This sour cream mocha cake is a knockout. Made with unsweetened chocolate and instant espresso, it’s wicked dense, intense, chocolatey, and easy to toss together from ingredients you already have at home with an espresso frosting that’s as light as the cake is dense. A very “adult” dessert.
If you’re looking for something, say…less funfetti-pastel-swirl-sprinkle-coated for your next adult party, this deeply chocolatey and espresso gilded beauty might be exactly what you want. No baby-pink sparkles, here. Just an ultra rich and barely sweet cake with a whisper of luxurious frosting. Happy birthday, indeed.–Jenny Latreille
CAN I MAKE FROSTING IN A FOOD PROCESSOR?
Yes. In fact, don’t even think about using a stand mixer, handheld mixer, whisk, or spoon to make the espresso frosting. It needs to be a food processor. And make sure to keep it running for the required amount of time.
☞ Contents
Sour Cream Mocha Cake
Ingredients
For the mocha cake
- 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate grated
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus more for the pans
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 5 teaspoons instant espresso granules dissolved in 1 cup of hot water
- 1/2 cup sour cream not fat-free
- 1/4 cup (2 oz) unsalted butter melted, plus more for the pans
- 1/4 cup mild vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon chocolate extract or omit and up the vanilla to 1 tablespoon
- 2 large eggs at room temperature, beaten
For the espresso frosting
- 1/4 cup instant espresso granules dissolved in 5 tablespoons of cold water
- 1 stick (4 oz) stick unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream
Directions
Make the sour cream mocha cake
- Crank the oven to 350°F (175°C) and adjust the oven rack to the middle position. Butter two 8-inch (20-cm) cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Butter and flour the paper, tapping out any excess flour.
- Melt the chocolate, either in a microwave on medium or in a pot set over another pot filled with an inch of simmering water. (Make sure no water splashes into the chocolate or it’ll become grainy. And then you’ll become grouchy.) Remove from the heat to cool until just warm.
- Meanwhile, dump the sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment.
- In a bowl, whisk together the hot espresso, sour cream, oil, butter, and vanilla and chocolate extracts. Pour the espresso mixture into the flour mixture in the stand mixer and mix on low until just blended, about 30 seconds.
- Slowly drizzle in the beaten eggs and mix on medium until smooth. Scrape in the melted chocolate and beat until the batter is uniform in color, about 15 seconds. The batter will be thin but that’s how it should be.
- Divide the batter evenly between the 2 pans and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until a tester comes out clean. Move the cakes to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Run a sharp knife around the edge of each cake and invert them onto another rack to cool completely.
Make the espresso frosting
- Dissolve the espresso granules in the water.
- Pour the espresso mixture into a food processor and add the butter, sugar, and heavy cream. Process until it becomes light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. The frosting will initially look curdled and destroyed. And then just when you’re about to lose all faith, everything will come together beautifully. Swear.
☞TESTER TIP: You simply must use a food processor for the frosting. Seriously. Or the frosting won’t come together.
Assemble the cake
- Place 1 cake on a cake stand or serving plate. Frost the top and then stack the second cake on top. Frost the top and sides. Devour immediately.
Notes
Decaf Sour Cream Mocha Cake variation
If you’re sensitive to caffeine, you may get a subtle buzz from this cake. Rather than risk a sleepless night if you tend to eat a late dessert, simply make the recipe with decaffeinated espresso. The intense mocha flavor won’t be affected in the least.Show Nutrition
If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #LeitesCulinaria. We’d love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Originally published June 20, 1999
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If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #LeitesCulinaria. We'd love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Do you think it would be possible to use sour cream instead of heavy cream to give it a tangy flavor?
Jenn, we didn’t test it that way, so I can’t say for certain. The heavy cream changes consistency (thickens) as it whips; the sour cream won’t.
A question: Would it be possible to make this cake in a Bundt pan instead of two 8-inch cake pans? If so, how would the instructions change as to baking time and any other details?
Vin, we didn’t test it that way, so I can’t say. But I think you would be missing out on the best part, which is the frosting.
If I am using microwave to melt chocolate do I still need to grate the chocolate? Thank you.
Lemmonee, it will melt more evenly if you do.
Hello David!
I am planning to make this cake, store it overnight on the kitchen counter and serve it the next day. Will the frosting hold up or do I need to make it right before serving (I hope not!).
Thanks so much.
Judith, it should be fine, but I would store it in the fridge and take it out 2 hours or so before serving.
This is a five star dessert! The cake is rich and fudgy, the frosting is delicious, and the result is a perfect combination of chocolate and coffee. I had no problem with the frosting; it started to smooth out at about four and a half minutes of food processor mixing time. Thanks for another terrific recipe.
You are more than welcome, Donna!