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Moka Cake

17/11/2023

Moka cake is a classic Italian dessert that marries the goodness of coffee with the sweetness of cream. Here is the recipe to prepare a delicious moka cake.

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs
  • 200 g sugar
  • 200 g all-purpose flour
  • 1 packet of baking powder
  • 200 g of soft butter
  • 2 tablespoons of instant coffee (or cooled espresso)
  • 500 ml of milk
  • 4 tablespoons of sugar (for the custard)
  • 45 g of flour (or cornstarch)
  • 200 g of dark chocolate
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder for decoration

For the coffee syrup:

  • Coffee to taste
  • Sugar to taste
  • Coffee liqueur (optional)

For the coffee buttercream:

  • 150 g of soft butter
  • 300 g of icing sugar
  • 2 tablespoons of instant coffee (or cooled espresso)

Preparation

  1. Start with the base of the cake: whisk the eggs with the sugar until you get a frothy and light mixture.
  2. Add the sifted flour and baking powder, mixing gently from bottom to top to not deflate the mixture.
  3. Melt the butter and let it cool. Add it to the mixture along with the 2 tablespoons of previously dissolved instant coffee in a little water (or cooled espresso). Blend everything together.
  4. Pour the mixture into a buttered and floured 24 cm mold and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (356°F) for about 30 minutes.
  5. While the base is baking, prepare the coffee custard. In a saucepan, warm the milk without bringing it to a boil. In another saucepan, beat the yolks with the sugar and sifted flour, then add the hot milk a little at a time, continuing to stir.
  6. Put the mixture back on the heat and let it thicken, never stopping stirring. Once ready, add the instant coffee or espresso and mix well.
  7. For the coffee buttercream, beat the soft butter with the icing sugar until you get a smooth cream, then incorporate the dissolved instant coffee in a little water (or espresso) and continue to beat until it is fluffy.
  8. When the base of the cake is cooked and cool, cut it into two or three horizontal layers. Moisten each layer with the coffee syrup (and if you like, a little coffee liqueur).
  9. Spread a layer of coffee custard between the cake layers and also cover the surface and sides with the coffee buttercream.
  10. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler and use it to make decorative strands on the cake. Allow to cool to harden the chocolate.
  11. Before serving, dust the cake with unsweetened cocoa, for an elegant finish.

Curiosity

Coffee is an essential component of Italian cuisine, not just as a drink but also as an ingredient for many sweets and desserts. The moka cake gets its name from the famous Moka coffee pot, invented by the Italian Alfonso Bialetti in 1933, which has become an icon of Italian design and an indispensable tool in Italian homes. Its ability to enhance the flavors of coffee is perfectly translated into desserts like this cake.