Susan’s Favorite Mocha Cake

Name: Susan's Favorite Mocha Cake
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 16 servings.
Ingredients: 1 package chocolate cake mix (regular size); 1-3/4 cups sour cream; 2 large eggs; 1/2 cup coffee liqueur; 1/4 cup canola oil; 2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips, divided; 1 package (10 to 12 ounces) white baking chips; 1/3 cup butter, cubed; 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules; 1 teaspoon rum extract; 1 envelope unflavored gelatin; 1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, divided; WHIPPED CREAM:; 2 cups heavy whipping cream; 1/2 cup sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

My family insists on this mocha cake for our Christmas dinner. They refer it to as "the best cake in the world." The flavors are simply wonderful. —Susan Bazan, Sequim, Washington

Ingredients

1 package chocolate cake mix (regular size)
1-3/4 cups sour cream
2 large eggs
1/2 cup coffee liqueur
1/4 cup canola oil
2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips, divided
1 package (10 to 12 ounces) white baking chips
1/3 cup butter, cubed
1 tablespoon instant coffee granules
1 teaspoon rum extract
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, divided
WHIPPED CREAM:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, sour cream, eggs, liqueur and oil; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. Stir in 1 cup chocolate chips. Transfer to three greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans.
Bake at 350° for 24-28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
In a microwave, melt the white baking chips, butter and remaining chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Stir in coffee granules and extract. Cool to room temperature.
In a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over 1/4 cup cream; let stand for 1 minute. Heat over low heat, stirring until gelatin is completely dissolved. Stir into chocolate mixture. In a large bowl, beat the remaining 1-1/4 cups cream until soft peaks form. Add to the cooled chocolate mixture; beat until stiff peaks form.
For whipped cream, in a small bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until stiff peaks form.
Place bottom cake layer on a serving plate; top with half of the chocolate mixture. Repeat layers. Top with the remaining cake layer. Frost top and sides of cake with whipped cream. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

Nutrition Facts

1 slice: 687 calories, 46g fat (26g saturated fat), 128mg cholesterol, 302mg sodium, 62g carbohydrate (48g sugars, 2g fiber), 7g protein.

Originally published as The Best Cake in the World in Taste of Home December/January 2011

Reviews

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Average Rating:

Naomie

Nov 12, 2017

Awesome and followed dic2618's suggestion. Turned out beautiful! Tested on my neighbors, rave reviews! One of them wants the recipe, sending him a link. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful recipe.
khegeman

Jul 26, 2017

delicious. came out perfect
aug2295

Nov 25, 2011

This came out delicious - way better than anything from the bakery.
dlc2618

Jun 21, 2011

LOVED IT...the only thing that was wrong with the recipe was that the middle filling. I do believe that by putting the butter in the chocolate and then putting the cream/gelatin mixture in caused the filling to be VERY gritty and a very "wet" texture. I actually did this step 4 times until I did something different.What I did was I melted just the chocolates, mixed in the coffee/rum flavoring and let it sit. I whipped some heavy cream to peaks and slowely added the cooled (room temp.) chocolate mixture to that. Beat that until very thick and to almost peaks. I then took the 1/4 cup cream (actually used a little more) and a package of gelatin and cooked as directed until gelatin desolved. I beat that it into the chocolate/cream mixture. Let it sit in the fridge for a little bit until thickened. Took it out and beat it more until ready to add to cake.This turned out PERFECT!!! The kids are amazed that made this cake. Definitely would make again.
jlblashka

May 12, 2011

this is a followup. well, i did the next step. made the whipped cream, and then 'beat' the chocolate mixture into the whipped cream (not the other way around, and not folded). it came out like a 'cookies and cream' blend, that is to say, with teeny little bits of chocolate in it. but thin. so it is sitting in the fridge right now to thicken up. then i will put it all together, and whipped cream frost the whole thing, and tell everyone that it is with a 'cookies and cream filling'.but i would never make this again.actually, there is another recipe online 'very easy chocolate cake' which i have made successfully before, instead of the box mix, and now kool whip has 'seasonal' chocolate and french vanilla toppings. 1-2-3, done. way easier.
jlblashka

May 12, 2011

susan's favorite mocha cake. i am in the middle of making it. my question is, in the melting phase, melt all of that together, then stir in coffee granules and rum extract. it seemed 'grainy', not like a smooth ganache; then the gelatin part and then stirred that into the cooled chocolate mixture. still grainy, and somewhat separating, that i had to keep stirring it to keep it all blended; it tastes kinda gummy (i suppose that is the gelatin part). it is still cooling. i was going to start the whipped cream part BUT.....it says until peaks form (fine), then 'beat' it into the chocolate mixture until peaks form. if i beat whipped cream, doesn't it deflate the whipped cream? i am hoping it will change the consistency of the chocolate mixture. is the instruction incorrect, in that i should have 'folded' the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture and be done with that? is the intent to make a sort of 'mousse'?
lightedway

Feb 7, 2011

Five Stars for Susan's cake. See it pictured on my page. I used mini chips in the batter instead of the regular size ones. They melted into the cake which was pure velvet. I loved that you could taste a hint of the Kahlua.The filling is fantastic, love the texture. Once I assembled the cake (without frosting) I cut it and froze half. One half was great with the whip cream frosting. Three weeks later I took out the frozen half, thawed and frosted with homemade butter cream frosting. Oh then it was sweet sweet. This cake (not frosted) froze well for me. Enjoy!
cariley

Feb 5, 2011

Made this cake for a Christmas party. It is rich and chocolatey, but not heavy. Looks great garnished w/ chocolate curls. Even the guy who "never eats cake" had seconds!
cricutkate

Jan 2, 2011

I come from a family of excellent cooks, but I'm the baker of the family. I made this cake for our Christmas gathering this year and virtually everyone there said it was the BEST dessert I ever made. It was fabulous.
2010susiep

Dec 13, 2010

I ate some of this cake and it was one of the best cakes I have ever had! Had to have the recipe...