Espresso Cake With Mocha Streusel Ribbon Food

ESPRESSO CAKE WITH MOCHA STREUSEL RIBBON

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Grease 12-cup fluted tube cake pan with shortening (do not use cooking spray); lightly flour. In small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons flour, brown sugar and 1 tablespoon espresso powder. Using pastry blender or fork, cut in 1 tablespoon butter pieces until crumbly. Stir in 1/2 cup chocolate chips and pecans; set aside.
• In medium bowl, mix 3 cups flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. In 1-cup glass measuring cup, combine milk and 1/4 cup espresso powder; set aside.
• In large bowl, beat granulated sugar, 1 cup butter, vanilla and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on high speed 5 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Beat flour mixture into sugar mixture alternately with milk mixture on low speed, beating just until smooth after each addition. Spread 3 cups batter into pan. Sprinkle streusel mixture over batter. Carefully spread remaining batter over streusel.
• Bake 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and crack at the center top of cake no longer looks moist. Cool 20 minutes; remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 2 hours.
• In small microwavable bowl, combine glaze ingredients. Microwave on High 30 seconds; stir until smooth. Spoon over cake, allowing some to drip down side of cake.

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 BUTTERCREAM CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO CAKE

Steps:

• FOR CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO CAKE:.
• Preheat oven to 350º F. Grease and line two 9-inch-round baking pans with wax paper.
• Microwave small chocolate pieces in small, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 45 seconds, stir.
• If pieces retain some of their original shape, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until melted.
• Cool to room temperature.
• Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl.
• Beat brown sugar, butter, eggs, instant coffee and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl for 3 minutes.
• Gradually add melted chocolate and continue beating for an additional minute.
• Beat flour mixture into creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk.
• Pour into prepared pans.
• Bake for 33 to 38 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Run knife around edges of cakes.
• Invert onto wire racks; remove wax paper. Cool completely.
• Brush cakes with Coffee Glaze over cake layers.
• Spread Mocha Buttercream Frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake.
• FOR COFFEE GLAZE:.
• Microwave granulated sugar, water and instant coffee in small, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 30 seconds.
• Stir until sugar and coffee are dissolved.
• FOR MOCHA BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:.
• Microwave small chocolate pieces in small, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 45 seconds; STIR.
• If pieces retain some of their original shape, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until melted.
• Cool to room temperature.
• Dissolve instant coffee in milk in glass measure.
• Beat butter, vanilla extract and salt in large mixer bowl for 3 minutes.
• Beat in melted chocolate until blended, scraping occasionally.
• Gradually beat in powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
• Beat in coffee mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired spreading consistency.

MOCHA STREUSEL WALNUT ESPRESSO COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350*. Spray 9" square baking pan with cooking spray.
• Combine all streusel ingredients except butter in bowl or food processor. Cut in 3 tbsp butter with pastry blender or 2 knives or pulse until coarse crumbs form.
• Beat 1/2 cup butter in large bowl at medium speed until creamy. Add sugar; beat 3 minutes or until fluffy. Combine coffee powder and 2 tbsp hot water; beat into butter mixture, along with eggs and 1 tsp vanilla until blended.
• Whisk 2 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. At low speed, beat in flour mixture in 3 parts alternately with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Spread half of the batter in pan; sprinkle with half of the streusel. Spread with remaining batter; sprinkle with remaining streusel.
• Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk all glaze ingredients in small bowl. Drizzle over cake. Serve warm or at room temperature.