Espresso martini cake

Name: Espresso martini cake
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: 1 pack chocolate cake mix (we used Betty Crocker Tempting Chocolate Cake Mix); 100 mL espresso (or strong) coffee; 3 tbsp. Kahlua; 75 g caster sugar; 1 1/2 tbsp. instant coffee granules; 3/4 tbsp. boiling water; 125 g unsalted butter, softened; 250 g icing sugar; Few drops vanilla essence; Splash milk; Chocolate coffee beans, to decorate

This cake takes less than half and hour to prep, and barely any time to cook

By Karen WilliamsPublished: 19 December 2023

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Parker Feierbach

Coffee gives such a great richness to sponge of a coffee cake, and this espresso martini cake is no exception. I mean, adding Kahlua to a sponge mixture, what more could you want?

If you want to make your own chocolate sponge, feel free, but we used a pre-mixed packet to save on time, so that you can spend more time eating the cake than making it.

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Yields:

Prep Time:

25 mins

Total Time:

55 mins

Ingredients

1
pack chocolate cake mix (we used Betty Crocker Tempting Chocolate Cake Mix)
100 ml
espresso (or strong) coffee
3 Tbsp.
Kahlua
75 g
caster sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp.
instant coffee granules
3/4 Tbsp.
boiling water
125 g
unsalted butter, softened
250 g
icing sugar
Few drops vanilla essence
Splash milk
Chocolate coffee beans, to decorate

Directions

1. Step 1Bake cakes as per packet instructions.
2. Step 2Make espresso martini syrup drizzle: heat espresso, Kahlua and caster sugar in a pot until sugar has dissolved, then bring to boil and reduce for 3 minutes. Allow to cool.
3. Step 3Remove cakes from oven and while still warm and in their tins, prick holes all over with a skewer and drizzle each with 2 tbsp espresso martini syrup. Allow to cool completely in tins.
4. Step 4Make coffee buttercream: mix coffee granules with boiling water and allow to cool. Beat butter and icing sugar together then beat in coffee, vanilla and a splash of milk.
5. Step 5Remove cakes from tins and spread each layer with the buttercream, placing one on top of the other. Decorate with chocolate coffee beans.