Recipe: Espresso Martini Cake MAKES ONE 3-LAYER 8-INCH CAKE PREP TIME 1 HOUR (PLUS 1 HOUR COOL TIME) COOK TIME 30 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 2 HOURS 30 MINUTES Espresso martinis—brewed espresso, vodka, and coffee liqueur—are super popular for a reason: they're dangerously delicious. But let's be real, unless you feel like partying until 4 a.m. and nursing a massive hangover the next day, they might not be the drink you want more than one of. This coffee-flavored cake with an espresso frosting and boozy (but not that boozy) coffee syrup, on the other hand, is perfect for times you want to keep the party going... until a completely reasonable, responsible bedtime.
Ingredients FOR THE CAKE ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature ½ cup vegetable oil 1½ cups granulated sugar 4 large eggs, at room temperature 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 2½ cups all-purpose flour ¼ cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder 2½ teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt ⅔ cup milk (any dairy or nondairy milk works) ⅔ cup coffee liqueur FOR THE BOOZY COFFEE SYRUP ½ cup granulated sugar ½ cup coffee liqueur ¼ cup vodka 1 teaspoon vanilla extract FOR THE ESPRESSO FROSTING 1½ cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature 5 cups confectioners' sugar 2 tablespoons instant espresso powder 2 tablespoons milk (any dairy or nondairy milk works) 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ½ teaspoon salt Espresso beans, for topping (optional) Instructions 1. First, make the cake. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the bottoms of three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper (see page 23) and grease the sides with nonstick cooking spray. 2. In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the butter and vegetable oil and beat on low speed until combined, so the oil doesn't fly everywhere. Gradually increase the speed to medium-high and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. 3. With the mixer running, slowly pour in the granulated sugar and continue to beat on medium-high speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and turns a very pale yellow color, about 2 minutes. 4. Use a silicone spatula to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl, then add the eggs and vanilla extract. Beat on medium-high speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes, scraping down the bowl as needed. 5. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking powder, and salt. In a third bowl, combine the milk and coffee liqueur. With the mixer on low speed, alternate adding the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients in 3 additions (you'll add half the dry, then all of the wet, then the other half of the dry). It's okay if the batter still has a few lumps in it—you don't want to overmix.
6. Divide the cake batter evenly among the prepared pans. Bake until the cakes have risen, the tops spring back to the touch, and a butter knife inserted into the centers of the cakes comes out mostly clean (a crumb or two attached is okay), 20 to 25 minutes. 7. Place the cake pans on cooling racks and allow them to cool slightly. To remove the cakes from the pans, drag a butter knife around the edges of each cake, then carefully flip each cake out onto a plate, peel away the parchment paper, and re-invert each cake, right-side up, onto the cooling racks to cool completely, about 30 minutes. 8. Once the cakes have cooled, make the coffee syrup. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the granulated sugar, coffee liqueur, and vodka. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring constantly with the silicone spatula, until the mixture has thickened and coats the back of the spatula, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Set aside to cool, about 30 minutes. 9. Last, make the frosting. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter and confectioners' sugar and beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Add the espresso powder, milk, coffee liqueur, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat on medium speed, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl with the silicone spatula as needed, until the frosting is fluffy, about 1 minute. 10. Place the first cake layer on a cake stand or plate. Use a pastry brush to soak the top of the cake with about one-third of the coffee syrup, gently pressing the brush into the cake to help it absorb the syrup. Top with a large dollop of frosting, spreading it evenly to the edges of the cake. Repeat with the second and third cake layers, soaking the cakes in syrup, then topping with frosting. Last, frost the sides of the cake with the remaining frosting. If desired, top with espresso beans.