Coffee Coffee Coffee Cake

A decadent coffee-flavored cake with three layers of coffee intensity: a crumb topping with espresso powder, a chocolate-coffee swirl, and a coffee-infused cake base, finished with a coffee liqueur glaze.

12 servings
1 hr 50 min

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup chilled unsalted butter, cubed
  • ¼ cup (packed) light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 ounces pecans
  • ¼ cup strong brewed coffee
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons instant espresso powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ¾ cup strong brewed coffee
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • cups granulated sugar
  • 4 whole eggs
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur
  • 1 tablespoon sour cream
  • 1 piece tube pan

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Using your fingers, combine flour, butter, brown sugar, powdered sugar, espresso powder, and salt in a medium bowl until mixture sticks together when pressed. Chill until ready to use.

    10 min

  2. 2.

    Melt chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water (water should not touch bowl) or in the top of a double boiler over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in pecans, coffee, and granulated sugar.

    15 min

  3. 3.

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour tube pan, tapping out excess flour. Whisk 2 1/2 cups flour, espresso powder, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and cardamom in a medium bowl. Whisk coffee, sour cream, and vanilla in another medium bowl.

    10 min

  4. 4.

    Beat granulated sugar and 1/2 cup butter in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs and egg yolk one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with coffee mixture in 2 additions, scraping down sides of bowl after each addition.

    10 min

  5. 5.

    Scrape one-third of the batter into prepared pan; smooth the surface. Drizzle half of the chocolate swirl mixture over. Add another one-third of the batter; smooth the surface. Drizzle the remaining chocolate swirl mixture over, then scrape in the remaining batter; smooth the surface. Sprinkle crumb topping over. Bake cake until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean and cake springs back when pressed, 40-50 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

    50 min

  6. 6.

    Run a butter knife around the perimeter of pan to loosen cake. Gently invert cake onto a large plate, then return cake (crumb side up) to rack.

    5 min

  7. 7.

    When cake is cool, prepare the glaze. Whisk powdered sugar, coffee liqueur, and sour cream in a medium bowl. Using a spoon, drizzle glaze over cooled cake, holding the spoon a few inches above the cake.

    10 min

  8. 8.

    Cake can be made up to two days before serving. Store wrapped in plastic until ready to serve.