Chocolate Coffee Layer Cake

A new and improved recipe for those of you who love chocolate AND coffee!

I made this cake a few years back and I knew I needed to improve it. Chocolate and coffee marry together so brilliantly because of their ability to bring out the best of each other. They work best in desserts in my opinion and especially in cake form which is my favourite way. This cake has beautiful and moist chocolate sponge layers, with a hint of coffee to bring out the chocolate, plus the buttercream is made with fresh espresso, not too bitter, not too acidic just right. I also did a little chocolate drip just to be fancy but if the buttercream and the sponge is enough for you, miss it out. I actually made this to take to a family dinner, but then the petrol shortage happened, and no one could go anywhere, so lots and LOTS of cake for my sister and I, which I couldn't complain about could I.  This cake reminds me of a mocha, so if that's right up your street, please have a go at making this, you won't be disappointed!

If you love chocolate and coffee...

Check out my other recipes for more inspiration!

Coffee & Walnut Cupcakes

Bournville Chocolate Drip Cake

Chocolate Hazelnut Rice Pop Bars

NOTE: The cake in the photos are a 6 inch cake (I had to redo it for the pics) which is why the cake is thicker - this recipe makes x3 thin 8-inch cake layers and is just as good if not better!

Recipe

Prep: 30 minutes

Cook: 35 minutes

Serves: 10-12

NOTE: every ingredient I use is vegan so make sure you check your ingredients if you're following a Vegan lifestyle.

Ingredients

Cake

540ml Soya milk + 2 tsp Apple cider vinegar

480g Self-raising flour

110g Cocoa powder

300g Caster sugar

150g Dark brown sugar

140g Butter, melted

2 tbsp instant coffee + 4 tbsp boiling water or 1tsp coffee extract

2 tsp Baking powder

1½ tsp Baking soda

Pinch of salt

Buttercream

250g Butter

400g Icing sugar

2tbsp instant coffee + 4 tbsp boiling water or 2tsp coffee extract

70g Chocolate for the drip optional

Method

✿Mix together the coffee granules and boiling water and then leave to cool.

✿Preheat the oven to 170℃ and grease and line x2 deep 8 inch cake tins. Mix together the soya milk and ACV and leave to form a 'buttermilk'. 

✿In a large bowl, mix together the butter and both sugars and whisk vigorously till a little foamy. Mix in the coffee and then the vegan 'buttermilk'. 

✿In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

✿Gradually add into the bowl with the wet ingredients and fold in till mixed evenly. 

✿Spoon the cake batter into the prepared cake tins and bake for 30-35 minutes until a knife inserted comes out clean. Leave to cool completely before removing from the cake tins. 

✿Meanwhile make the buttercream. In a standing mixer or with an electric hand mixer, beat the butter until pale and smooth. 

✿Scrape around the bowl to ensure all of the butter gets mixed so it isn't lumpy. 

✿Have the coffee prepared as it needs to cool down before you add it. 

✿Gradually add the icing sugar and mix in. Then add the coffee and mix. 

✿To assemble the cake, slice each cake in half to have 4 cake layers. Place one cake on a cake board. 

✿Spread a bit of the buttercream onto the cake evenly, then place another cake on top. 

✿Repeat with the remaining layers, then cover the whole cake in buttercream however you like.

✿Chill n the fridge until ready to use. Will keep up to 5 days at its best. Enjoy!

Christina

xx

Pear & Coconut Crumble Bars

Summer meets autumn with these tasty crumble bars!

Pears are a really underrated fruit in my opinion, they get a bad rap because most aren't sure on the slightly grainy texture of the flesh. But if you buy the right pears you get an enormous juicy bite with a buttery sensation. I've used Rocher pears which are my favourite, but conference pears also work really well. The smaller pears are little more firm which will only give these bars more of a crunch, which personally is not what I recommend, you want something that becomes soft but not mushy. I've added a little spice to this recipe with ground cardamom for some autumnal warmth which really brings out the fruitiness of the pears. And to top it off, I've mixed through desiccated coconut with the crumble topping for a slight tang, hence why this really is a transitional recipe from summer to autumn. 

If you like these crumble bars..

Check out my other recipes for more inspiration!

• Apple and Blackberry Crumble Cake
• Apricot Crumble
• Triple Berry Crumble Bars

Recipe

Prep: 15 minutes

Cook: 45 minutes

Serves: 16

Ingredients

Base

• 150g butter softened
• 220g plain flour
• 50g caster sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt

Filling

• 800g pears - rocher or conference
• 30g light brown suagr
• 1 tsp ground cardamom
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp cornflour

Topping

• 120g butter softened
• 100g caster sugar
• 100g plain flour
• 60g Oats
• 2btps desiccated coconut
• 1/2 tsp salt

Method

1. Peel and chop the pears into small cubes. Place in a bowl with the remaining ingredients for the filling and leave to infuse. 
2. Preheat the oven to 180℃ and grease and line a 9x9 inch baking tray. 
3. In a large bowl, cube the butter into the plain flour. Use your hands to mix together into a breadcrumb consistency. Then add in the sugar and salt and mix in.
4. Press the mixture into the base of the baking tray and then bake for 15 minutes. Meanwhile use the same bowl to make the crumble topping. Mix the butter into the flour with your hands into a breadcrumb consistency. Then add in the oats and caster sugar and mix. 
5. When the base has baked, remove from the oven and spoon in the pear mixture. Spread out evenly and then top with the crumble making sure the pears are covered and coated. 
6. Place back in the oven for about 30 minutes until golden brown all over. Wait till cooled then cut into 16 bars. Best served with vanilla ice cream or custard. Enjoy!

Christina

xx

Banoffee Pancakes

 If you love Banoffee Pie, then you'll love this twist on a big stack of pancakes!

I'm really enjoying making these upgraded pancake stacks. Don't get me wrong, a simple fluffy plain pancake never goes amiss, but when you can add a little sparkle I think that's worth risking. When I first spotted The Coconut Collaborative Banoffee pots I knew I could put them to good use and they make the perfect spread in-between each sweet pancake. I found two of the pots to be enough, but they come in packs of four so there's the option to have more banoffee spread.  I tried to layer these like the traditional banoffee pie, so you've got a simple (but delicious) vegan pancake, lots of banoffee spread, sliced bananas and a drizzle of chocolate sauce. Hopefully that will curb your sweet tooth! 

If you love banoffee and pancakes...

Check out my other recipes for more inspiration!

Hummingbird Pancakes

Peanut Butter and Raspberry Pancakes

Banoffee Pie Cupcakes

RECIPE

Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Serves: 6 large or 10-12 smaller pancakes

NOTE: every ingredient I use is vegan so make sure you check your ingredients if you're following a Vegan lifestyle

INGREDIENTS

Pancakes

350g Self-raising flour

400ml Soya milk

1 tsp flaxseed

30g melted butter
1 tsp Cinnamon optional

1 tbsp Maple Syrup

Pinch of salt

Toppings

1 - 2 Bananas, sliced

x2 Banoffee Pots - The Coconut Collaborative 

Chocolate Sauce - I like Sweet Freedom

✿In a large bowl, mix together the flour, cinnamon if using, salt and flaxseeds. Then pour in the soya milk, melted butter and maple syrup and mix until well combined.

✿Leave the batter to sit for about 5-10 minutes so that it thickens enough to hold its shape.
✿Heat up a large non-stick pan on a low to medium heat and drizzle a little oil. Once warm, add a couple of tbsp of the pancake batter to the pan in a circle to create one smaller pancake (or add more batter to make larger pancakes). Do this again to make more pancakes in the pan depending on the size - I did 3 at a time.
✿When you see bubbles starting to appear on the surface of each pancake, you can then flip it to cook on the other side. It should take roughly 2-3 minutes per side. Then remove from the pan, put on a plate and repeat with the rest of the pancake batter.

✿Layer the pancakes with the sliced bananas and Banoffee pots spread on each pancake. Finish with a big drizzle of chocolate sauce and serve. Enjoy!

Christina 

xx