Coffee Chocolate Cake - in the icing or cake?

9 years ago

I am going to make a chocolate cake but want a hint of coffee in it. Should I flavour the icing, the cake or both? I don't really want coffee to be the main flavour, btw. Thanks.

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suzanne_sl

9 years ago

We've been using a Ghirardelli chocolate cake recipe for birthdays since the 50s. For frosting we always use some strong coffee as well as some milk. It's perfect. Dad's theory was that the purpose of cake was to deliver the frosting, and that mocha frosting was the best of all. :) He has a 4 yr old great-granddaughter, born many years after he passed away, who shares his opinion about the function of cake..

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Comments (16)

Jasdip
9 years ago
I would just do the icing. I've read and seen more than once where brewed coffee really brings out the chocolate flavour.
plllog
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
The coffee is just there to goose the chocolate. Put it in the cake. If you want mocha icing, you can add it to that too, but being careful of total liquid and intensity.

I like the "Best Chocolate Cake Ever" at Add A Pinch, which is a boiling water version. It's also good without the coffee. I use Valrhona cocoa powder, which makes for a very chocolatey, fudgy cake. For a standard layer cake, she uses a teaspoon of espresso powder. (ETA--in the linked buttercream recipe, she also uses ½ tsp. espresso powder, but I don't like the consistency of this buttercream recipe or the espresso in it.)
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Lars
9 years ago
I would use a coffee mousse filling with a chocolate cake and a mocha icing.
Cookie8
Original Author
9 years ago
I would love to do a mousse - if it's dairy free :(. Four of us can't have dairy. Great. I will go for the coffee icing/frosting. Thanks.
User
9 years ago
I would put a tad in both.
lindac92
9 years ago
I also would put some coffee in the cake and the frosting.
sushipup1
9 years ago
I made a chocolate bundt cake today and used 1/2 cup of leftover brewed coffee instead of plain water. No real taste of coffee at all, but it seems to intensify the chocolate. To taste the coffee, definitely in the frosting.
Adarsh Nadda
7 years ago
If I have to need a hint of coffee in the cake then I will try to do that in the icing as I want to keep the chocolate flavor more.
Cookie8
Original Author
7 years ago
What a coincidence. I made black bean brownies this morning and added 1 tbsp of instant coffee (find grind espresso) and choc chips because I didn't feel like making an icing. Definitely has more coffee flavour to have a coffee icing. I barely notice it in the cake on it's own. I forgot I even asked this question.
colleenoz
7 years ago
The chocolate cake recipe I have posted here has a cup of strong coffee in it but no coffee flavour that I’ve ever tasted or that others have commented on (and I’ve literally made hundreds over the years as I baked professionally). If you want a touch of coffee flavour, put it into the icing.
bragu_DSM 5
7 years ago
have always used taster's choice instant granules in the cake ... don't like it as drinking coffee but it brings flavor to cakes, chilis and BBQ sauce ....
petalique
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
For a noticeable coffee flavor, you will likely need to use an espresso freeze dried crystal ‘powder’ — something like ~ Medaglia D’Oro. I’ve made a delicious chocolate layer cake (strong 1-2 liquid oz coffee into the cake mix and then with chocolate ganache frosting. The coffee flavor in the cake was not particularly detectable, even though the cake was delicious and pretty.
petalique
7 years ago
Oops! Whopper size! I don’t get a commission, honestly!
User
7 years ago
That recipe that Plllog refers to "the best chocolate cake ever" really is the best chocolate cake ever. I found that recipe a few years ago and haven't used any other one since.
bragu_DSM 5
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
When Tyler Florence had his 'best of/ultimate' show, I snagged the flourless choc cake recipe. Still like it a lot.

I did substitute dutch chocolate for a portion of the chocolate ... like half cocoa powder-half melted. Melted chocolate last.

it is a fave birthday cake recipe of the family.

flourless chocolate cake

Coffee Chocolate Cake - in the icing or cake?

suzanne_sl

Comments (16)

Jasdip

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Coffee Chocolate Cake - in the icing or cake?

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