Kahlua Coffee Chocolate Layer Cake | Best Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe (2024)

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This Kahlua Coffee Chocolate Layer Cake is made with a moist chocolate Kahlua cake covered in Kahlua coffee frosting! It’s seriously so good – you won’t want to share!

Kahlua Coffee Chocolate Layer Cake | Best Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe (1)

Kahlua Coffee Chocolate Layer Cake | Best Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe (2)

Kahlua Coffee Chocolate Layer Cake

So this past weekend the hubs and I went and looked at some houses. We’ve been considering moving within the area for a while now, but haven’t found the right thing. We’d been looking around on our own and since we haven’t had any luck, we decided to try working with a real estate agent that the hubs knows.

Well we were out looking at some homes Sunday afternoon and it started getting a little late. We knew it could go later, so we brought everything for my evening progesterone shot (for our IVF treatment) with us just in case.

As luck would have it, 6 PM came rolling around and we got the privilege of not only doing our shot while out and about for the first time, but in a new house that was still under construction. We were looking at the house with our real estate agent and the sales person when we excused ourselves to shut ourselves into a room filled with nails, dust, wood and cardboard and try to give me a safe and sanitary shot in the rear/hip. A bit comical actually!

Fortunately the shot went well. 🙂 Our real estate agent knows about our IVF, so it was fine. But still not something you do everyday!

Kahlua Coffee Chocolate Layer Cake | Best Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe (3)Kahlua Coffee Chocolate Layer Cake | Best Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe (4)

Something I would like to do everyday, however, is eat this cake. Oh my goodness, the flavors! I can’t even handle how good it all is together. You take a bite and your eyes basically roll back into your head because you just can’t deal any other way.

The chocolate cake is richly chocolatey and enhanced by coffee in the batter and 1/2 a cup of Kahlua. Plus, it’s pretty easy to put together. You don’t even need to bust out your mixer if you don’t want to. Just one bowl and a whisk will do the job!

The frosting is a variation of my buttercream with some Kahlua and espresso. Again, the flavor is perfection! And it’s also nice and straight forward to make. You’ve got your butter and shortening (you can always use butter to replace the shortening if you prefer – read why I use it in this post – Vanilla Buttercream Frosting) and powdered sugar first. They form the base of the frosting and to that you add the Kahlua and espresso. You’ll want to heat up the Kahlua a bit and then dissolve the espresso in it and use that to flavor the frosting and thin it out to the right frosting consistency.

Once you’ve got your cakes and frosting, whip the cake together and dig in as fast as you can! This cake is full of moisture, so soft and flavorful – it’s truly delicious! If you have any love for coffee, Kahlua and chocolate, it’s a must try!

Kahlua Coffee Chocolate Layer Cake | Best Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe (5)Kahlua Coffee Chocolate Layer Cake | Best Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe (6)

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”J2qwEsyG” upload-date=”Fri Jun 30 2017 04:47:39 GMT+0000 (UTC)” name=”Kahlua Coffee Chocolate Layer Cake” description=”This Kahlua Coffee Chocolate Layer Cake is made with a moist chocolate Kahlua cake covered in Kahlua coffee frosting!”]
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Kahlua Coffee Chocolate Layer Cake | Best Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe (7)

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Kahlua Coffee Chocolate Layer Cake | Best Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe (8)

Recipe

Kahlua Coffee Chocolate Layer Cake

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  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 32 minutes
  • Total Time: 57 minutes
  • Yield: 12-14 Slices
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

This Kahlua Coffee Chocolate Layer Cake is made with a moist chocolate Kahlua cake covered in Kahlua coffee frosting! It’s seriously so good – you won’t want to share!

Ingredients

CHOCOLATE KAHLUA CAKE

  • 2 cups (260g) all purpose flour
  • 2 cups (414g) sugar
  • 3/4 cup (85g) natural unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup (180ml) milk
  • 1 cup (240ml) vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) Kahlua
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup (180ml) hot coffee

KAHLUA COFFEE FROSTING

  • 7 tbsp (75ml) Kahlua
  • 3 tbsp instant espresso powder
  • 1 1/2 cups (336g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 1/4 cups (236g) shortening
  • 10 1/4 cups (1208g) powdered sugar
  • Chocolate jimmie sprinkles

Instructions

1. Prepare three 8 inch cake pans with parchment paper circles in the bottom and grease the sides. Preheat oven to 300°F (148°C).
2. Add all the dry ingredients to a large bowl and combine.
3. Add the eggs, milk, vegetable oil, Kahlua and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients and mix well.
4. Add the coffee to the cake batter and mix well. Batter will be very thin.
5. Divide the batter evenly between cake pans and bake for 32-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs.
6. Remove cakes from oven and allow to cool for about 5 minutes, then remove to cooling racks to cool completely.
7. To make the frosting, heat the Kahlua until it just begins to boil, then add the espresso. Stir until dissolved.
8. In a large mixer bowl, combine the butter and shortening until smooth.
9. Add about half of the powdered sugar and mix until well combined and smooth.
10. Add about half of the Kahlua mixture and mix until smooth.
11. Add the remaining powdered sugar and mix until well combined and smooth.
12. Add additional Kahlua mixture until the frosting is the right consistency. If needed, refer to my tutorial on how to get the right frosting consistency.
13. To build the cake, cut the domes off the top of each cake so they are flat.
14. Put the first cake layer on a serving plate and top with 1 cup of frosting. Spread into an even layer.
15. Add the second layer of cake, another cup of frosting and then top the cake with the final layer of cake.
16. Frost the outside of the cake. Use mytutorial for frosting a smooth cake, if desired. Use anicing smoother/decorating comb tool like this oneto add a pattern on the sides of the cake.
17. Press some sprinkles into the bottom of the sides of the cake.
18. Pipe some swirls around the top edge of the cake (I use Ateco icing tip #844) and add a few additional sprinkles, then serve.
19. Store the cake in anair tight container. Cake is best for 2-3 days.

Notes

If you’d like a non-alcoholic version of this cake, I’d suggest referring tothis chocolate cake. It’s the one that was altered to make this cake and there are several changes that had to be made for the Kahlua cake. You can use regular cocoa and coffee instead of water, like is used in this cake. For the frosting, replace the Kahlua with water and add an additional tablespoon or two of espresso powder, depending on how strong of a coffee flavor you want.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Slice
  • Calories: 1089
  • Sugar: 121 g
  • Sodium: 528.9 mg
  • Fat: 56.3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 141.1 g
  • Protein: 5.8 g
  • Cholesterol: 94.1 mg

Filed Under:

  • Cakes and Cupcakes
  • Recipes
  • Recipes with video
  • Sweets and Treats

Enjoy!

Kahlua Coffee Chocolate Layer Cake | Best Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe (9)

Kahlua Coffee Chocolate Layer Cake | Best Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does adding coffee to chocolate cake do? ›

Coffee is made for baking. Its rich, bittersweet flavour adds depth to cakes, cheesecakes, pies, cookies, muffins, loaves, and soufflés. It boosts the chocolatey appeal of Fudge Layer Cake with Chocolate Avocado Icing, Coffee Brownies and soft, fudgy Coffee Chocolate Crinkle Cookies.

Can I use coffee instead of water in a chocolate cake mix? ›

If you don't have a shot of espresso or espresso powder on hand, you could also use a regular cup of coffee in place of the liquid—milk, water, etc. —in the recipe. Just know that the chocolatey flavor will be slightly less pronounced.

How to use coffee to enhance chocolate flavor? ›

Add espresso powder or instant coffee to dry ingredients and chocolate sauces. Adding a teaspoon of espresso powder goes a long way towards enhancing chocolate flavors in your cooking. Since espresso powder is typically fine-ground, it dissolves in batters and doughs easily.

Can I add coffee to box cake mix? ›

Dissolve 1 tablespoon coffee in 1 1/4 cups water. Make cake batter as directed on box, using coffee mixture in place of the water. Bake and cool as directed.

How much coffee should I add to chocolate cake mix? ›

The simplest way to accentuate the chocolate flavor in your baked goods is to add a teaspoon or so of espresso powder or instant coffee granules. Espresso powder tends to be more concentrated, so you definitely only need a teaspoon to do the trick.

What kind of coffee is best for chocolate cake? ›

Coffee: The recipe needs both brewed coffee and espresso powder for different reasons. Brewed coffee enhances the richness of chocolate, while espresso powder gives the cake a coffee/mocha flavor. You can omit the espresso, but the cake itself will not taste like coffee.

What enhances chocolate flavor? ›

Cinnamon adds a cozy touch to chocolate with its warm and earthy flavors. This particular spice has a delightful combination of sweetness and a hint of spiciness, which perfectly enhances the luxurious taste of chocolate, that results in a beautifully balanced flavor.

What does adding milk instead of water do to cake? ›

Milk's fat and protein add tenderness, structure, and flavor to a cake — all great attributes you want in your baking!

What happens if I use milk instead of water in a cake? ›

Baking tip #2: adding milk to your box cake mix in place of water adds a dense texture to your dessert leaving it moist and flavorful like a homemade cake. Or, if you prefer, you can add buttermilk, giving your cake a tangy flavor to balance out the sweetness.

How to incorporate coffee into chocolate cake? ›

You can incorporate coffee into a chocolate cake recipe by adding instant coffee to the batter. We recommend dissolving 2-3 tablespoons of instant coffee in 1 tablespoon of hot water. Then add this mixture to the batter along with the other ingredients.

Can I use coffee instead of cocoa powder in cake? ›

Yes you can. But dont expect it to be a chocolate cake. Also the quantity of coffee must be 1/6 th the amount of cocoa powder you would have used for chocolate cake. Otherwise your cake will definitely turn bitter.

Which coffee is best for baking? ›

Because espresso powder is so finely ground and concentrated, it's great for drier doughs like cookies and cakes, where you want a coffee flavor but you don't want to mess with the texture.

How do you make a box cake taste like it came from the bakery? ›

Step 1: Look at the directions on the cake mix. Step 2: Add one more egg (or add 2 if you want it to be very rich). Step 3: Use melted butter instead of oil and double the amount. Step 4: Instead of water, use whole milk.

What does coffee do to a cake? ›

According to Wanders, coffee contributed to a better rise, crumb structure, and even toasty and well-browned crust with delicious bitter notes. Brewed coffee can also be added to high-moisture baked goods like brownies and cakes where the sweetness of the desert helps carry coffee's flavor and aromas.

How much coffee to enhance chocolate? ›

To not overpower the chocolate flavor, I'd recommend subbing in only up to a cup of coffee; so if a recipe calls for two cups of water, use one cup of coffee and one cup of water.

Does coffee bake out of cake? ›

For example, if you add coffee to your cake, can caffeine cook out during the baking process? Unfortunately, this is a myth. Caffeine is a stable compound that doesn't break down easily, even at high temperatures.

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