Chocolate-Mocha Cake

Photo: flickr user owlpacino

Ingredients

cup Dutch process cocoa

cup hot water divided

6 tablespoons instant coffee granules divided

1 cup butter or margarine - (2 cup sugar

3 lrgs eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

cup all-purpose flour

teaspoon baking soda

teaspoon baking powder

teaspoon salt

cup coffee liqueur

1 cup butter or margarine - (2 1 cup Dutch process cocoa

teaspoon salt

cup coffee liqueur

1 pkt powdered sugar - (2 lbs)

cup strong brewed coffee cooled

cup whipping cream or milk

Chocolate-covered coffee beans

Preparation

Stir together cocoa, 2/3 cup hot water, and 3 tablespoons coffee granules until smooth. Cool. Stir together remaining 2/3 cup hot water and remaining 3 tablespoons coffee granules; cool.

Beat cocoa mixture, butter, and next 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until blended. Stir together flour and next 3 ingredients; add to butter mixture alternately with coffee, beating at low speed and beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat 1 minute. Pour into 2 greased and floured 9-inch round cakepans.

Bake at 325 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks. Brush layers with coffee liqueur.

Mocha Frosting: Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add cocoa and salt alternately with liqueur, beating until blended. Gradually add powdered sugar alternately with coffee and whipping cream, beating until blended. (

Makes about 5 cups)

Spread Mocha Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake. Garnish, if desired.

This recipe yields 1 (2-layer) cake.

Yield: 1 cake