Mocha Layer Cake

Just a little bit of coffee turns this 3-layer chocolate cake into a mocha masterpiece, fit for any party or occasion.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 471 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon strong brewed coffee
• ¼ cup cocoa powder
• 2 ½ cups white sugar
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups sifted cake flour
• 1 large egg yolk, beaten
• 5 large egg whites
• 2 teaspoons strong brewed coffee
• 4 ½ cups sifted powdered sugar

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans.

Step 2

Dissolve baking soda in buttermilk. Combine flour, cocoa powder, and salt in a separate bowl.

Step 3

Beat butter in a mixing bowl until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating well. Add flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture; mix well after each addition. Stir in 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons coffee and vanilla.

Step 4

Beat egg whites in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl until stiff peaks form. Gently fold into the creamed mixture. Pour batter into the prepared cake pans.

Step 5

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Run a table knife around the edges to loosen. Invert cakes carefully onto a serving plate or cooling rack. Let cool, about 20 more minutes.

Step 6

While the cake is cooling, beat butter and cocoa powder for frosting in a bowl until well creamed. Add powdered sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla and beat until smooth.

Step 7

Stack the 3 cake layers on top of each other, spreading frosting between layers, and on top of the cake.