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Espresso Chocolate Cake with Mascarpone Frosting
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Espresso-Chocolate Layer Cake with White Chocolate-Mascarpone Frosting

A most decadent cake with rich chocolate cake layers surrounded by an even richer espresso mascarpone frosting.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 10 -12
Calories 29kcal
Author Creative Culinary

Ingredients

For the Cake:

  • 2 cups cake flour
  • ¾ cup cocoa
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup butter room temperature
  • 2 cups golden brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 4 teaspoons instant espresso powder dissolved in 3/4 cup hot water Available at my local Whole Foods; I used Medaglia D'oro

For the Frosting:

  • 1 ½ cups chilled heavy whipping cream divided
  • 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
  • ⅓ cup white chocolate grated
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 8- ounce containers chilled mascarpone cheese

For Garnish:

  • Chocolate bar for shaving
  • Raspberries - small container Optional

Instructions

Prepare the Cake Layers:

  • Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 325. Generously butter two 9-inch cake pans; dust with cocoa, tapping out excess. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper.
  • Sift 2 cups cake flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt into medium bowl.
  • Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until smooth. Add brown sugar and beat until well blended, about 2 minutes.
  • Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla.
  • Add flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with buttermilk in 2 additions, beating just until blended after each addition.
  • Gradually add hot espresso-water mixture, beating just until smooth.
  • Divide batter between pans; smooth tops. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on rack 15 minutes. Run small knife around sides of pans to loosen cakes. Invert cakes onto racks; lift pans off cakes and remove parchment. Place wire rack atop each cake, invert again so top side is up.
  • Cool completely.

To Make the Frosting:

  • Bring 1 cup cream to boil in small saucepan. Slowly pour cream over espresso, whisking until espresso is dissolved. Add grated white chocolate and stir until smooth. Add 1/2 cup of the whipping cream and sugar; stir until sugar dissolves. Chill until cold, at least 2 hours. Can be made one day ahead; cover and keep chilled.
  • Add mascarpone to chilled mixture; Using electric mixer; beat on low speed until blended and smooth. Increase speed to medium-high; beat until mixture is thick and medium-firm peaks form when beaters are lifted, about 2 minutes (do not overbeat or mixture will curdle).

To Assemble the Cake:

  • Brush crumbs from cakes. Place one cake layer, top side up, on platter. Spoon 1 3/4 cups frosting on top of cake. Using offset spatula, spread frosting to edges. Top with second layer, top side up. Spread thin layer of frosting over top and sides of cake. Chill 10 minutes. Spread another layer of frosting over top and sides of cake. Pipe frosting with star tip around base and outer edge of cake.
  • If desired, mound fresh fruit in center of cake.

Notes

Protect any part of cake plate that you do not want chocolate shavings on (I use masking tape). Sprinkle chocolate around outer edge; letting some adhere to sides and fall to plate; sprinkle over cake top and fruit.[br][br]Cake can be made ahead. Wrap each layer in plastic and store at room temperature for completing the next day or freeze if using within a week.

Nutrition

Calories: 29kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g