional batch of muffins or cupcakes. But holidays call for cake. And for people who are incredibly tough to shop for, my go-to gift is a homemade layer cake in a flavor I know the recipient will love. Don't get me wrong, opening gift wrap is great and all, but there's nothing better than sinking your fork into a generous slice of homemade cake.

This Father's Day, I’m surprising my dad with something extra special — after all, he's the guy who checks my tire pressure, "helps make" my son's Boy Scout derby car year after year, and has passed along a life-long appreciation for bird watching. He's the very best. And the best dad deserves one thing only: Bourbon-Chocolate Cake With Browned Buttercream Frosting.

Bourbon. Chocolate. Browned Buttercream. It doesn't get much more decadent than that combination. And yet, somehow the cake tastes even better than it sounds, especially the frosting. As one reviewer said: "Oh my God, so good. I could just eat the frosting like fudge." And then another said: "We swooned over the decadent frosting and already have about six different plans to use it with other things — and just rolling in it hasn't been ruled out, lol."

If that's not an endorsement, I don't know what is.

If you’re new to making layer cakes, this recipe is a great one to try. The cake batter comes together in a single bowl (no mixer required!) and the frosting is also a cinch to make. To ensure that the cake layers don't stick to the inside of the pans, coat each one with baking spray, then add parchment paper, then coat with another layer of baking spray. This might seem time-consuming, but this cake is worth that little bit of extra effort. Trust us.

Although the recipe calls for a piping bag with a star tip, don't worry if you don't have one. Transfer the frosting to a large ziplock bag, and snip one of the corners off. You won't get that fancy piped effect, but you’ll still get a beautifully frosted cake that's better than anything you could buy.