Irresistible Mocha Coffee Cake

This Mocha Coffee Cake recipe is simple to make and always a showstopper. It’s delicious to serve for any special occasion, whether that’s a Sunday brunch of a holiday gathering with friends and family.

We have a tradition in our house that every morning we had coffee cake for Christmas breakfast, just like we have my favorite lasagne every year on Christmas Eve.  My mom makes an amazing blueberry coffee cake with a streusel topping that quickly disappears.

I created this recipe when a friend had a back-to-school gathering and asked that I bring something to eat. I was going to make my mom’s recipe until I realized I had no blueberries.

Just like mocha donuts and mocha scones, adding coffee and a little cocoa powder to baked goods transforms them into a delicious treat. This disappeared quickly, and everyone begged for the recipe.

This version uses no sour cream and is not overwhelmingly sweet, which makes it unique. This is best the day of, but you could make it the day before and drizzle the topping over it as you serve it.

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What pan should I make my coffee cake in?

When I make coffee cake, I generally use a springform pan. It makes it easy to release the coffee cake to serve it on a platter and keep every slice pretty.

If you don’t have a springform pan, you can also make it in a baking dish. I have made it in a 9 inch round cake pan successfully, but this would also work in an 8 by 8 square pan, depending on how you want to cut and serve it.

What can I use in place of Greek yogurt?

The plain Greek yogurt adds a tang in the coffee cake, as well as moisture. You want to use plain Greek yogurt – not vanilla and definitely not another flavor.

I usually use the whole Greek yogurt, but this will work with nonfat, though it won’t be quite as moist or rich. Keep in mind that whole Greek yogurt does not have a ton of fat in it, so you don’t have to feel guilty about using it.

If you don’t have Greek yogurt, regular yogurt is not quite the same and not a great substitute when it comes to flavor, although it works for texture. Sour cream is a much better substitute.

How to make Mocha Coffee Cake

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease your springform pan. If you use a 9-inch cake pan or 8×8 baking dish, do the same.

Cream 6 tablespoons of butter with the granulated sugar until light and fluffy for two to three minutes. When it is lightened in color and comes back together while being mixed, it’s ready for the next step.

Slow the beater to low and add the eggs one at a time, beating well between each addition. Add 2 tablespoons of espresso, the vanilla, and the yogurt and mix until thoroughly combined.

Add the baking soda, baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 2 teaspoons of cocoa powder and mix again until thoroughly combined. Add 1 1/2 cups of the flour and mix until just incorporated.

Pour the batter into your prepared cake pan.

Make the mocha “layer” next. Place the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, 2 teaspoons of cocoa powder, 1/2 t salt, and the last 1/4 cup of flour.

Use a fork to ensure everything is evenly distributed. Add 2 tablespoons of the espresso and 2 teaspoons of melted butter and stir until it’s completely mixed.

Using the same fork, drop dollops of the mocha mixture onto the cake so that it is covers the base of the coffee cake here and there. Dip the fork into the cake and swirl a bit to distribute the mocha mixture around without truly stirring the mocha into the rest of the cake.

Bake for 45-50 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool your mocha coffee cake completely.

Make the drizzle to spoon over slices of the mocha coffee cake as you serve it. You can make this ahead of time if you keep it tightly covered to ensure it doesn’t harden, though you may need to warm it slightly before you serve it.

Melt the last two tablespoons of butter and mix them with the milk and the last 3 tablespoons of espresso. Add the powdered sugar and stir with a fork until all the lumps are gone.

Drizzle this over your slices of coffee cake as you serve them. Reserve whatever you don’t use for leftovers.

If you don’t eat all the mocha coffee cake, store it in a tightly sealed container for up to two days. Reheat the glaze as needed before you serve it again.

Bookmark this Mocha Coffee Cake recipe to make again!

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