Granny's Mahogany Cake and Frosting

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Servings: 10
Yield: 10 servings

Description

Delicately flavored with chocolate and coffee, this luscious three-layer mocha layer cake is an heirloom family recipe.

Ingredients

2 cups white sugar
1 cup butter, softened
5 eggs
1/4 cup cold brewed coffee
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup butter, softened
1 (16 ounce) package confectioners' sugar, sifted
1/4 cup cold brewed coffee
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease and flour three 9 inch round cake pans.
2 Place the sugar and butter in a mixing bowl, and beat until light colored and smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir the coffee and cocoa into the egg mixture until well blended. Measure the buttermilk, and remove 1 tablespoon, placing it in a separate small bowl, and set aside. Stir the remaining buttermilk into the egg mixture, beating until smooth.
3 Stir the baking soda into 1 tablespoon buttermilk until smooth, and mix into the egg mixture. Stir in the flour, beating until smooth. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans.
4 Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick or small knife inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, and cool in the pans about 15 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
5 To make the frosting, beat 1 cup butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually sift in the confectioners' sugar, and beat until smooth. Stir in the coffee, cocoa, and vanilla until well blended.
6 Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread top with about 1/5 frosting. Place the second layer on top of the first, and frost. Repeat with the third layer. Use remaining frosting to frost top and sides.