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This coffee flavored cake is truly for coffee lovers. The coffee flavors both the cake and the frosting, cutting the sweetness without detracting from the flavor. But you gotta like coffee. A lot. Luckily, we do, so this is a very popular cake in our house.
Coffee Flavored Cake
Our friend Tom introduced us to this cake last year and I couldn’t get it out of my head. His version started with a cake mix, and it was truly irresistible. So, I challenged myself to recreate it from scratch. This is truly a coffee lover’s dream come true.
As much as I love a great coffee cake -which is typically made without a bit of coffee in it, but served with coffee- this is a cake for the coffee lover. Coffee flavored cake topped with fluffy coffee frosting? I very happily make and eat this cake as often as possible.
Coffee Flavored Cake Recipe
To make this little piece of coffee heaven, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- instant coffee
- water
- brown sugar
- white sugar
- vegetable or olive oil
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- all purpose flour
- baking powder
- salt
- coffee frosting
Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease an 8-inch round or square baking pan with butter. Combine the instant coffee and the water and stir to dissolve. Set aside.
In a mixing bowl, combine the sugars with the oil and beat until fluffy crumbs form. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat to combine. Slowly pour in coffee mixture while continuing to beat the mixture.
Slowly add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Beat just until combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 34-36 minutes.
Test the center of the cake for doneness with a toothpick, and remove from the oven. Cool completely before frosting. Spread the frosting over the cooled cake.
COOK’S NOTES: This cake can also be doubled for a 9×13 cake pan or made as a layer cake using (2) 8-inch round pans.
I use one (.11 ounce) tube of instant coffee (the kind from a well-known coffee shop) for each 1½ teaspoon portion listed in this recipe.
COFFEE LOVER’S CAKE
Ingredients
- 1½ teaspoons instant coffee
- ½ cup room temp water
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup white sugar
- ⅓ cup vegetable or light flavored olive oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1¼ cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Coffee Frosting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8-inch round or square baking pan with butter. Combine the instant coffee and the water and stir to dissolve. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the sugars with the oil and beat until fluffy crumbs form. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat to combine. Slowly pour in coffee mixture while continuing to beat the mixture.
- Slowly add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Beat just until combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 34-36 minutes. Test the center of the cake for doneness with a toothpick, and remove from the oven. Cool completely before frosting.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi Mary – what is the recipe for the frosting? This looks great!
Hi Julie, it’s linked above, but here’s a direct link to it too: https://barefeetinthekitchen.com/coffee-frosting/
Oops – thank you!
No worries! Enjoy the cake, Julie.
Just a quick note to say how much we are enjoying this tasty cake! It was so easy to make. The recipe is very simple and straightforward to follow. The cake baked perfectly and has a wonderful texture. It is so moist and delicious. The coffee flavor is clearly present, but not overpowering. Just delicious!! This recipe will be made on repeat in this house!
I’m so glad that you enjoyed the cake, Jo!