Ohhh — a Mocha Layer Cake is rich, moist, and has that perfect mix of chocolate + coffee flavor ☕🍫. Great choice for a showstopper dessert! Here’s a bakery-style recipe for you:

🍰 Mocha Layer Cake

Ingredients

For the Cake:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 cups sugar

• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• 2 tsp baking powder

• 1 ½ tsp baking soda

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 cup buttermilk (or 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp vinegar, sit 5 min)

• ½ cup vegetable oil

• 2 large eggs (room temp)

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 cup hot brewed coffee (strong)

For the Mocha Frosting:

• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)

• 3 ½ cups powdered sugar

• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• 2 tsp instant coffee granules (dissolved in 2 tbsp hot water)

• ¼ cup heavy cream (plus more if needed)

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Make the Cake

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 9-inch round cake pans.

2. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. Add buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla → beat until smooth.

4. Stir in hot coffee (batter will be thin).

5. Divide into pans and bake 30–35 min until a toothpick comes out clean.

6. Cool 10 min in pans, then remove to wire racks to cool completely.

2. Make the Frosting

1. Beat butter until creamy.

2. Add powdered sugar + cocoa gradually.

3. Mix in dissolved coffee, vanilla, salt, and cream until fluffy.

3. Assemble

1. Place one cake layer on a plate, spread frosting on top.

2. Add second layer, frost top + sides.

3. Decorate with chocolate shavings, cocoa dust, or coffee beans.