Cafe Latte Cake Vanilla Cafe Layer Cake

I made a total of six coffee-flavored desserts this week. There was mocha chocolate mousse, cafe latte tart, chocolate fudge brownie. Also, a three-tier bat mitzvah cake. And, all three tiers were coffee flavored – one was my Kahlua chiffon cake, espresso cake, and this cafe latte cake. As a result, the cake was so pretty and the flavors were so delicious. I love the smell of coffee and adore anything coffee-flavored. And, it is a known fact that coffee and chocolate go well together. And yet, do you know that vanilla and coffee is even better? In fact, I do like adding the flavor of beverages to my layer cakes like my Chai Latte Cake, Earl Grey cake with IMBC, Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake with Maple Buttercream. Do you?

Cafe Latte Cake

Prepare cake

Preheat the oven to 170 C/ 340 F. Grease and line 3 x 6-inch round cake pans or 2 x 7-inch round cake pans Coffee – Combine the coffee and milk and set aside to cool completely. Dry ingredients – In a bowl, combine the flour with baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt – set aside. Wet ingredients – In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. Combine – Then, add the flour mixture and the coffee mixture in three additions. Combine well but do not overmix.

Bake – Divide the batter equally between the prepared baking pans. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes clean.Pro tip – I like to use cake strips to ensure my layer cakes bake flat. Cool – Once baked cool in the baking pan for 5 minutes. Then, invert and cool on a wire rack completely before you decorate.

Coffee Buttercream

Coffee – Add coffee and vanilla extract to the cold cream. Strain if necessary – set aside Cream – In a bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment cream the butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time Followed by the heavy cream and coffee. Whip – Continue to whip until you have a light and fluffy buttercream. The cream in the mixture will whip and give you almost stiff peaks.Pro tip– If the buttercream is too soft, you haven’t whipped enough. However, If the butter is melting chill the bowl for 10 minutes then whip again. (this can happen in warmer temperatures)

Assemble

Prepare simple syrup – cool completely before using.Pro tip– Simple syrup is just sugar water that has been boiled and cooled. Used to keep cake layers moist. Level – Using a bread knife or cake leveler cut the domes off the cake layers. Brush each layer with the cooled simple syrup Stack – Place a cake layer on the cake board or cake stand. Top with a big dollop of buttercream – spread evenly using a straight-edge spatula. Then top the second cake layer on top followed by more buttercream and the last layer. Chill – Place the cake in the fridge to chill for 10 to 15 minutes.Pro tip – Chilling the cake at this point will ensure the layers don’t move when you frost the outside. Though, if you leave the cake uncovered in the fridge for too long it can dry out. So, 10 minutes is all you need. Frost – Spread the remaining buttercream around and on top of the cake. Create a rustic buttercream look by simply swirling the tip of the spatula around the cake.Pro tip – A straight-edge spatula for the top, an off-set spatula, and a bench scraper for the sides work better. Rustic finish – Create a rustic buttercream look by simply swirling the tip of the spatula vertically around the cake. Pipe any remaining frosting as a border around the top and bottom of the cake. Storage – Once decorated the cake does not need to be refrigerated. It can stay at room temperature for 2 days or in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Creative ways to decorate a layer cake

One easy and classic option is a naked cake! Simply dust the top with powdered sugar and serve with fresh berries or a dollop of whipped cream. If you’re looking for something a bit more unique, try layering sliced strawberries, raspberries, or peaches over the top of the cake for a fruity twist. For a more formal occasion, consider using a piping bag and frosting to decorate the cake with intricate designs or personalized messages. You can also add edible flowers or other decorations to give it a touch of elegance. Another fun option is to cut the cake into fun shapes and designs, such as squares or triangles, and serve on a platter with a variety of toppings and sauces. Whatever your choice for decorating and serving your vanilla cake, be sure to have fun and let your creativity shine.

Creative ways to serve layer cake

Mini Layer Cakes: Create mini vanilla layer cakes using a round cookie cutter to cut out small rounds from the cake layers. Stack them with layers of frosting in between for mini cake towers. Top each mini cake with a decorative frosting swirl, fresh fruit, or edible flowers. Naked Cake: Embrace the “naked cake” trend by frosting the cake layers thinly, allowing the layers to show through. Decorate with fresh berries, edible flowers, or a dusting of powdered sugar for a rustic and elegant look. Cake Push Pops: Serve the cake in push pop containers, alternating layers of cake and frosting. This makes for a fun and portable dessert that guests can enjoy on the go. Cake Parfaits: Layer chunks of vanilla cake with whipped cream, fruit compote, or chocolate ganache in clear glass containers to create visually appealing cake parfaits. Top with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cake crumbs. Ice Cream Sandwiches: Slice the vanilla cake into thin layers and use them as the “bread” for ice cream sandwiches. Add a scoop of your favorite ice cream between two cake slices and roll the edges in fun toppings like mini chocolate chips or crushed nuts. Cake Truffles: Crumble the cake layers and mix them with frosting to create cake truffles. Roll the mixture into small balls, dip them in melted chocolate, and garnish with sprinkles, crushed nuts, or colored sugar. Cake Tiramisu: Substitute the traditional ladyfingers in tiramisu with layers of vanilla cake soaked in coffee and layered with mascarpone cheese mixture. Dust with cocoa powder for a delightful twist on a classic dessert. Cake Milkshakes: Blend chunks of vanilla cake with vanilla ice cream and milk to create cake milkshakes. Top with whipped cream and a mini slice of cake for a sweet and creamy treat. Cake Kabobs: Cut the cake into cubes and skewer them with fresh fruit pieces. Drizzle with a complementary sauce, such as caramel or chocolate, and serve as cake kabobs. Cake Fondue: Slice the cake into bite-sized cubes and serve with a warm chocolate or caramel fondue for dipping. Provide an assortment of toppings like chopped nuts, sprinkles, and shredded coconut for guests to coat their cake bites. Deconstructed Cake: Present the cake in a deconstructed form by serving cake cubes, frosting, and various toppings in separate bowls. Guests can build their own cake creations, allowing for customization.