Mocha Dark Chocolate Cake With Cappuccino Frosting Recipes

CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH MOCHA FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking pan. Line with parchment paper, then grease and flour the pan.
• Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed for 4 to 5 minutes, until light and fluffy, scraping down the bowl. On medium speed, add the vanilla, then beat in the eggs, one at a time, until incorporated and the batter is smooth.
• Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl. In another bowl or a liquid measuring cup, whisk together the hot water, cocoa powder, and espresso powder until smooth. Add the half-and-half and whisk until smooth. With the mixer on low, add the flour and chocolate mixtures alternately in thirds, starting and ending with the flour. With a rubber spatula, scrape down the bowl to be sure the batter is well mixed.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely in the pan. Turn out onto a flat platter or board and frost the top with the Mocha Frosting. Cut in squares and serve.
• Place the chocolate, butter, and espresso powder in a bowl. Heat the cream to simmer and pour it over the chocolate mixture, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate is melted. (If the chocolate isn't melted, microwave the mixture for 15 seconds.) Stir in the Kahlua and vanilla and stir until the mixture is smooth. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes only, until cool but not cold.
• Scrape down the bowl and beat the frosting with a handheld mixer on high speed for 15 to 20 seconds only, until the mixture forms soft peaks. (If you overbeat it, it will curdle!) Spread on the cake immediately with a metal spatula.

MOCHA FROSTING

Steps:

• Stir warm milk and coffee powder in large bowl until the coffee dissolves completely.
• Whisk confectioners' sugar, melted butter, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract into the milk mixture until no clumps remain and you have a smooth frosting.

COFFEE-CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE WITH MOCHA-MASCARPONE FROSTING

Steps:

• For cake:
• Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 325°F. Generously butter two 9-inch cake pans with 2-inch-high sides; dust with flour, tapping out any excess. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper.
• Sift 2 cups cake flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until smooth. Add brown sugar and beat until well blended, about 2 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla. Add flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with buttermilk in 2 additions, beating just until blended after each addition. Gradually add hot espresso-water mixture, beating just until smooth.
• Divide batter between pans; smooth tops. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on rack 15 minutes. Run small knife around sides of pans to loosen cakes. Invert cakes onto racks; lift pans off cakes and remove parchment. Place wire rack atop each cake; invert again so top side is up. Cool completely. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap each cake in plastic and store at room temperature.
• For frosting:
• Sift cocoa powder into large bowl; add espresso powder. Bring 1 cup cream to boil in small saucepan. Slowly pour cream over cocoa mixture, whisking until cocoa is completely dissolved, about 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup cream and sugar; stir until sugar dissolves. Chill until cold, at least 2 hours. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; keep chilled.
• Add mascarpone to chilled cocoa mixture. Using electric mixer, beat on low speed until blended and smooth. Increase speed to medium-high; beat until mixture is thick and medium-firm peaks form when beaters are lifted, about 2 minutes (do not overbeat or mixture will curdle).
• Using pastry brush, brush off crumbs from cakes. Place 1 cake layer, top side up, on platter. Spoon 13/4 cups frosting in dollops over top of cake. Using offset spatula, spread frosting to edges. Top with second cake layer, top side up, pressing to adhere. Spread thin layer of frosting over top and sides of cake. Chill 10 minutes. Using offset spatula, spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake, swirling decoratively. Top with chocolate curls, if desired. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome; chill. Let stand at room temperature 20 minutes before serving.
• *An Italian cream cheese; sold at many supermarkets and at Italian markets.

MOCHA ICING

Steps:

• Combine coffee and cocoa in small bowl of electric mixer. Beat until blended. Add sugar, butter or margarine, salt, and vanilla. Beat until blended. Scrape bowl, and beat icing until it has a spreading consistency.
• Frost the cake, and sprinkle with chopped walnuts if desired.

MOCHA CAPPUCCINO PUDDING CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Mix flour, 3/4 cup of the sugar, 2 tablespoons of the cocoa, 1 tablespoon espresso coffee, the baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Stir in 1/2 cup milk, butter and vanilla until well blended. Spread in ungreased square pan, 9x9x2 inches.
• Mix remaining 1 cup sugar, remaining 2 tablespoons cocoa and 1 teaspoon espresso coffee in small bowl; sprinkle evenly over cake batter. Pour 1 1/2 cups very warm milk over sugar mixture.
• Place sheet of foil or cookie sheet on lower oven rack under cake to catch any spills. Bake cake 35 to 45 minutes or until center is set and firm to the touch. Spoon warm cake into dessert dishes.

MOCHA DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH CAPPUCCINO FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Grease one 9x13 or two 9" round cake pans.
• Cake: combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cocoa.
• Add the molasses, mayonnaise, and vegetable oil. Mix well.
• While mixing, pour in the hot coffee.
• Add the vanilla and chocolate chips, stir until combined. Batter will be thinner than normal cake batters.
• Pour the batter into the pan(s). Bake for the 35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. 9x13 pans usually need to go for a few more minutes.
• If you are layering the round cakes, cool them for ten minutes on a wire rack, run a knife gently around the edges, flip pans over, rest for 10 minutes, then remove cakes from pans. Don't worry if they break apart a little bit. You can "glue" them back together with glaze and frosting!
• Allow cakes to cool completely, even overnight, before glazing/frosting.
• Espresso/Coffee Glaze:.
• In a saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar and coffee/espresso. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
• Allow to cool to body temperature or lower.
• Cappuccino Frosting.
• Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl.
• Combine butter and shortening in a seperate, large bowl or mixer. Beat until fluffy.
• Add vanilla to the butter/shortening mixture.
• To the butter mixture, add half of the dry ingredients, beat, then half of the espresso/coffee, beat some more, then the other half of the dry ingredients, beat again.
• Add the remaining coffee slowly, only until desired consistency is reached. For a frosted layer cake, you want it to be a bit thick, but still smooth and fluffy.
• Assembly:.
• Set up desired cake board with one of the round cakes. Brush the ckae entirely with the semi-cool coffee glaze.
• Allow the glaze about 5 minutes to set.
• Spread a generous layer of frosting on top and place the second cake.
• Glaze the second cake.
• If you have any leftover glaze, just keep brushing it on (resist the urge to sip it, if you can!).
• Frost the sides and top of the cake with remaining frosting.
• Store cake in the refrigerator until you need it, as that will set the frosting properly. Because of the shortening, it will sit out well in normal temperatures, once it's been chilled.
• Enjoy!

DARK CHOCOLATE MOCHA MOUSSE CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Butter a metal 8-inch square cake pan. Line the bottom and sides of the pan with parchment paper; lightly butter the parchment. Combine the cocoa and espresso powders in a medium bowl. Heat the milk and butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until the milk is steaming and the butter melts. Whisk into the cocoa mixture; let cool to room temperature.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until very pale, thick and pillowy, 5 to 8 minutes. Beat 30 to 45 more seconds to stabilize the egg foam.
• Reduce the mixer speed to low; beat in the cocoa mixture in 2 additions, alternating with the flour mixture in 2 additions. Beat just until the batter is smooth and no dry flour remains.
• Pour the batter into the cake pan and gently tap against the counter to eliminate any air bubbles. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes in the pan, then turn out the cake onto a rack. Peel off the parchment but let it rest gently on top of the cake while it cools completely. Wipe the cake pan clean and reserve.
• Make the ganache: Combine 1/2 cup heavy cream, 4 ounces chocolate and 1 tablespoon butter in a small saucepan. Gently cook over medium-low heat, stirring, until melted and smooth. Let cool.
• Make the mousse: Combine the remaining 4 tablespoons butter and 4 ounces chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until melted and smooth. Whisk in the cocoa powder until smooth. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, combine 1/4 cup heavy cream and the gelatin powder in a small microwave- safe bowl. Let stand until the gelatin absorbs the liquid, about 5 minutes, then microwave until melted, 20 to 30 seconds, whisking. Let cool, stirring occasionally.
• Combine the remaining 1 1/4 cups heavy cream, the sugar and espresso powder in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer on medium speed to dissolve the sugar, about 1 minute. Stream in the cooled gelatin mixture, then increase the speed to medium high and beat until the mixture is thick and stiff peaks form. Fold in the cooled chocolate mixture in 2 or 3 batches until the mousse is well blended.
• Assemble the cake: Line the reserved cake pan with 2 crisscrossed strips of parchment paper (this will help you lift out the finished cake). Carefully slice the cake horizontally into 3 equal layers. Lay the best layer cut-side up in the bottom of the pan and brush with some of the chocolate liqueur, if using. (Use a plate or small cutting board to move the layers; if your top cake layer is domed, use it for the middle of the cake.) Evenly spread half of the mousse on top with an offset spatula, all the way to the edges. Top with a second cake layer. Brush again with chocolate liqueur, then spread half of the ganache evenly on top. Add the final cake layer, cut-side up, and brush with the remaining liqueur. Top with the remaining mousse and ganache. (The assembled cake should fill the pan.)
• Refrigerate the cake until the top is set, about 30 minutes, then wrap the whole cake pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight to set completely.
• Lift the cake out of the pan using the parchment pieces and transfer to a cutting board. Using a hot, dry serrated knife, slice the cake, wiping the knife in between cuts for clean edges.

CHOCOLATE MOCHA CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE ICING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans, in order to make 2 cake layers.
• In a large bowl, stir together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Beat all on medium speed with electric mixer for 2 minutes.
• Stir in boiling, strong, hot coffee; batter will be thin.
• Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
• Cool 10 minutes, then remove cake layers from pans to wire racks.
• While cake is cooling, make the icing. To make icing, mix cream cheese, margarine, and vanilla extract. Add sugar and beat until creamy and smooth.
• To finish cake, make sure the layers are completely cool. Take one round layer, place it on a serving plate, and top it with a layer of icing. Then place the other round layer on top, and ice the entire cake.