Chocolate Espresso Spelt Cake

A rich and moist cake made with spelt flour, Dutch-process cocoa, and espresso, studded with sweet Medjool dates. This sophisticated dessert combines the deep flavors of chocolate and coffee with the nutty undertones of spelt flour.

8 servings
1 hr 35 min

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter
  • ¾ cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
  • 1 cup boiling-hot water
  • tablespoons instant-espresso powder
  • teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ lb Medjool dates
  • 2 cups spelt flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup dark brown sugar
  • 2 whole large eggs
  • 1 serving whipped cream
  • 1 piece springform pan

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Butter springform pan, then lightly dust with cocoa powder, knocking out excess.

    10 min

  2. 2.

    Stir together boiling-hot water, espresso powder, vanilla, and baking soda in a bowl, then add dates, mashing lightly with a fork, and steep until liquid cools to room temperature, about 10 minutes.

    10 min

  3. 3.

    Whisk together spelt flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in another bowl. Beat together butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating until just combined. Beat in date mixture (batter will look curdled), then reduce speed to low and add flour mixture, mixing until just combined.

    15 min

  4. 4.

    Spoon batter into springform pan, smoothing top, and bake until a wooden pick or skewer inserted into center comes out clean, about 50 minutes to 1 hour. Cool cake in pan on a rack 5 minutes, then remove side of pan and cool cake on rack. Serve cake warm or at room temperature.

    60 min