Description
A delicious espresso layer cake with cream cheese and mascarpone frosting.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 box white cake mix
- 3 large eggs (room temperature)
- 1 cup milk (room temperature)
- ½ cup salted butter (melted and cooled)
- 1 tub cream cheese frosting (16-ounce)
- 2 packages mascarpone cheese (8-ounces each)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup simple syrup
- 3 tablespoons espresso powder
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease three 6-inch cake pans with baking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat cake mix, eggs, milk, and melted butter for 1-2 minutes until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Divide batter evenly among pans and bake for 18-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean and the tops spring back when touched.
- Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- While cakes cool, beat cream cheese frosting, mascarpone, and vanilla until light and creamy (1-2 minutes). Refrigerate until ready to use.
- To assemble, level the first cake layer if needed. Mix simple syrup and espresso powder in a small bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir until dissolved.
- Brush espresso syrup generously over the cake layer. Using a piping bag fitted with a 2A tip, pipe a frosting border and fill the center. Smooth evenly.
- Repeat with remaining layers, soaking each with syrup and adding frosting before stacking.
- Frost the outside of the cake, smoothing it with a spatula. Optionally, pipe decorative dollops on top.
- Dust with cocoa powder. Refrigerate for 30-60 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- This cake can be made a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator.
- For a richer flavor, use dark cocoa powder for dusting.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 70mg