Mocha Layer Cake with Coffee Buttercream & Blackberries Recipe

This Mocha Layer Cake with Coffee Buttercream & Blackberries is a true showstopper, perfect for celebrations or whenever you’re craving a decadent treat that fuses bold chocolate, real coffee, and juicy fruit. Each forkful delivers moist, cocoa-rich cake, layers of silky espresso-spiked buttercream, and a pop of tart, jammy blackberries—all the flavors you dream of in a café dessert, now baked right in your own kitchen!

Ingredients You’ll Need

You’ll be amazed at how a handful of reliable pantry staples are transformed into such a striking and flavorful dessert. Every ingredient in this Mocha Layer Cake with Coffee Buttercream & Blackberries plays a role in creating the cake’s amazing structure, vibrant flavor contrasts, and bakery-worthy good looks.

• All-purpose flour: The foundation of the cake, ensuring a sturdy but tender crumb for those beautiful layers.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and enhances the chocolate and coffee notes in each bite.
• Unsweetened cocoa powder: The heart of the mocha flavor, delivering deep chocolate richness throughout the cake.
• Baking powder & baking soda: These team up for the perfect lift and light texture in your cake layers.
• Salt: Essential for balancing and intensifying all the other flavors—never skip it!
• Buttermilk: Ensures extra moisture and a slight tang that complements both chocolate and coffee (or use milk plus lemon juice in a pinch).
• Vegetable oil: Guarantees softness and keeps the cake deliciously moist even days later.
• Large eggs: Provide structure and richness, helping the cake rise and hold together.
• Vanilla extract: Rounds all the flavors, giving both cake and frosting that irresistible bakery aroma.
• Freshly brewed strong coffee: Deepens the chocolate, celebrating the mocha in every bite—be sure it’s cooled before adding.
• Unsalted butter: The creamy base for the coffee buttercream, so it whips up fluffy and smooth.
• Powdered sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting, making it cloud-like yet stable for decorating.
• Instant espresso powder: Dissolved in hot water, it infuses the buttercream with sophisticated coffee flavor.
• Heavy cream: Adjusts the frosting’s consistency for easy spreading and piping.
• Fresh blackberries: Their juicy tartness is a lively contrast to the sweet, rich frostings.
• Chocolate shavings or cocoa powder: Adds the final flourish for both flavor and that professional look.

How to Make Mocha Layer Cake with Coffee Buttercream & Blackberries

Step 1: Prepare the Cake Pans and Oven

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease three 8-inch round cake pans and line the bottom of each with parchment paper. This extra lining step is a game-changer—it makes unmolding the delicate mocha layers a breeze, so you can focus on the fun of assembling and decorating later on.

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Thoroughly combining these dry ingredients ensures your cake will bake evenly, with a consistent crumb and deep, chocolatey flavor from edge to edge.

Step 3: Combine the Wet Ingredients

Add the buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract to the bowl. Give it a gentle mix just until things are mostly combined. Next, slowly add the cooled, freshly brewed coffee, stirring as you go. The batter might look thinner than you’d expect, but that’s what makes the cake so incredibly moist and tender once baked.

Step 4: Bake the Cake Layers

Divide your luscious batter as evenly as you can between the three prepared pans. Pop them into the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center. Let the cakes cool completely in the pans before removing them. Cutting corners here can mean a sticky, broken layer, so patience is your friend!

Step 5: Whip Up the Coffee Buttercream

While your cakes cool, it’s time for the superstar frosting. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until it’s creamy and pale. Gradually add in the powdered sugar, mixing slowly at first to avoid any sweet avalanche. Pour in the espresso mixture, vanilla, cream, and a pinch of salt. Whip everything together until it’s light, fluffy, and irresistibly fragrant with coffee.

Step 6: Assemble the Mocha Layer Cake with Coffee Buttercream & Blackberries

Level any domed tops off your cooled cakes if needed, then place one layer on your serving plate. Spread a generous scoop of coffee buttercream on top, followed by the next cake layer. Repeat the process, then cover the entire cake with a thin crumb coat to lock in any stray crumbs. Chill a few minutes, then frost smoothly all over for a flawless finish—don’t forget to swipe on a final thick swirl for drama!

Step 7: Decorate with Blackberries and Chocolate

With your cake fully frosted, pipe a few extra buttercream swirls on top for glamour. Arrange plump, fresh blackberries over the swirls and sprinkle chocolate shavings or cocoa powder all around. That sparkling trio of coffee, chocolate, and blackberries is what makes the Mocha Layer Cake with Coffee Buttercream & Blackberries so stunning on any dessert table.

How to Serve Mocha Layer Cake with Coffee Buttercream & Blackberries

Garnishes

For a striking finish, crown the cake with a cluster of glossy blackberries and a scatter of delicate chocolate curls or a dusting of cocoa powder. If you want even more flair, tuck in a sprig of fresh mint or edible flower petals for an unexpected pop of color that pairs beautifully with the deep tones of the Mocha Layer Cake with Coffee Buttercream & Blackberries.

Side Dishes

Though this cake easily steals the show, you can make dessert even more dazzling with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a modest spoonful of whipped cream on the side. For a real coffeehouse vibe, serve with espresso, cold brew, or a fancy coffee mocktail. The lively flavors of the Mocha Layer Cake with Coffee Buttercream & Blackberries work nicely with a charcuterie dessert board of berries, chocolate, and candied nut clusters, perfect for gatherings.

Creative Ways to Present

If you’re feeling fancy, try slicing the cake into skinny, tall wedges for café-style indulgence, or serve miniature layer squares in cupcake liners for a party. This recipe also shines in trifle form: layer cubes of cake, buttercream, and blackberries in glasses for a stunning, deconstructed treat that lets everyone dig in with their own spoonful of Mocha Layer Cake with Coffee Buttercream & Blackberries magic.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

To keep your leftovers moist and fresh, store any remaining Mocha Layer Cake with Coffee Buttercream & Blackberries in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Because the buttercream contains butter and cream, refrigeration is best, but be sure to let slices come to room temperature before serving again—they’ll be soft, flavorful, and just as dreamy as the day you made the cake.

Freezing

This cake is super freezer-friendly! Wrap individual cake slices tightly in plastic wrap and a layer of foil, then pop them into a freezer-safe container. For the freshest taste and texture, enjoy within two months. Simply thaw in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for a couple of hours when you’re ready for another slice of Mocha Layer Cake with Coffee Buttercream & Blackberries bliss.

Reheating

The great thing about this dessert is that it’s absolutely delicious at room temperature—no reheating required! Just take your cake out of the fridge 30 minutes before enjoying to bring out all the flavors. If you must warm it, a very brief (5–10 second) zap in the microwave can take the chill off, but don’t overdo it or you’ll melt that luxurious buttercream.

FAQs

Can I make this cake in advance for a party?

Absolutely! Both the cake layers and buttercream can be made ahead: bake the layers, wrap, and chill or freeze; make the buttercream and store in the fridge. Assemble and decorate the Mocha Layer Cake with Coffee Buttercream & Blackberries the day of your event for the freshest result.

What if I don’t have three cake pans?

No worries! You can bake the batter in two pans for a slightly taller, thicker layer cake—just increase the bake time and check for doneness with a toothpick. You can also bake and reuse pans, just allow plenty of cooling time between rounds.

Can I substitute the blackberries?

Yes! While blackberries add lovely tartness and color contrast, raspberries or even pitted cherries work beautifully if you prefer. The Mocha Layer Cake with Coffee Buttercream & Blackberries is quite adaptable to your favorite fruits.

Do I have to use espresso powder in the buttercream?

Espresso powder brings out the mocha element, but you can use instant coffee in a pinch, or skip it and enjoy a classic vanilla buttercream. However, the coffee buttercream truly elevates the flavor harmony in this cake.

How can I get those perfect chocolate shavings?

Use a vegetable peeler on a bar of good quality chocolate to make quick, elegant curls or shavings. For a finer dusting, sift a bit of cocoa powder over the cake just before serving—that extra touch is what makes your Mocha Layer Cake with Coffee Buttercream & Blackberries look bakery-worthy!

Final Thoughts

If you’re ready to celebrate with something irresistible, this Mocha Layer Cake with Coffee Buttercream & Blackberries is calling your name. Gather your ingredients, invite a few friends, and enjoy the blissful combination of rich chocolate, aromatic coffee, and fresh berries—it’s sure to steal the show at your next gathering!

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