Coffee Cake · Cream Cheese Frosting · Hero Sponge
The Coffee Cake That Converted Me
This is my favourite quick and easy coffee cake recipe: fabulously moist, full of flavour and finished with a coffee cream cheese frosting that is, frankly, dangerous to have near a spoon.
It is one of the flavour variations from our Hero Sponge Recipe download, and I must admit, I am a latecomer to the coffee cake party. I used to dismiss it as a cake for bridge club afternoons until I tried it again with cream cheese frosting.
I was wrong. Horribly wrong. Happily wrong.
The best coffee cake is moist, gently bitter, properly balanced and paired with a frosting that brings tang as well as sweetness. This version uses our Hero Sponge coffee variation with a coffee cream cheese frosting and walnuts for crunch.
I wonder if this is a coming-of-age thing and I am now a fully-fledged adult who cannot play bridge to save my life, despite my dad being Kuwait’s bridge champion. True story, and sadly not something that has travelled down the gene pool.
The only thing I would be winning at bridge club is this insanely good coffee cake with coffee cream cheese frosting and walnuts.
The coffee in this tall layer cake is subtle but very present. It balances the sweetness of the sponge rather than shouting over it. And the frosting is the real plot twist: tangy, creamy, coffee-laced and just the right consistency for piping.
Walnuts are a classic pairing with coffee cake and add texture, but they are not compulsory. If you are not a nut person, leave them out and carry on smugly.
Making The Coffee Sponges
Follow the coffee variation from our Hero Sponge Recipe download. It yields three 6 inch sponge layers.
You can leave the sponges as three deep layers, or, if you want to go full mile-high glory, split each sponge into two even layers once cooled. A cake leveller is best for this unless you have the steady hand of a surgeon and the confidence of someone who has never ruined a cake at 11pm.
Let the sponges cool completely before torting. Warm sponge is fragile, crumbly and deeply committed to making your life harder.
Coffee Cream Cheese Frosting
This frosting is the reason the cake works so beautifully. Coffee cake can sometimes feel a little old-fashioned, but coffee cream cheese frosting gives it a tangy, grown-up edge and a softer, more indulgent finish.
Ingredients
- 125g butter, at room temperature
- 300g icing sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules, dissolved in 1 tablespoon hot water
- 80g cream cheese
Use strong instant coffee for the frosting. You want flavour, not a polite suggestion of coffee whispered from another room.
Decorating Your Coffee Cake
For decoration, keep it classic. Coffee cake does not need to be attacked with every sprinkle in the cupboard. The sponge, frosting and walnuts already have plenty to say.
Ingredients
- Halved walnuts for the top
- Chopped walnuts for texture and decoration
- Extra coffee cream cheese frosting for piping
Ta-daaa. Look at those lovely layer-upon-layer levels of deliciousness. I hope you love this cake. Actually, I know you will. Even if you think you hate coffee cake, this version may make you reconsider your entire personality.
Variations To Try
If you are feeling adventurous, coffee sponge is a brilliant base for other flavours. It loves nuts, chocolate, caramel and anything that makes you feel as though you should be sitting in a café pretending to read a serious book.
- Mocha version: Fold chocolate chips through the sponge or add a little cocoa powder for a chocolate-coffee finish.
- Caramel macchiato twist: Add a caramel drizzle between layers or over the top.
- Nutty depth: Add hazelnut or almond extract, or swap walnuts for toasted hazelnuts.
- Extra coffee hit: Brush the sponge layers with a light coffee syrup before filling.
How To Store And Serve Coffee Cake
If you have leftover cake, which may be optimistic, store it properly so it stays soft and delicious.
If serving within 24 hours, keep it at cool room temperature in an airtight container. If you need to keep it longer, refrigerate for up to 4 days, but bring it back to room temperature before eating so the sponge softens and the frosting becomes creamy again.
If you have made a naked cake or a cake with minimal frosting, keep it covered so the exposed sponge does not dry out. For more detail, read our complete cake storage guide.
Cake tastes better at room temperature. Cold sponge feels firmer, butter-based frosting tastes muted, and all that lovely coffee aroma becomes much quieter.
Serve as it is with tea or coffee, or dress it up with whipped cream, berries or a caramel drizzle. For a special occasion, you can turn it into a taller layer cake, a trifle-style dessert, or simply order our coffee and walnut cake and skip the washing up.
Coffee Cake For Special Occasions
Coffee cake is wonderfully versatile. It can be rustic, elegant, nostalgic or dressed up for a proper celebration.
For a relaxed look, make a naked cake with layers of coffee sponge and coffee cream cheese frosting, then add chopped walnuts around the edge and fresh flowers on top.
For something more formal, cover the cake with a smooth layer of buttercream and finish with edible gold leaf, piped detail or sugar flowers. You can also make a coffee cake trifle by layering pieces of sponge with whipped cream, berries and extra coffee syrup.
Coffee Cake FAQs
Can I freeze coffee cake?
Yes. Wrap the sponge layers tightly in cling film and place them in an airtight container before freezing. They can be stored in the freezer for up to three months.
How long will coffee cake stay fresh?
Coffee cake is best within a few days. Store it in an airtight container at cool room temperature if eating within 24 hours, or refrigerate for up to 4 days if needed. Bring it back to room temperature before serving.
Can I substitute ingredients in coffee cake?
Yes, but substitutions need proper conversions, especially for raising agents, gluten-free flour or dairy-free alternatives. Baking is flexible, but only up to the point where science starts throwing pans.
Can I make coffee cake without eggs?
Yes, but use a recipe developed for that purpose. Our Vegan Hero Sponge Recipe is a better starting point than trying to remove eggs from a standard sponge recipe and hoping for the best.
How can I make coffee cake more moist?
You should not need to with our Hero Sponge recipe. If you have used another recipe and the sponge feels dry, brush the layers lightly with simple syrup or coffee syrup before frosting.
Can I use instant coffee in coffee cake?
Yes. Instant coffee is ideal because it gives strong flavour without adding too much liquid. You can use brewed espresso, but reduce other liquids slightly to keep the sponge texture balanced.
Use our Hero Sponge Recipe for the coffee sponge variation, or order the finished coffee cake if you would rather eat cake than level it.
If you make this cake, please share your thoughts in the comments and tag me on Instagram at @angesdesucre. I love seeing your cakes, especially the triumphant ones, the chaotic ones and the ones that clearly had a bit of a journey.
Lerato
May 09, 2020
Thank you so much I can’t wait to start baking😀