Espresso Cake With Tuscan Liquor Buttercream And Caramel Glass Food

VANILLA CARAMEL ESPRESSO FRAPPE CAKE

Steps:

• Dissolve espresso powder in a bowl with 2 tablespoons hot water.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 8-inch cake pans.
• Beat white sugar, 1/2 cup butter, and brown sugar together in a bowl using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, blending well after each. Reduce mixer speed to low. Beginning and ending with flour, alternate adding flour and buttermilk in 5 rounds. Blend 2 teaspoons dissolved espresso into the batter.
• Dissolve baking soda in the vinegar in a bowl; add to the batter. Mix until incorporated. Divide the batter equally between the prepared pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 32 to 35 minutes. Cool in the pans on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes before removing from pans and cooling completely, about 40 minutes more.
• Place 1 1/2 plus 2 tablespoons butter in the bowl of an stand mixer with a whisk attachment. Whip on medium-high speed until smooth. Add confectioners' sugar and mix on medium-low until combined. Add salt, whipping on medium-high until smooth. Mix in heavy cream and vanilla extract on low until incorporated. Whip on high until frosting is light and fluffy, scraping down the bowl as needed.
• Divide frosting into 5 equal portions. Leave 2/5 (2 portions) plain. Add remaining 2 teaspoons espresso mixture to another 2/5 (2 portions); stir until well blended. Add 2 tablespoons of caramel topping to the remaining 1/5 (1 portion); stir until well blended.
• Level both cakes and place 1 on a platter. Spread 3 tablespoons of the remaining caramel sauce over it and top with a layer of espresso frosting. Place other cake on top. Spread a thin layer of vanilla frosting on the cake to seal in any crumbs; chill for 30 minutes.
• Frost cake again with a thin layer of espresso frosting. Pipe vanilla frosting around the top edge. Fill the center with caramel frosting. Drizzle generously with the remaining caramel sauce.

ESPRESSO CAKE

Steps:

• Accompaniment: fat-free frozen yogurt or raspberry sauce and powdered sugar.
• Preheat the oven 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch cake pan with cooking spray and dust with additional cocoa powder, set aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine the flours, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In another bowl, combine the prune puree, egg whites, vanilla, and coffee. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and pour into the prepared cake pan.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean. Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the cake and invert onto a wire rack to cool completely. Cut into 14 wedges to serve.