Decadent Chocolate Coffee Cake with Mascarpone Cream and Ganache
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 2 eggs
- A pinch of salt
- 1 tbsp vanilla flavoring
- 150 g sugar (3/4 cup)
- 120 ml oil (1/2 cup)
- 120 ml milk (1/2 cup)
- 180 g flour (1 cup + 1/3 cup)
- 30 g bitter cocoa powder (1/3 cup)
- 7 g baking powder (1 tsp)
- 80 ml coffee (1/3 cup)
- For the Mascarpone Cream:
- 100 ml liquid cream (30% fat)
- 100 g mascarpone cheese (1/2 cup)
- 1 tbsp icing sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla flavoring
- For the Chocolate Ganache:
- 150 g chocolate, chopped
- 100 ml hot liquid cream
- 15 g butter
For the Icing Decoration:
- 70 g icing sugar (3/4 cup)
- 2 tablespoons milk
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the Cake Batter
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease and flour an 8-inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs with a pinch of salt until frothy. Add the vanilla flavoring, sugar, oil, and milk, mixing until smooth.
- Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder in a separate bowl. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until no lumps remain.
- Finally, incorporate the coffee into the batter, mixing until the consistency is smooth and pourable.
2. Bake the Cake
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35–40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool completely before slicing it horizontally into two layers.
3. Make the Mascarpone Cream
- In a chilled bowl, whip the liquid cream until it forms soft peaks.
- In a separate bowl, mix the mascarpone cheese with icing sugar and vanilla flavoring until smooth.
- Gently fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture until well combined.
4. Assemble the Cake
- Place the bottom layer of the cooled cake on a serving plate.
- Spread an even layer of mascarpone cream over the cake.
- Place the second layer on top and lightly press down to secure.
5. Prepare the Chocolate Ganache
- Heat the liquid cream until just below boiling, then pour it over the chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl.
- Let it sit for 1–2 minutes, then stir until smooth and glossy. Add the butter and mix until fully incorporated.
- Pour the ganache over the assembled cake, letting it drip down the sides for a luxurious finish.
6. Add the Final Touches
- For decoration, mix icing sugar with a small amount of milk to create a thick glaze. Drizzle it over the ganache in a pattern of your choice.
- Let the cake set at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.