Monday 20 October 2008

The Cake Slice: Cappuccino Chiffon Cake

This is our first official posting for our first cake baked by The Cake Slice group. We are going to spend a year baking one cake from 'Sky High: Irresistible Triple Layer Cakes' by Alicia Huntsman and Peter Wynne each month. It’s the creation of Gigi from Gigi Cakes and I was thrilled when she asked me to be co-host. To launch the group, we started with a recipe for Cappuccino Chiffon Cake and it truly is irresistible.

It involves three layers of light espresso chiffon cake, each one doused in rum (I used Amaretto) spiked espresso syrup and sandwiched together with mountains of cream. To finish it off, a dusting of cocoa powder is added to the top in the design of your choosing. I put a ring of chocolate coffee beans around the cake and cut out a stencil design of a steaming cup of coffee for my decoration. I dusted over the top of it and then peeled off the paper to reveal the design.

What can I say about the flavour of this cake? – Oh it’s divine. It is so moist and light with a really strong espresso kick while the sweet syrup keeps it from tasting too strong. The final dusting of cocoa finishes it off perfectly and it tastes just like a tiramisu. Heavenly.

Be sure to check out the other cappuccino cakes from my fellow Cake Slice bakers. See you next month with another irresistible layer cake.

Cappuccino Chiffon Cake
Makes an 8inch triple layer cake

For the cake layers
55ml vegetable oil
6 eggs, separated
6tbsp cooled freshly made espresso
160g plain flour
340g caster sugar
1tsp baking powder
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp salt
½ tsp cream of tartar
Cocoa powder for dusting

Espresso Syrup
70ml hot espresso
150g caster sugar (I used 100g)
50ml rum (I used Amaretto)

Vanilla Cream
600ml double cream
40g sugar
2 tsp vanilla

Method
Preheat the oven to 180C. Line the bottoms of three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, combine the oil, egg yolks, espresso, and vanilla; whisk lightly to blend. In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, 200g of sugar, the baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
In the large bowl of an electric mixer, whip the egg whites with the cream of tartar on medium-low speed until frothy. Raise the mixer to medium high and gradually add the remaining 140g of sugar. Continue to beat until soft peaks form. Do not whip to stiff peaks or the cake will shrink upon cooling.
Add the espresso-egg mixture to the dry ingredients and fold together just until combined. Add one fourth of the egg whites and fold them gently into the batter. Fold in the remaining egg whites just until no streaks remain.
Divide the batter among the pans.Bake the cakes for 18-22 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
Run a knife around the rim of the pans to prevent the cakes from tearing while cooling. Allow the cakes to cool completely in the pans.
Invert onto a wire rack and remove the parchment papers.
For the espresso syrup
In a bowl, stir together the espresso and sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the rum and let cool to room temperature.
For the vanilla cream
Place the cream, sugar, and vanilla in large chilled mixing bowl with chilled beaters. With the whip attachment, beat the cream until stiff peaks form.

To assemble the cake
Place one cake layer flat side up on a cake stand or platter. Soak the cake with a third of the espresso syrup.
Spread 3 tbsp of whipped cream evenly over the top of the cake. Repeat with the next layer, syrup, cream, cake etc.
Finally top with the third layer. Soak with syrup and frost the top and sides of the cake with the whipped cream.
To decorate
Smooth out the whipped cream as much as possible on top. Lay a paper doily or stencil design on top of the cream and sift over cocoa powder or cinnamon.
Carefully remove the doily and serve.
Keep refrigerated until required and eat within 3 days.
Serves 12

27 comments:

The Caked Crusader said...

Now that is a TALL cake!! Looks absolutely stunning - I love the contrast between the brown cake and the paler frosting. Beautiful

Snooky doodle said...

wow this looks great. yum

Anonymous said...

Your coffee cup stencil is perfection.

Anonymous said...

What can I say, I really did enjoy our first challenge! And the cake was oh so delish!

Bunny said...

I love the way you decorated the top!! This was a great cake for our first time out!

steph- whisk/spoon said...

looks great--love the dark color of your cake layers! this is such a fun idea for a group--i'm going to love it!

Megan said...

Thanks for starting such a great group! I've seen so many great ideas - including yours!! I think the coffee cup is just nifty!!

Rosie said...

I just love the design on the top and your cake looks stunning!

Rosie x

Jodie said...

I love the design on yours. Great job!

Lulu the Baker said...

I love the picture of you shaking the cocoa onto the top of the cake. Wow!

Gigi said...

The looks tall and divine! You did an amazing job with stenciling and the pictures Katie!

Deborah said...

I LOVE the design!! And I love how dark your cake is, too. Mine was a lot lighter, but I'm guessing it's because I went the hot cocoa route instead of using espresso. Gorgeous job!

Mary Ann said...

Your cake turned out beautifully! Perfect detail on top too, great job!

The Farmer's Wife said...

This cake was so fun and yummy! I love your cake...it is beautiful!

Caroline said...

I love that stencil and the pic with cocoa in mid-air -- stunning!

Thanks for starting this wonderful baking group. I can't wait for next month!

Jacque said...

Oooh, thanks for co-hosting.

Your cake looks fantastic... great idea with the stencil. It's perfect!

PheMom said...

I still really love how yours turned out with the beautiful cup stencil on top. Fantastic job!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous cake and a pretty decoration!

Johanna GGG said...

love your decoration - hope the cake bakers group goes well - will be interested to see what you are baking!

The Blonde Duck said...

I was so glad to find your blog! It's nice to find someone my age who likes to cook as much as I do!

TeaLady said...

I love this book and may have to join another group. LOVE the design on the top of your cake. It is wonderful. Great job on this one.

Maria♥ said...

Katie your cake is stunning and love the coffee cup design!

Maria
x

Maria said...

That is a cake! Wow! You did an amazing job!

Shari said...

I love the photo of the sprinkles falling on the cake! What a skyhigh, delicious-looking cake!

Anonymous said...

What a gorgeous cake, Katie! Love the stencilled top--very clever.

Unknown said...

I want to join ur group please let me the details.Thanks

Katie said...

Hi peralofeast,
Unfortunetly our group has got so big so quickly that we are no longer accepting any new members this year. Sorry for replying here, but I couldn't find an email for you.