Double Chocolate Espresso Pound Cake

Name: Double Chocolate Espresso Pound Cake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Total time: 1 h 50 min
Yield: 16 servings.
Ingredients: 5 ounces milk chocolate, chopped; 1/4 cup brewed espresso; 1 cup butter, softened; 3 cups sugar; 5 large eggs, room temperature; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 3 cups all-purpose flour; 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 2/3 cup 2% milk; 1 cup (6 ounces) dark chocolate chips; FROSTING:; 1/4 cup butter, softened; 3 cups confectioners' sugar; 3 tablespoons 2% milk; 3 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1/2 teaspoon salt

Two of my biggest loves in life—chocolate and coffee—come together in this velvety pound cake. It's one of my favorite desserts to bring to parties, and if there's any left over, I love to sneak a slice at breakfast, too. —Rachel Bernhard Seis, Taste of Home Senior Editor

Ingredients

5 ounces milk chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup brewed espresso
1 cup butter, softened
3 cups sugar
5 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup 2% milk
1 cup (6 ounces) dark chocolate chips
FROSTING:
1/4 cup butter, softened
3 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons 2% milk
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

In a double boiler or metal bowl over hot water, melt milk chocolate in espresso; stir until smooth. Remove from the heat.
In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Add 1 egg at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Stir in chocolate chips and reserved chocolate mixture.
Transfer to a greased and floured 10-in. fluted tube pan. Bake at 325° until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean, 80-90 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
In a large bowl, beat butter until light and fluffy. Beat in the confectioners' sugar, milk, vanilla and salt; frost cake.