Moist Layered Coffee Cake

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 3/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1/2 Cup Vegetable or Canola Oil
• 1 Cup Brown/Demerara Sugar
• 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 1 Egg Yolk
• 3 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 1/2 Cups Milk
• 2 Shots Espresso or 1 Cup Strong Coffee
• 200 g Granulated Sugar
• 1 Shot Espresso
• 135 g Egg White
• 40 ml Water
• 350 g Butter, cold & cubed

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare. Preheat your oven to 180ºC/350ºF and line...: Prepare. Preheat your oven to 180ºC/350ºF and line three 8-inch cake tins with baking paper.

2. 2

   Cream. In a large mixing bowl, use an...: Cream. In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the oil, sugar, and vanilla together until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.

3. 3

   Add the eggs. Once light and fluffy, add...: Add the eggs. Once light and fluffy, add the eggs and egg yolk and continue to beat the mixture for a few minutes.

4. 4

   Prepare dry ingredients. Then in a separate bowl,...: Prepare dry ingredients. Then in a separate bowl, sift together the remaining dry ingredients.

5. 5

   Combine. Add these dry ingredients to the egg...: Combine. Add these dry ingredients to the egg mixture, alternating with the milk. Mix until just combined. You don't want to overmix this batter!

6. 6

   Add the espresso. Add the warm espresso shots...: Add the espresso. Add the warm espresso shots to the mixture and mix until just combined.

7. 7

   Bake. Divide the batter between the 3 prepared...: Bake. Divide the batter between the 3 prepared cake tins and bake for 25 minutes.

8. 8

   Cool. Remove the cakes from the oven and...: Cool. Remove the cakes from the oven and allow them to cool for 5 minutes before removing them from the tin and allow them to reach room temperature before frosting.

9. 9

   Place your espresso shot in the fridge to...: Place your espresso shot in the fridge to allow it to cool slightly.

10. 10

    In a saucepan, bring the 150g of sugar,...: In a saucepan, bring the 150g of sugar, and the water to a simmer.

11. 11

    Allow to simmer until it reaches the soft-ball...: Allow to simmer until it reaches the soft-ball stage (about 110ºC).

12. 12

    Meanwhile, beat the egg whites with the remaining...: Meanwhile, beat the egg whites with the remaining sugar until stiff peaks.

13. 13

    Once the sugar reaches the soft-ball stage, pour...: Once the sugar reaches the soft-ball stage, pour the sugar mixture into the egg white mixture while beating on high speed. Make sure you pour the syrup in a slow steady stream.

14. 14

    Continue to whip the mixture at high speed...: Continue to whip the mixture at high speed until the bowl has cooled down slightly.

15. 15

    Then add the butter blocks to the mixture,...: Then add the butter blocks to the mixture, one block at a time.

16. 16

    Continue to mix until you have a delicious...: Continue to mix until you have a delicious creamy buttercream.

17. 17

    Then slowly pour in the cooled espresso shot...: Then slowly pour in the cooled espresso shot and whip until well combined.

18. 18

    Assembling the Cake (see video):

19. 19

    Cut off the tops of each layer using...: Cut off the tops of each layer using a cake leveler or knife to ensure all layers are even.

20. 20

    Place a little buttercream on the bottom layer...: Place a little buttercream on the bottom layer and spread until evenly distributed.

21. 21

    Place the next layer on top of the...: Place the next layer on top of the buttercream and repeat step 1.

22. 22

    Place the last layer and then top with...: Place the last layer and then top with remaining buttercream.

23. 23

    Spread the buttercream around the top and then...: Spread the buttercream around the top and then down the sides.

24. 24

    Using an offset spatula to smooth the buttercream around the...: Using an offset spatula to smooth the buttercream around the entire cake.

25. 25

    Then use a cake scraper to smooth the cake as...: Then use a cake scraper to smooth the cake as well as to remove all the excess buttercream.

26. 26

    Lastly, pipe a few "blobs" on top of...: Lastly, pipe a few "blobs" on top of the cake or top with fresh flowers.