A moist and flavorful coffee flavored cake with a rich whipped mocha icing. It's the perfect way to have your coffee and eat it too!
One of my favorite recipes on the blog - and one of the most popular - is my recipe for coffee cupcakes with mocha buttercream. It is incredibly moist and tastes just like a cup of coffee in cake form. The frosting is so good that you want to ask it out on a date.
Or eat it by the spoonful. Whichever you are willing to admit to wanting.
What I am saying is... the cupcakes are incredible. I needed to have the cupcakes in my life again. But instead of just taking new photos (which I am planning on doing eventually), I decided to see if it would work as a layered coffee flavored cake. It does. It really, really does.
It bakes up beautifully and is so irresistibly moist. When you slather whipped mocha ganache between the layers, the cake tastes downright sumptuous. The whipped mocha icing is just the perfect addition to the cake.
It's chocolate with delicious rich coffee undertones. Trust me when I say you will want to eat the icing by the spoonful. I might have done that a couple of times myself.
I use real, caffeinated coffee in both the cake and frosting. You can always use decaf if you want to share this coffee flavored cake with kids. Let's be honest though, it would be gone way before those tiny hands could get at it.
Just sayin'.
Now that my daughter is in kindergarten, I am realizing that for the first time in... forever, I have my days completely to myself to do whatever I want. It is almost overwhelming. As I type this, I am at my second coffeehouse (can you believe that when I started this blog I wasn't that into coffee?) and have been ordering things I don't have to share with someone else.
Later, I plan on going to a store and looking around. All without having a tiny person following behind me pointing out every little thing she wants now, for Christmas, and her birthday in April. After that, I might even go out to lunch at my favorite place that my kid hates so I haven't been there in years.
I can also have a huge slice of coffee flavored cake without any guilt or needing to make something special for her.
I can't believe I was really upset about her going to school.
Recipe Card
Coffee Flavored Cake with Whipped Mocha Icing
Ingredients
Coffee Cake
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅔ cup instant espresso powder
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup milk room temperature
- 1 cup very strong brewed coffee please see notes
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons instant espresso powder
- 3 - 4 tablespoons heavy cream slightly warmed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease and flour two 8" round cake pans.
- In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, espresso powder, and sugar together. Stir to combine well.
- In a separate bowl, add the oil, milk, coffee, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk well until completely combined.
- Slowly dd the flour mixture to the wet ingredients in three batches, mixing gently between each addition.
- Evenly distribute the batter between the baking pans and bake for 25 - 30 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle.
- Allow to cool in the pans for about 20 minutes. Gently run a knife between the cake and pan, then gently remove and allow to cool completely on a wire rack. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour, preferably overnight.
- Beat the soft butter for the icing until creamy. Add in the powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing well between each addition. Add in the salt, cocoa powder, and vanilla. Stir well.
- Mix together the espresso and heavy cream together. Slowly drizzle the heavy cream mixture into the frosting until it reaches a creamy texture. Whisk on high speed for one minute.
- Cut the two cakes in half to make four even layers. Slather the whipped frosting on each layer of the cake and layer the cakes on top of each other. Run an offset spatula on the sides of the cake to smooth the icing on the sides.
Mindy says
I'm planning on making this into the cupcakes, how many does it make, and how long to bake?
Amanda says
Hi Mindy, this cake is actually based off my coffee cupcakes. Here is the original recipe! https://cookienameddesire.com/coffee-cupcakes-mocha-buttercream-frosting/
Mindy says
Thank you! Making it for my birthday!
Amanda says
Happy birthday!!! Some people are more sensitive to nutmeg, so my best tip for the best birthday cupcakes is to add the nutmeg by the pinch. You just want a hint of it in the cupcakes!
Shweta says
Hi Amanda,
I want to make this cake for my friends who are not eating sugar. Can I replace it with honey or Maple Syrup? Will the measurements change for other ingredients?
Amanda Powell says
Hi, I do not recommend making such a change as it will introduce too much liquid to the batter. You can try using a sugar alternative like Truvia, it requires half the amount (so 1/2 cup Truvia instead of 1 cup sugar)
Pat says
Hi I'm making this cake now -- and honestly all I can taste
Is the nutmeg .. I'm super bummed this is going to taste like a spice cake --- I bought some super strong espresso powder and made a killer cup of coffee but the nutmeg is the only thing I
Taste in the batter !
Ruth says
How tall does the cake bake to in each 8" pan? I'm making a tiered cake and each tier needs to be made with four 1.5" layers (or a little more), so that they are all similar height. Do I need to bake 1.5x or 2x the recipe to get 4 1.5 layers? THANKS!
Amanda says
Hi Ruth, unfortunately I don't recall exactly how tall each cake bakes in the pan. I want to say it is at least 1.5" and then I cut them in half for thinner layers. I think that 1.5x the recipe would work to get you the thickness you need, but to be safe, maybe do 2x because you can always trim it back to what you need (just make sure the pan is high enough in case my memory is off)
Ruth says
Thanks! Yes I think I'll double it and split it out into 4 8" pans so that I don't have a problem with the middle baking evenly. My family is always okay with me cutting off a lot of cake I don't need. LOL
Vasiliki says
I look forward to your daily emails! You are such an inspiration, I can see how passionate you are about baking. Love the fall recipes, my favorite time of year! Wishing you continued success!
Best of luck 🙂
Eden Passante says
Yes! Everything about this looks unbelievable!!
Matt @ RoughEats says
This just look delicious. I love a coffee flavoured cake, perfect to serve with friends. Also, beautiful shots Desire.
Miranda says
This cake looks incredible! So much chocolate, I love it!
Maryanne | the little epicurean says
I love everything about this cake, especially that whipped mocha ganache! It's crazy how fast kids grow up. One minute they're crawling, and before you know it, they'll be driving!
Claudia | The Brick Kitchen says
Coffee is my favourite kind of cake! Love how you added the spices as well, and mocha ganache sounds heavenly. x
Phi @ The Sweetphi Blog says
Can I please come over and have a slice of this? Have my coffee and eat it too in cake form? I'm sold! And omg seriously, your pictures are beautiful!
Madeline says
OMG you are making me want to eat all of this cake right now!! I would do anything for a slice right about now, haha. I love coffee flavored things so this sounds right up my ally!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
It is strange when they start growing up and are off to school isn't it Amanda! I hope you're enjoying your quiet and relaxing time now while your daughter is in school. Although with a food blog, I'm not quite sure how much extra time you've got for relaxing! This cake looks heavenly. I'm addicted to one thing in life and that's coffee, so this cake will be a favorite of mine for sure!
Amanda says
I know, it is an emotional roller coaster, that's for sure!
Sandi (@fearless_dining) says
What a gorgeous cake. I hope your daughter is enjoying kindergarten 🙂
Amanda says
Thank you! And yes, she loves it. She always says she misses her teacher on the weekend!
Sarani Tarafder says
I love adding instant coffee granules to my chocolate desserts! Gorgeous photos!
Amanda says
Chocolate and coffee are a match made in heaven!
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
This cake looks UNREAL! That whipped mocha frosting is to die for. Enjoy your newfound freedom 🙂
Amanda says
The whipped mocha is the best!