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Death By Chocolate Layer Cake

By Paula |

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Death By Chocolate Layer CakeDeathy by Chocolate Coffee Layer CakeDisclaimer: This post is sponsored by Lavazza.

My birthday falls in the month of July (I was an early firecracker as my Mom likes to say still to this very day, and I gotta admit, the description still fits). I’m one of those people that really digs birthdays and tend to celebrate it for at least a week if not more. Doesn’t everyone? I also really dig chocolate and COFFEE so it was only natural that I made a celebration worthy cake that would make chocoholics and caffeine addicts rejoice right along with me.

I am super duper pleased with how this one turned out. So much so it might become my yearly birthday cake tradition. If it didn’t take a hot minute to pull together it might be my every time I’m craving a chocolate cake recipe but this one is firmly in the special occasion category.

Death by Chocolate Coffee Layer Cake
If you don’t like chocolate (I mean really really like it) this probably isn’t the cake for you (and that’s okay). Decadent doesn’t even begin to describe this. For a chocoholic like myself, it was worth every bit of extra time I had to put in on the treadmill after eating more slices than I’m willing to admit to. Again. Worth it.

I like big cakes and I can not lie. If I’m going to eat cake I’m of the go big or skip it camp so layered cakes rule my baking world. I decided to go with just two layers for this cake BUT it could easily be made into 4 layers. I just didn’t trust myself to make 4 even layers (food photographing problems and all) so 2 it was. You’ll also need a bit of time to make this cake. As impatient as I am, I have to admit that some things are worth the wait. Especially if they involve a chocolate cake that made my eyes roll back into my head.

I baked the cake portion the night before (wrapped those babies up in plastic to keep them at their best) and then made the chocoholics butterdream buttercream the following day. Because buttercream. It’s the stuff frosting dreams are made of. I tend to be a minimalist with my cake decorating because I’m all about getting to the good stuff especially after it took me two days to make this baby. I did a simple swirl on top and then garnished with cocoa nibs.

Death by Chocolate Coffee Layer Cake

Chocolate and Coffee are a natural pairing. They’re so good together they should be BFF’s. I used Lavazza’s Perfetto ESPRESSO roast in the cake recipe. “Made from 100% carefully selected Arabica beans, Perfetto is bold with lingering caramel notes. It is roasted a bit longer to produce a “perfect” and characteristically Italian dark flavor profile. The ideal choice for those who love the pure pleasure of espresso roasts.” 

Lavazza’s Perfetto Roast also happens to be on sale this month! Visit the Lavazza Online store to save 20% off on Perfetto.

xo!

signature2010
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Lavazza. I was compensated for my time. Opinions are my own. Always have been. Always will be.

You can explore more about Lavazza by visiting www.SHOPLAVAZZA.com

Cake Recipe Adapted from Bon Appetit

Print
Death By Chocolate Layer Cake

What You Will Need:

  • 2 cups cake flour
  • 3/4 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter - room temperature
  • 2 cups packed brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 3/4 cup coffee
  • Chocolate Buttercream

What To Do:

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Generously butter two deep sided 8-inch cake pans. Dust with flour, tapping out any excess.
  2. Sift flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt into medium bowl. Using electric or stand mixer, beat butter until smooth. Add sugar and beat until well blended, about 2 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each. Add vanilla. Mix to combine.
  3. Add flour mixture in 3 portions alternating with buttermilk in 2 portions, beating just until blended after each addition. Gradually add coffee, beat until smooth.
  4. Divide batter between pans; smooth tops removing any air bubbles. Bake cakes until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 40-45 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on rack 10-15 minutes.
  5. Run butter knife around sides of pans to loosen cakes. Invert cakes onto racks. Cool completely.
  6. Prepare Buttercream
  7. To assemble cake:
  8. Place a small layer of buttercream between cakes. To create a crumb coat, lightly frost as smoothly as possible a light layer of buttercream over entire cake. Transfer to refrigerator to set up for approximately 10 minutes.
  9. Finish frosting entire cake with remaining buttercream. Store cake covered with dome or carefully with plastic wrap in refrigerator.
  10. Bring cake to room temperature prior to slicing/serving.
3.1
https://bellalimento.com/2015/07/29/death-by-chocolate-layer-cake/
Copyright Paula Jones with bellalimento

Filed Under: Desserts Tagged With: Cake, Chocolate, chocolate cake, Death By Chocolate Layer Cake, desserts

Comments

  1. Martha @ A Family Feast says

    07/29/2015 at 2:38 pm

    What a cake! Coffee and chocolate are a match made in heaven!

  2. Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes says

    07/29/2015 at 2:48 pm

    Oh my gosh I am drooling!! I also love to celebrate birthday for an entire week (or more) haha!

  3. Lauren Kelly Nutrition says

    07/29/2015 at 3:07 pm

    Oh my word, this cake is OUTRAGEOUS! Just amazing!

  4. Stephanie says

    07/29/2015 at 3:17 pm

    Death by chocolate…that’s how I want to go, haha!

  5. brenda@sugarfreemom says

    07/29/2015 at 3:19 pm

    Beautiful photos as always and one gorgeous chocolate cake!

  6. June @ How to Philosophize with Cake says

    07/29/2015 at 5:41 pm

    Wow that looks incredible! Definitely to die for 🙂 Love the use of coffee in the cake itself!

  7. The Food Hunter says

    07/29/2015 at 6:02 pm

    What a wonderful birthday cake! I may need this for my birthday next year.

  8. Annamaria @ Bakewell Junction says

    07/29/2015 at 10:32 pm

    Paula,
    Happy Belated Birthday! This cake looks delicious. It would be devoured in our house.
    Annamaria

  9. Hala says

    07/30/2015 at 3:58 am

    Hello. What type of coffee we are talking about here? we don’t have many variety where I live.
    Thanks

  10. Marye says

    07/30/2015 at 9:10 am

    I am a firm believer that you can never have too much chocolate, this cake looks so good!

  11. Erin @ Texanerin Baking says

    07/30/2015 at 9:47 am

    I agree! Coffee and chocolate are amazing together and I don’t even like coffee. Put it in a dessert, though, and I’m all over it. 🙂

  12. Meredith In Sock Monkey Slippers says

    07/30/2015 at 2:57 pm

    This is drop dead amazing and I want a slice now!

  13. Marjory @ Dinner-Mom says

    07/30/2015 at 9:56 pm

    It’s the perfect name for a cake that would definitely put me in a heavenly chocolate coma!

  14. heather | girlichef says

    07/30/2015 at 10:00 pm

    Oh yeah, coffee and chocolate are definitely bff’s – and this cake is definitely a thing of beauty! Hope you had (and keep having) an awesome birthday celebration. 🙂

  15. Alida says

    07/30/2015 at 11:19 pm

    A chocolate lover’s dream! This cake looks absolutely incredible!

  16. Anita says

    07/31/2015 at 1:57 am

    Gorgeous photos! And that is definitely a death by chocolate cake!

  17. Sarah Walker Caron (Sarah's Cucina Bella) says

    08/01/2015 at 4:19 pm

    First, happy belated birthday! I hope you had a wonderful celebration. And second, this cake looks amazing. I skipped a birthday cake this year for myself — but I would have loved this one. Mmm.

  18. Tasha @thatssoyummy says

    08/03/2015 at 2:38 pm

    This cake is heaven!!!! Chocolate cake is my downfall

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I'm Paula, the recipe developer, food stylist, food photographer, writer, editor, and chief dishwasher behind the blog. Read More

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