Quick Coffee Chocolate Cake Recipe: A Divine Treat for Your Senses

Brewing a decadent coffee chocolate cake sends waves of irresistible aroma through kitchens everywhere.

Cocoa and espresso combine in a magical dance of rich flavors that promise pure indulgence.

Chocolate lovers will swoon over this intensely satisfying dessert that marries deep coffee notes with velvety sweetness.

Layers of moist cake promise a delightful experience that feels both sophisticated and comforting.

Hints of robust espresso weave through each delectable bite, creating a symphony of taste sensations.

Each slice promises a moment of pure culinary bliss that beckons you to savor every crumb.

You simply cannot resist diving into this irresistible treat that elevates dessert to an art form.

Steps to Craft a Rich Coffee Chocolate Cake

Step 1: Prepare Baking Station

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grab two 9-inch round cake pans. Coat inner surfaces with cooking spray or butter. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper.

Step 2: Create Dry Mixture

• All-purpose flour
• Cocoa powder
• Granulated sugar
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Salt

Whisk ingredients together until well blended.

Step 3: Incorporate Liquid Components

• Vegetable oil
• Eggs
• Buttermilk
• Vanilla extract

Mix until ingredients are smoothly integrated.

Step 4: Infuse Coffee Flavor

Pour hot brewed coffee into batter. Stir gently until liquid is completely absorbed. Batter will appear thin – this is perfectly normal.

Step 5: Bake Cake Layers

Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Place in preheated oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Check doneness by inserting toothpick – it should come out clean.

Step 6: Cool Cake Layers

Remove from oven. Let cakes rest in pans for 10 minutes. Transfer to wire cooling rack. Allow to reach room temperature completely.

Step 7: Prepare Frosting Base

In clean mixing bowl, cream butter until smooth and fluffy.

Step 8: Build Frosting Texture

• Powdered sugar
• Cocoa powder
• Pinch of salt

Step 9: Finalize Frosting

Add cooled coffee and vanilla extract. Beat until mixture becomes light and spreadable.

Step 10: Assemble Cake

Place first cake layer on serving plate. Spread generous layer of frosting. Position second cake layer on top.

Step 11: Complete Frosting

Cover entire cake with remaining frosting. Smooth surfaces with offset spatula.

Step 12: Garnish Beautifully

• Chocolate shavings
• Crushed espresso beans
• Cocoa powder dusting

Slice and serve immediately.

Tips for Balancing Coffee and Chocolate Flavors

• Brew Perfect Coffee Impact: Use freshly brewed hot coffee at peak temperature to enhance cake's rich chocolate flavor and create a deeper, more intense taste profile.
• Prevent Dry Cake: Avoid overbaking by checking cake doneness around 30 minutes and removing from oven when toothpick has just a few moist crumbs for maximum moisture retention.
• Smooth Frosting Technique: Ensure butter and coffee are completely cooled before mixing frosting to prevent separation and achieve a silky, consistent texture.
• Customize Flavor Boost: Experiment with different coffee varieties like espresso or dark roast to add unique depth and complexity to the cake's overall taste experience.
• Storage Smart Move: Keep cake covered at room temperature for 3-4 days or refrigerate for up to a week, bringing to room temperature before serving to maintain optimal texture and flavor.

Best Way to Store Coffee Chocolate Cake

• Store leftover cake in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for up to 5 days to maintain freshness and prevent drying.
• Wrap cake slices in plastic wrap or aluminum foil before placing in the container to seal in moisture and prevent absorption of other food odors.
• Allow refrigerated cake to sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before serving to restore its soft, tender texture and enhance flavor.
• Warm individual slices in the microwave for 10-15 seconds on low power, checking to avoid overheating and maintaining the cake's delicate crumb.

What to Sip or Serve with Coffee Chocolate Cake

• Flavor Pairings
• Serve cake alongside a smooth, medium-roast espresso that echoes the cake's deep coffee undertones and complements its rich chocolate profile.
• Add a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream to balance the cake's intense flavors, creating a delightful temperature and texture contrast that softens the dessert's robust character.
• Garnish with candied pecans or almonds, which provide a delightful textural crunch and nutty warmth that beautifully enhances the coffee and chocolate notes.
• Pair with a small glass of Kahlúa or Bailey's Irish Cream, amplifying the coffee essence and adding a sophisticated adult twist to the dessert experience.

Ideas for Changing Up Coffee Chocolate Cake

• Vegan Coffee Chocolate Cake: Replace eggs with flax eggs, use plant-based milk instead of buttermilk, and swap butter for vegan margarine in frosting. Select dairy-free chocolate for complete vegan transformation.
• Gluten-Free Coffee Chocolate Cake: Substitute wheat flour with almond flour or gluten-free baking blend. Ensure all ingredients, including cocoa powder, are certified gluten-free for safe preparation.
• Low-Sugar Coffee Chocolate Cake: Use stevia or monk fruit sweetener instead of sugar. Replace regular chocolate with sugar-free dark chocolate chips. Reduce overall sweetness while maintaining rich coffee flavor.
• Mocha Hazelnut Variation: Add ground hazelnuts to cake batter. Mix hazelnut liqueur into coffee component. Top frosting with crushed toasted hazelnuts for extra crunch and nutty complexity.

Coffee Chocolate Cake Questions Answered

• Why use hot coffee in the cake batter?

Hot coffee enhances the chocolate flavor, making it richer and more intense. It also helps activate the cocoa powder, creating a deeper, more complex taste profile.

• Can I substitute buttermilk if I don't have it?

Yes, you can make a quick buttermilk substitute by mixing 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice with 1 cup of milk. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using.

• How do I know if the cake is fully baked?

Insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs, the cake is done. Avoid overbaking to keep the cake moist.

• What type of coffee works best for this recipe?

Freshly brewed, strong coffee works best. Espresso or dark roast coffee will provide the most robust flavor, but any brewed coffee will work well.

Coffee Chocolate Cake with Deep, Bold Flavor

• Infuse deep, rich coffee essence throughout the cake, creating an intense and complex taste experience for coffee lovers.
• Whip up this cake effortlessly with straightforward mixing techniques and basic ingredients, perfect for bakers of all skill levels.
• Delight guests with a decadent chocolate cake that combines the beloved flavors of coffee and chocolate, making it ideal for gatherings, birthdays, and special occasions.
• Customize the cake's appearance with chocolate shavings, espresso beans, or cocoa powder dusting, allowing for creative and elegant presentation styles.

What You’ll Need to Make Coffee Chocolate Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: Essential base for cake structure and texture, subtle neutral flavor.
• Cocoa Powder: Deep chocolate flavor with rich dark color, provides intense chocolate profile.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens cake and helps create tender crumb and golden brown exterior.
• Baking Soda, Baking Powder: Chemical leavening agents that help cake rise and become fluffy.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.

• Vegetable Oil: Keeps cake moist and tender, creates soft texture.
• Eggs: Provides structure, richness, and helps bind ingredients together.
• Buttermilk: Adds tanginess, moisture, and helps activate baking soda.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm background flavor and enhances chocolate notes.
• Hot Coffee: Intensifies chocolate flavor and creates deeper, richer cake texture.

• Unsalted Butter: Creamy base for frosting, provides rich and smooth consistency.
• Powdered Sugar: Creates smooth, spreadable frosting with sweet flavor.
• Cocoa Powder: Adds chocolate depth to frosting.
• Cooled Coffee: Enhances chocolate flavor in frosting.
• Vanilla Extract: Rounds out frosting flavor profile.

Coffee Chocolate Cake Recipe

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4.5 from 18 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Rich coffee chocolate cake blends deep espresso notes with velvety chocolate for an irresistible dessert experience. Indulgent layers of moist cake promise pure bliss with each delectable bite you’ll savor.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cake Base:

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 ¾ cups (220 grams) all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup (75 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt

Liquid Ingredients:

• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) buttermilk (or 1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon vinegar, let sit for 5 minutes)
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) hot brewed coffee (strong)
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Frosting and Decoration:

• 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 ½ cups (300 grams) powdered sugar
• ½ cup (50 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) strong brewed coffee, cooled
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• Chocolate shavings or curls
• Espresso beans
• Cocoa powder for dusting

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Instructions

1. Prepare the baking environment by heating the oven to 350F (175C) and lining two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper, ensuring even coating with grease.
2. Combine all dry ingredients in a spacious mixing bowl, thoroughly whisking flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until uniformly blended.
3. Incorporate wet ingredients into the dry mixture, blending oil, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract until a smooth consistency is achieved.
4. Gently stream hot coffee into the batter, stirring continuously to create a fluid mixture that appears slightly thin.
5. Evenly distribute the batter between prepared cake pans, ensuring balanced filling.
6. Position pans in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick that should emerge clean when inserted.
7. Allow cakes to rest in their pans for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack for complete temperature reduction.
8. Create frosting by whipping butter until achieving a creamy, light texture.
9. Gradually fold powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and salt into the butter, mixing thoroughly to eliminate lumps.
10. Introduce cooled coffee and vanilla extract to the frosting, beating until achieving a smooth, airy consistency.
11. Assemble the cake by placing the first layer on a serving plate, spreading a generous frosting layer.
12. Carefully position the second cake layer atop the frosted base.
13. Completely enrobe the entire cake with remaining frosting, creating an even, appealing surface.
14. Embellish the cake with delicate chocolate shavings, scattered espresso beans, or a gentle dusting of cocoa powder.

Notes

• Enhance coffee flavor by using espresso powder instead of regular coffee for a more intense taste profile.
• Swap buttermilk with dairy-free alternatives like almond milk mixed with apple cider vinegar for vegan options.
• Ensure ingredients are at room temperature to create a smoother, more uniform cake batter that bakes evenly.
• Reduce sugar content by substituting part of the sugar with unsweetened applesauce or mashed bananas for a healthier version.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Drinks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 210
• Sugar: 22 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 9 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 15 mg