Mocha Cake

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It’s raining right now in Northern California, feels cold outside. My heater is on and I’m drinking coffee . I’m thinking about it’s time to start decorating for Christmas but maybe I’ll do it this weekend.
Yesterday, I was craving for some cake but I didn’t want to spend hours making one. So, I remembered that my hubby likes a Mocha Cake that I used to bake a couple of years ago when I started baking. Actually, I think this cake was one of the first ones I baked. The cake is super easy to make when you feel that you want to bake something or you just want some cake. I’m sure you have all the ingredients at home too. The frosting is a simple icing that I just make in a bowl with a spatula, I don’t even need a mixer.

Ingredients

This recipe is for 1  9 inch layer cake.

For the Cake

1 cup all purpose flour

1 cup white granulated sugar

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 egg room temperature

1 cup buttermilk or milk

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 tablespoon of espresso powder (if you don’t have espresso powder, you can use any kind of coffee you have)

1/2 hot water

 

For the Frosting

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/3 cup hot coffee

3 cups confectioners’ sugar

1/3 cups of cooled melted butter

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cups of chopped walnuts or pecans

 

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F . Grease one 9 inch round cake pan.
  • Sift flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt and mix. Add oil, egg and buttermilk/milk. Dissolve instant coffee in hot water, and add to mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes until smooth. Pour into prepared pan.
  • Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until an inserted wooden pick comes out clean. Cool in pans for 15 minutes, and then turn out onto rack to cool completely.
  • While the cake is cooling, make the icing.
  • Icing: Sift the confectioners’ sugar and set  aside. Combine hot coffee and cocoa in an electric mixer bowl and beat until blended. Add sugar, butter, salt and vanilla. Scrape bowl and beat icing until it has a spreading consistency.
  • Frost your cake, you might have some leftover. Sprinkle some walnuts or pecans.

Enjoy!