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White Chocolate Mocha Cake

A light and flavorful white chocolate mocha cake.

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Ingredients
  • 3/4 cup High-quality white chocolate, chopped
  • 3 cups All-purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 cups Domino® Golden Sugar
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons Instant espresso powder
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons Baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon Sea salt
  • 2/3 cup Unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 large Eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup Whole milk, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
Frosting
  • 1 cup Unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 4 ounces Cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons Instant espresso
  • 4 cups Domino® Powdered Sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon Sea salt
  • 4-5 tablespoons Heavy cream, or more as needed
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Ganache
  • 8 ounces High-quality white chocolate
  • 1/4 cup Heavy cream
Garnish
  • White chocolate
  • Espresso beans
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Instructions
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Prep Time: 25 minutes / Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes / Yields: 12 servings

Prepare the cakes
Step 1

Line the bottom of 3 6-inch round cake pans with parchment paper. Grease and flour the sides and bottom of the pans. Preheat the oven to 350° F.

Step 2

Add the white chocolate to a metal bowl and place the bowl over a small saucepan filled with simmering water.

Step 3

Stir the white chocolate continuously until it is fully melted. Set aside to cool.

Step 4

In the bowl of your stand mixer, add the flour, Domino® Golden Sugar, instant espresso, baking powder, and salt. Stir to combine.

Step 5

Run the paddle attachment on the mixer on medium-low as you add in the butter one tablespoon at a time until fully incorporated. The mixture will look like wet sand.

Step 6

Add the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract in a separate bowl and whisk together.

Step 7

Drizzle the milk mixture into the stand mixer slowly and mix to combine, stopping to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl frequently.

Step 8

Fold in the melted white chocolate until just combined.

Step 9

Evenly divide the cake batter into the cake pans.

Step 10

Bake for 30 - 35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle.

Step 11

Allow to cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, then remove before placing on a wire rack to cool completely. Once at room temperature, wrap well and chill in the refrigerator.

Prepare the frosting
Step 12

Beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth.

Step 13

Mix in the espresso, Domino® Powdered Sugar, and salt. Mix until combined. The mixture may seem crumbly, but this is normal.

Step 14

Add in the heavy cream and vanilla. Mix until smooth.

Make ganache
Step 15

Melt the white chocolate on the double boiler just as you did earlier. Stir in the heavy cream, then pour the mixture into a container and chill until needed.

Assemble the cake
Step 16

Take out the cakes and level the tops.

Step 17

Spread frosting over one of the cakes, then top with a second cake. Repeat until you place the final cake.

Step 18

Spread a thin layer of frosting over the entire cake and chill for about 15 minutes.

Step 19

Take out the cake, and frost it, then chill for another 15 minutes.

Step 20

Add the ganache to the top of the cake and allow it to drizzle down the sides.

Step 21

Use any remaining frosting to decorate the top and/or sides of the cake.

Step 22

Garnish with white chocolate and whole espresso beans, or other tasty garnishes, if desired.

Additional Tip
  • You can make the cake in parts ahead of time and assemble when ready. The frosting can be made three days ahead of time and kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before using.
  • The cake can be made weeks in advance, if kept tightly wrapped and in an airtight container in the freezer prior to leveling. Thaw in the refrigerator the day before assembling.
  • The ganache may also be made in advance, if kept in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Place in a bowl of hot water to loosen.
  • If you do not have instant espresso, instant coffee will work, as well as coffee-flavored extract (1 1/2 teaspoons of extract per tablespoon of instant espresso)

Variations: Add peppermint extract to the cake and the frosting for a peppermint white chocolate mocha cake! Replace the white chocolate with semi-sweet or dark chocolate for a delicious mocha cake!

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Amanda Powell

Meet the Chef:

Amanda Powell

@acookienameddesire

Amanda is the recipe developer and food photographer behind A Cookie Named Desire. Her love of cooking and baking developed slowly since she was a child and eventually blossomed into something more while living in London and seeing the faces of her friends light up when enjoying her baked goods. She started A Cookie Named Desire as a way to spread more joy and sweetness. She hopes her recipes can help people create happy memories and traditions in the kitchen with the people they love and care for.