Coffee-Chocolate Layer Cake with Mocha-Mascarpone Frosting

Delicious, loved by all, my "go to" Family Cake -- requested by entire family!!! Good enough for me!!

• Anonymous

• Pinehurst, NC

• 3/22/2022

I’m not a person who leaves reviews but I had to on this one. This cake was awsomely delishious and easy to make. I followed the ingredients for the cake and icing to the tee but I added some techniques after watching hundreds of baking shows. First, I do not like the look of a two layer cake so i devided the batter into thirds. Second, after the cakes cooled, I added a coffee simple syrup to them in order to add more coffee flavor and moistness. Third, I made a chocolate ganache and spead these on the layers before I applied a nice layer of the frosting to them. Forth, after layering the cake, I applied a thin frosting layer which is crumb coat then placed the cake in the fridge for at least an hour). Fifth, applied the final layer of frosting then refrigerated the cake. Sixth, because I did not like the color of the frosting, I added more ganache to the top of the cake and let it drip down the sides. I know a lot of bakers mentioned that they had too much frosting but when I applied the crumb coat to the cake, the amount of frosting was perfect. Like other bakers, I was disappointed by the color of the frosting so next time I’m going to try to add some brown and black food coloring. Bakers, Make this Cake!

• Crawfordrose

• DMV

• 5/12/2021

This was so good, it came out so rich, and moist! Definitely need a standing mixer

• allysnblckbrn

• Illinois

• 2/11/2021

Cake came out a bit dry. Halved the frosting per another’s recommendation & it didn’t seem like enough. I’d recommend making 3/4 or the full amount, it likely would help the cake taste more moist. The frosting was incredible. I’d make it for another cake in a heartbeat.

• Sjb39

• 5/3/2020

this recipe is fake news

• anniecake

• New York, NY

• 4/29/2020

I've been making this cake for years. Unlike some I make it as per the recipe and it is perfect. I never saw the pic until today when I went to write a review. That is not the color of the frosting, it is a pale mocha brown. The frosting is so creamy the cake is moist with a good crumb. If you love the taste of coffee and chocolate, this is the recipe for you.

• morijwest3769

• Palos Verdes, CA

• 7/7/2019

Very good, moist cake. I substituted sour cream for the buttermilk because I did not have buttermilk. I did not make the frosting, used a chocolate ganache filling, with a whipped cream/marscapone topping. I will make the cake again.

• Suzmar

• Chico, TX

• 2/7/2019

It was delicious. Had none of the frosting problems others mentioned. Even the people who aren't fond of chocolate loved it. I used King Arthur's Black Cocoa and a little more espresso. My only issues were that it was far too much frosting. Even though I used a generous amount, there was lots left. Half would be enough. And I feel ripped off by the photo. I knew from the start that the frosting color in the photo couldn't be right for whipped cream and marscapone, but a recipe photo should depict the actual recipe.

• pweeks

• Princeton NJ

• 5/21/2018

While mine didn't look as deep and dark as the photo, the cake was delicious and moist. It was fast and easy. I made a 1/2 batch in one 8" round pan. I only iced the top (generously)and still had about 1 cup left of the frosting. I think I found my go to holiday cake. I think it will travel well also.

• 1wayin

• NJ

• 3/21/2018

Excellent decadent dark chocolate cake withe the absolute best cheese based mousse-like frosting ever. Now, this is the best frosting - it's a keeper.

• tuardxe

• Boulder, CO

• 6/18/2017

I absolutely LOVE this recipe. I have made the following changes to it: - 1 tsp of cinnamon added to frosting and cake. - Use real brewed espresso instead of instant. - Cut the recipe for the frosting in half as it is too much. Notes on how to cook. Make sure you bake the cake for the full time presented otherwise it turns a little soft even with 5 minutes remaining.

• caol1

• Cork, Ireland

• 11/4/2016

I too wish I had read the reviews first. Everyone was expecting that gorgeous photo in real life, and when it was a light mocha color, not at all what was expected, there was disappointment. This was my birthday cake. The cake was merely meh. "Baked" has better. I was just excited to try this particular recipe based on the photo. I would like to have an explanation of what exactly Bon Appetit was thinking when they had to have known that the photo and the recipe had no relation to each other. That's deceptive advertising. Was it good? No. Way too sweet. I should have known not to add that much sugar to the frosting. Mascarpone is already quite sweet. However, I like to do a recipe as written the first time...but there won't be a next time with this. Question though...King Arthur makes a black chocolate powder. It is dutched, but would it have made no difference other than color in the frosting? Is that what was originally used in 2009? Watch...no one from BA or Epicurious will respond to my post.

• joannabar1

• NJ

• 9/5/2016

This recipe is definitely a keeper! First of all, yes, the picture is darker but I don't mind that! I read the reviews before and halved the frosting recipe, which was the perfect quantity. I also added the boiling water to the cocoa and espresso powder, which gives it a deeper chocolate flavour and better texture. I found the cake to have a deep chocolate flavour as well as perfect texture! I don't like my cake layers to thick and used some of the batter to make a few cupcakes at the same time. Turned out to be the ultimate texture for cupcakes, very light and fluffy, yet flavourful. Go ahead, you won't be disappointed, it is a perfect cake!

• mchaland

• Toronto, ON

• 11/21/2015

I just finished making and tasting this cake. I can see what everybody is talking about regarding the colour of the frosting. I suspect that the photo of this cake was styled. It happens sometimes when they try to hard to make the cake look the way they think it should. That said loved this cake. Light in texture and the frosting is almost buttercream like. I would cut back on the sugar in the frosting the next time I make it. If you want darker frosting try a whipped ganache made with dark chocolate.

• eviechan

• Toronto

• 9/20/2015

Total disappointment on all counts. The cake was fine, but not particularly amazing, and the frosting was horrible - light brown, a little too soft, and flavorless. Such a waste of expensive marscapone. I always read reviews first but not this time - lesson learned. To note, I'm a lover of dense cakes with buttercream or other rich frosting, and hated this. My coworkers on the other hand seemed to rave about it and I got compliments from a few who said they "don't normally like cake". So, to each their own...

• kinkaju2

• Washington, DC

• 7/20/2015