Intense Chocolate Mocha Cake
Thanks to Baker’s Joy® for sponsoring this post!
If you could be any dessert, what would you be? Are you a sweet but tangy lemon meringue pie, with a sarcastic edge to every quip? Are you a cloying maraschino cherry cupcake, sweetening the day of everyone you encounter? Are you a simple vanilla scone? A boozy rum cake? An organic paleo gluten-free granola tart?
An intense chocolate mocha cake?
Baker’s Joy® just created the sweetest (ha ha pun intended) “Which Sweet Treat Are You?” quiz to help you figure out your dessert alter-ego. Each personality result is a delicious “sweet treat” recipe — if you’re super amazing, you might even get my Intense Chocolate Mocha Cake as a result. As a bonus, you can take the quiz as many times as you want, and each quiz is an entry into their giveaway. Daily winners will win $50 Visa gift cards and a year’s supply of Baker’s Joy®. One Grand Prize winner will win $500 Visa gift card, a KitchenAid mixer, and a year’s supply of Baker’s Joy®. Whoa nelly. That’s a lot of good stuff.
The quiz starts today and you can keep quizzin’ until May 5th to try and win.
I think I’m out of the running for the prizes ’cause Baker’s Joy® is sponsoring this post, but I still had to take the quiz to see which dessert matches my baking personality.
I’ve been sick and cranky all day, so I wonder if there’s a sick-and-cranky dessert result? Maybe this cake?
Thankfully, I ended up with something a little cuter. My result was On-the-Go: “Nothing can slow me down! I love a challenge and am always on-the-go. […] I’d much rather be the captain of the team than sitting on the sidelines.” Given by current crazy to-do list, I’d say that’s about right.
No matter what results you get, you have to make this incredible snack cake. It’s so quick to whip up (the longest part of the recipe is waiting for the frosting to reach peak spreadability!) and is seriously, hands-down one of the best cakes I’ve ever eaten. YOU GUYS, I don’t say that kind of thing lightly. Okay, so I have one more cake post coming this week that I’m going to say that about, too, but that’s just because the recipes are both SO stellar. Really!
Which sweet treat personality did you get? Take the “Which Sweet Treat Are You?” quiz here.
One year ago: Lasagna Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Two years ago: Brownie-Bottom Coconut Chocolate Cream Cake
Three years ago: Banana Coconut Cream Cupcakes
Four years ago: Coconut Cream Tart
Intense Chocolate Mocha Cake
Recipe by: Willow Bird Baking, with frosting adapted from Martha Stewart
Yield: 9 servings
This easy snack cake packs an intense mocha punch! The espresso powder deepens the already fantastic chocolate flavor of the cake and smooth-as-silk frosting. Be sure to pour a tall glass of milk with this cake (or maybe a nice cup of coffee?)
Cake Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon espresso powder
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
Frosting Ingredients:
7 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder
7 tablespoons warm water
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
8 ounces semisweet chocolate chips, melted and cooled
coffee ice cream (for serving)
Directions:
Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with Baker’s Joy® nonstick cooking spray. Place a square of parchment in the bottom and spray this with Baker’s Joy® as well.
In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, sugar, and salt together and set aside. In a medium saucepan, bring the butter, vegetable oil, cocoa powder, espresso powder, and water to a boil, whisking to mix. After it boils, whisk it into the dry ingredients until combined. Whisk in the buttermilk, egg, and vanilla. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake at 350 degrees F for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs (a clean toothpick means a dry cake, so be sure to pull it out before then!) Let the cake cool for about 20 minutes before cooling the rest of the way in the fridge. When your cake is completely cool, invert it onto a square plate or platter.
Make the frosting: In a small bowl, whisk together the cocoa, espresso powder, and warm water. In a separate bowl, beat together butter, powdered sugar, and a pinch of salt until pale and fluffy. Gradually beat in the melted, cooled chocolate and the cocoa mixture. Let this sit for exactly 30 minutes (no really, exactly 30!) before you use it to obtain the perfect spreadability. Pile the frosting on the top of the cake and smooth it out to an even, thick layer. Cut into slices and serve with coffee ice cream.
Katrina @ WVS
April 22, 2014 at 8:29 am (11 years ago)Holy delicious!! Such a fudgy looking cake 🙂
Rebecca {foodie with family}
April 22, 2014 at 9:58 am (11 years ago)I’m not sick, but I AM cranky and I think a slice or seven of this cake would cure it. Sigh.
Stephanie Manley
April 22, 2014 at 10:21 am (11 years ago)That does look intense! Looks delicious!
Taylor @ greens & chocolate
April 22, 2014 at 11:00 am (11 years ago)I really thought I was going to be an intense chocolate mocha cake but turns out, I’m an Orange Almond Cake. Who knew?! 🙂 I think I secretly wish I was this mocha cake, though…holy cow it looks delicious!!
Tracy | Peanut Butter and Onion
April 23, 2014 at 12:46 pm (11 years ago)Intense is right…. holy moly, this looks so rich and decadent!
Amy | Club Narwhal
April 24, 2014 at 10:23 am (11 years ago)Yep, my jaw just dropped to the floor looking at this gorgeous, chocolatey wonder!