Recipe Wednesday: Mocha Cappuccino Cake

I just tried this yummy recipe this past weekend and it was a huge hit with my family!  It's a little time consuming but totally worth it.  A great special occasion cake and I think it would make a great Valentine's Day dessert!

Mocha Cappuccino Cake

1 box devil's food cake mix, plus ingredients to make cake per instructions on box
1/4 c. granulated sugar
2 Tbsp. instant coffee, divided
1/3 c. boiling water
1-8oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 c. powdered sugar
1-8 oz. container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1/4 c. semi-sweet chocolate morsels, grated or chopped

Prepare cake mix according to box directions.  Pour batter into a 9- or 10-inch springfoam pan or divide into two 9-inch cake pans. Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes and then remove from pan to cool completely.

In a small bowl, stir the granulated sugar and 1/2 tablespoon of instant coffee into the boiling water.  Set aside.  In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons coffee granules until smooth.  Gently fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture.  Set aside 1 cup for garnish. 

Cut cake in half horizontally to form two even layers [if you used two cake pans, skip this step].   Remove the top layer and set aside.  Brush half of the coffee mixture over the bottom cake layer using a pastry brush, or gently spread with a spoon.  Spread the cream cheese mixture over the bottom cake layer.  Sprinkle half of the chocolate over the cream cheese then carefully place the top cake layer over the chocolate.  Brush the top and sides of the cake with the remaining coffee mixture.  Using a decorator tube or bag, pipe the reserved 1 cup of cream cheese mixture around the edges of the cake in design of your choice.  (If you don't have a decorator bag or tube, you can just evenly frost the top of the cake with the cream cheese mixture.)  Sprinkle remaining chocolate over the cake.  Keep refrigerated.  Yields: 16 servings.

Recipe adapted from Pampered Chef.

Coupons:

- Save $0.40/1 Domino sugar product (11/14 RP, expires 1/31) or printable here
- Printable save $0.50/2 Philadelphia cream cheese plus at Target stack with printable save $0.50/2 Philadelphia cream cheese (Target store coupon)