Espresso Cake (recipe)

Espresso Cake

Mmm Mmm Mmm. Can you believe that this is my first entry to Sugar High Friday for the year? I don’t know what’s taken me so long! :) But look at this cake, I think it was worth the wait :) This time around Domestic Goddess asked participants to post desserts that they ‘crave’. Well I crave chocolate cake. Not only is it the cake that I make the best but it also needs little to no adornment :)

Light, moist and incredibly intense in flavour this recipe for Espresso Cake hides one little ‘secret’, wholewheat flour! If you’ve never tried wholewheat flour in a dessert recipe I strongly suggest that you give it a try. It adds a whole other level of richness without any of the heaviness that you might expect (of course this is when used in the right proportions ;) ). Plus, you can use it to trick yourself and your friends into having another slice, cos it’s good for you :P

That’s what I’m telling myself anyway :)

Because this cake leans towards the bittersweet I suggest serving it with a light counterbalance such as a drizzle of semisweet chocolate sauce, custard, sweet cream, or as I have above, a splash of confectioners sugar. For my own personal taste I think frosting would be overdoing it, but you be the judge! :)


Espresso Cake
——————————————————————————–

Adapted from a recipe in O, The Oprah Magazine
Serving Size: 14

Ingredients:

2/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup raw cane sugar (Turbinado)
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup brewed coffee, cooled

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 9-inch cake pan with cooking spray. Line bottom of pan with waxed paper; spray paper. Dust bottom and side of pan with cocoa powder, tapping out excess; set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine flours, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside. In another bowl, combine oil, eggs, vanilla and coffee. Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients and pour into prepared pan.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in middle of cake comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes.

Espresso Cake

Run a knife around edge of cake and invert onto a wire rack; peel off waxed paper. Invert again onto rack to cool completely.

About

Passionate foodie, founder of Trinigourmet and Caribbean Lifestyle Maven. Author of "Glam By Request: 30+ Easy Caribbean Recipes"

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50 Responses to " Espresso Cake (recipe) "

  1. Lilandra says:

    no eggs wow
    i want instant espresso powder

  2. Lilandra says:

    no eggs wow
    i want instant espresso powder

  3. That’s one deliciously sinful looking cake.

  4. That’s one deliciously sinful looking cake.

  5. Sarina says:

    Lilandra – there were 2 eggs :)

    The Cooking Ninja – mmm it tastes good :) wish i had more mouths to help me eat it :(

  6. Sarina says:

    Lilandra – there were 2 eggs :)

    The Cooking Ninja – mmm it tastes good :) wish i had more mouths to help me eat it :(

  7. Lydia says:

    I’ve never used whole wheat pastry flour, but I’m a big fan of white whole wheat flour for most of my baking these days. Will have to try this recipe; it looks scrumptious.

  8. Lydia says:

    I’ve never used whole wheat pastry flour, but I’m a big fan of white whole wheat flour for most of my baking these days. Will have to try this recipe; it looks scrumptious.

  9. Wish I live nearer to you. I would definitely help you finish it ;)

  10. Wish I live nearer to you. I would definitely help you finish it ;)

  11. Rosa says:

    Your espresso cake looks fabulous! I’d love to eat a slice of it now ;-P…

  12. Rosa says:

    Your espresso cake looks fabulous! I’d love to eat a slice of it now ;-P…

  13. Maninas says:

    The cake looks amazing!

  14. Maninas says:

    The cake looks amazing!

  15. Sarina says:

    Lydia – white whole wheat flour? i’m intrigued!

    Ninja, Rosa, Maninas – Thanks! :)

  16. Sarina says:

    Lydia – white whole wheat flour? i’m intrigued!

    Ninja, Rosa, Maninas – Thanks! :)

  17. Nora B says:

    I like the sound of that cake. I will give it a go soon. Thanks for the recipe.

  18. Nora B says:

    I like the sound of that cake. I will give it a go soon. Thanks for the recipe.

  19. Sarina says:

    Nora B – You’re welcome :) Best Wishes :)

  20. Sarina says:

    Nora B – You’re welcome :) Best Wishes :)

  21. Josh Lane says:

    Oooooooh, I need some of that!!

    It’s on the list of things to make & eat when I get back!

  22. Josh Lane says:

    Oooooooh, I need some of that!!

    It’s on the list of things to make & eat when I get back!

  23. Tartelette says:

    That cake sounds great. Like Nora B. I’ll have to try it soon.

  24. Tartelette says:

    That cake sounds great. Like Nora B. I’ll have to try it soon.

  25. josie says:

    Hi.

    I would like to inquire why in the recipe there is 2 eggs and half a cup of oil, yet there is none in the assembly of the cake . You are asking for applesauce and eggwhites, Thank you.

    Sincerely,
    Josie

  26. josie says:

    Hi.

    I would like to inquire why in the recipe there is 2 eggs and half a cup of oil, yet there is none in the assembly of the cake . You are asking for applesauce and eggwhites, Thank you.

    Sincerely,
    Josie

  27. Sarina says:

    Josie – thanks so much for pointing out this discrepancy. As you can tell I posted this in the middle of the night and some of the copy editing in between versions obviously got messed up. I have fixed the errors. Best Wishes!

  28. Sarina says:

    Josie – thanks so much for pointing out this discrepancy. As you can tell I posted this in the middle of the night and some of the copy editing in between versions obviously got messed up. I have fixed the errors. Best Wishes!

  29. 2 of my fav flavors!

  30. 2 of my fav flavors!

  31. Topchef says:

    If you have the time beforehand, you can make “toddy” coffee in your refrigerator for the coffee portion. It can’t exactly be called espresso without any actual espresso, but toddy’s going to get you a bit closer. To make toddy, measure out a 4 to 1 water to coffee ratio (coarse ground if possible, but automatic-drip ground will work if it’s all you have) and mix them together in a pitcher, then place in the refrigerator from 3 to 12 hours. I recommend 8 hours. The cold brew method will give you an extremely strong coffee flavor, but with an 85% reduction in acids, as they are not as soluble in cold water as they are in hot. This makes for a much less bitter brew. Once it is finished, strain the grounds into a coffee filter, and use immediately. This also gives you a great base for iced coffee drinks.

    Enjoy!

    Topchef at www.epicureforum.com
    Your Mise En Place for restaurants, recipes, and everything food

  32. Topchef says:

    If you have the time beforehand, you can make “toddy” coffee in your refrigerator for the coffee portion. It can’t exactly be called espresso without any actual espresso, but toddy’s going to get you a bit closer. To make toddy, measure out a 4 to 1 water to coffee ratio (coarse ground if possible, but automatic-drip ground will work if it’s all you have) and mix them together in a pitcher, then place in the refrigerator from 3 to 12 hours. I recommend 8 hours. The cold brew method will give you an extremely strong coffee flavor, but with an 85% reduction in acids, as they are not as soluble in cold water as they are in hot. This makes for a much less bitter brew. Once it is finished, strain the grounds into a coffee filter, and use immediately. This also gives you a great base for iced coffee drinks.

    Enjoy!

    Topchef at www.epicureforum.com
    Your Mise En Place for restaurants, recipes, and everything food

  33. Christine says:

    OMG I have gained 10 lbs just looking at this delicious cake! Can’t wait to make it!

  34. Christine says:

    OMG I have gained 10 lbs just looking at this delicious cake! Can’t wait to make it!

  35. Sebastian says:

    making this tomorrow morning

    but im cooking using ghee cuz im out of oil….

  36. Sebastian says:

    making this tomorrow morning

    but im cooking using ghee cuz im out of oil….

  37. Anelle says:

    What a wonderful surprise, the cake is easy to make, moist and delicious and goes really well with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream and glaced cherries soaked in whiskey.
    Thank you.

  38. Anelle says:

    What a wonderful surprise, the cake is easy to make, moist and delicious and goes really well with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream and glaced cherries soaked in whiskey.
    Thank you.

  39. Fran says:

    i made this for a party today. it is good but i could not taste the espresso (despite a cup measure of it!), it was a really delicious rich chocolate cake though, good with cream. Thanks for sharing!

    • Sarina says:

      Espresso usually enhances the flavour of chocolate without becoming too noticeably pronounced itself. Some people can discern where the extra depth comes from, but often it stays quietly in the background :) Glad you liked it!

  40. Fran says:

    i made this for a party today. it is good but i could not taste the espresso (despite a cup measure of it!), it was a really delicious rich chocolate cake though, good with cream. Thanks for sharing!

    • Sarina says:

      Espresso usually enhances the flavour of chocolate without becoming too noticeably pronounced itself. Some people can discern where the extra depth comes from, but often it stays quietly in the background :) Glad you liked it!

  41. [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Sarina, Michael Dhanny. Michael Dhanny said: RT @Trinigourmet Happy Birthday To Me! :D Here's my fave Espresso cake recipe! ow.ly/1r4hJ [...]

  42. [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Sarina and KParris Catering LLC, Michael Dhanny. Michael Dhanny said: RT @Trinigourmet Happy Birthday To Me! :D Here's my fave Espresso cake recipe! ow.ly/1r4hJ [...]

  43. AnnaLee says:

    Made this last night. YUMMY I love your blog :)

  44. AnnaLee says:

    Made this last night. YUMMY I love your blog :)

  45. Thank you for amazing recipe. I have been hunting around the for perfect recipe to go with my Irish Cream mouse frosting. And this turned out amazing.

  46. Jeannelle Fatta says:

    Is that the right pic for espresso cake !! Hee hee

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