Go Back
–+ servings
Espresso Cake copy

Chocolate Espresso Cake

This coffee birthday cake is the ultimate gift for your loved ones! It's all about the intense chocolate flavor with a hint of coffee goodness, all wrapped up in a moist, tender crumb.
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin
Course: Cake
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 14
Calories: 545kcal
Author: Brenda Maher

Ingredients

Cake

  • 2 cups spooned and leveled all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup white/granulated sugar
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup brewed coffee or espresso

Chocolate Buttercream

  • ¾ cup softened, unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 4 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • ½ cup milk
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Set the oven temp at 350°F (177°C). Mix the flour, baking soda, and cocoa powder in a large bowl and set it aside.

Cake

  • Grab a bigger bowl and cream the sugars and butter together until combined. Then, mix in 3 eggs and a dash of vanilla until blended in.
  • Slowly add the bowl of dry stuff (Step 1) to the buttery mixture from Step 2. Scrape the bowl's bottom and sides to catch any stray bits.
  • Pour in freshly brewed coffee or espresso and mix it well until blended with the cake batter.
  • Grab two 8-inch cake pans, lightly spray them with cooking spray, and evenly divide your batter between them. Gently tap the pans on the kitchen counter to settle any air bubbles.
  • Pop those pans in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes till the cake bounces back when you poke it. Once it's done, let it chill on a wire rack before moving on to the frosting.

Frosting

  • Beat the butter, sugar, milk, cocoa powder, and vanilla until smooth in a large bowl or with an electric mixer.

Assembly

  • Place one of your cake layers on a turntable or cake stand and slather on about ¾ cup of frosting. Pop another cake layer on top, then cover the whole thing with frosting until it's beautifully coated.
  • (Optional) Sprinkle some chopped chocolate chunks or chocolate-coated espresso beans on top. Enjoy this delicious cake!

Notes

  1. Brewed coffee is best for this recipe. But for the most concentrated coffee flavor, you should use espresso powder. 
  2. Take chopped dried fruits (like cherries or raisins) and soak them in a shot of espresso for 15-20 minutes. This plumps them up and infuses them with even more coffee flavor. Fold them into the batter before baking.
  3. All the ingredients, especially the eggs and butter, should be at room temperature. That ensures even creaming and a smooth batter, resulting in a better final texture.
  4. A rich chocolate ganache poured over the top of the cake is a classic and elegant way to finish it off. You should go for dark chocolate ganache to boost the coffee undertones.

Nutrition

Calories: 545kcal | Carbohydrates: 81g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 145mg | Potassium: 210mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 61g | Vitamin A: 775IU | Vitamin C: 45mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 3mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @cakegirls or tag #cakegirls!