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.
Ingredients
Scale
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
Instructions
- 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.
- Combine all dry ingredients in a spacious mixing bowl, thoroughly whisking flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until uniformly blended.
- Incorporate wet ingredients into the dry mixture, blending oil, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract until a smooth consistency is achieved.
- Gently stream hot coffee into the batter, stirring continuously to create a fluid mixture that appears slightly thin.
- Evenly distribute the batter between prepared cake pans, ensuring balanced filling.
- Position pans in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick that should emerge clean when inserted.
- Allow cakes to rest in their pans for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack for complete temperature reduction.
- Create frosting by whipping butter until achieving a creamy, light texture.
- Gradually fold powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and salt into the butter, mixing thoroughly to eliminate lumps.
- Introduce cooled coffee and vanilla extract to the frosting, beating until achieving a smooth, airy consistency.
- Assemble the cake by placing the first layer on a serving plate, spreading a generous frosting layer.
- Carefully position the second cake layer atop the frosted base.
- Completely enrobe the entire cake with remaining frosting, creating an even, appealing surface.
- 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