Mocha Layer Cake – Incredibly moist and fluffy chocolate layer cake infused with coffee, and frosted with a sweet coffee flavoured buttercream!
The last layer cake recipe I brought you was my Lemon Raspberry Layer Cake (which I highly recommend you try!) back in April, so it’s about time I bring you a new one.
How about a big slice out of this Mocha Layer Cake?
If you love chocolate and coffee, then this cake is for you. Not only are the chocolate cake layers lightly infused with coffee, the buttercream frosting is also loaded with coffee flavour!
Mocha Layer Cake
I’ve been wanting to make a mocha cake for a while now, and I’m happy to say it’s finally here!
This mocha layer cake is lightly infused with coffee in two delicious ways. Four teaspoons of coffee dissolved in hot water is added to the cake batter, and two teaspoons is added to the buttercream frosting.
I found this to be the perfect amount of coffee flavour for the coffee lovers (and non coffee lovers!) in my life. If you’d like a stronger coffee flavour, see my recipe notes.
This recipe makes a 3 layer 8-inch cake, which will easily yield 12 – 14 slices. A perfect, indulgent dessert for party season!
The printable recipe card with the FULL list of ingredients and instructions can be found at the bottom of this post.
NOTE: For best results, I highly recommend using the gram measurements (with a digital scale), rather than the cup measurements.
Cup measurements are simply not accurate enough, and I cannot guarantee the best results if you use them.
How long will this mocha cake last? This cake and any leftovers can be covered tightly and kept in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Can I freeze this mocha layer cake? Yes. This cake, frosted, freezes well for up to 2 months.
You can also make this cake a day in advance! After the cake layers have cooled completely, wrap in clingfilm and store at room temperature overnight, ready to be frosted the next day. The frosting can also be covered and kept in the fridge overnight.
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram and hashtag it #marshasbakingaddiction. I’d love to see!
Try these delicious mocha recipes next!
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Mocha Layer Cake
Incredibly moist and fluffy chocolate layer cake infused with coffee, and frosted with a sweet coffee flavoured buttercream!
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 3 and 3/4 cups (468g) cake flour*
- 3/4 cup (75g) cocoa powder
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 6 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 and 1/4 cups (450g) light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup (240ml) vegetable oil
- 1 and 1/2 cups (367g) Greek-style yogurt
- 4 teaspoons instant coffee granules, dissolved in 2 tablespoons hot water
For the Frosting
- 3 cups (680g) unsalted butter, softened
- 12 cups (1500g) icing/powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules, dissolved in 1 tablespoon hot water
- 6 - 7 tablespoons milk
Instructions
For the Cake
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Grease three 8-inch cake pans and line the bases with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Whisk together the eggs. Add the sugar, and whisk until combined. Add the vanilla extract, vegetable oil, yogurt, and coffee, and whisk until combined. Gradually fold in the dry ingredients.
- Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans, and bake for about 30 - 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. Allow to cool completely in the pans on a wire rack.
For the Frosting
- Using a handheld or stand mixer, beat the butter until pale and creamy. Add half of the icing sugar, and beat until combined. Add the remaining icing sugar, and beat until smooth and combined. Add the coffee, and milk, and beat until light and fluffy. Add more milk if needed.
- To assemble, slice a thin layer off the tops of the cakes to create a flat surface. Place 1 cake layer on a cake stand or serving plate, and spread on a layer of frosting. Top with the 2nd layer of cake and repeat.
- Top with the final layer, and cover the entire cake with a thin layer of frosting to lock in the crumbs. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes until the frosting is firm, then spread with the remaining frosting, leaving some for piping swirls on top, if desired.
Notes
*Make your own cake flour! Measure out 3 and 3/4 cups (468g) of plain/all-purpose flour, remove 7 tablespoons, and replace with 7 tablespoons of cornflour/cornstarch. Sift well.
For a more stronger coffee flavour in the cake layers, add 6 teaspoons of coffee dissolved in 3 tablespoons of hot water.
After the cake layers have cooled completely, they can be wrapped in clingfilm and kept at room temperature or refrigerated/frozen overnight, ready to be frosted the next day. The frosting can also be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated overnight.
Frosted cake freezes well for up to 2 months.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 14 slices Serving Size: 1 sliceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 1320Total Fat: 58gSaturated Fat: 27gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 28gCholesterol: 186mgSodium: 341mgCarbohydrates: 200gFiber: 1gSugar: 179gProtein: 7g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.
Joanna Friederich
Monday 10th of August 2020
Thanks for the recipe it turned out great!
Chy
Tuesday 21st of July 2020
Can I use a 9×3 cake pan for this but not dividing it for a 2 layer wedding cake?
Ted Le Baker
Friday 14th of February 2020
Just wanted to give you big props for this recipe, it all comes together very nicely and the cake is so light but so full of flavour! I went for the extra coffee in the sponge as i like it strong and topped it with a dripping dark chocolate ganache. Needless to say i have people clawing at my door for the recipe...
elizabeth shanley
Monday 8th of October 2018
Am making this cake today. for the frosting...3 c or 3 sticks of butter??? Thanks!!!
Marsha
Monday 8th of October 2018
Three cups for the frosting. It's a big cake :)
Sherrie Heim
Wednesday 6th of December 2017
The icing for the mocha layer cake is it really 12 cups of powdered sugar? That's a lot. Not that I don't like icing with a lot of sugar. Just checking maybe a typeo?
Marsha
Wednesday 6th of December 2017
Not a mistake. It's a lot of frosting for a big cake! :)