Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Cake and Coffee for Dad


Happy 65th Birthday to my Dad!

Today is the birthday of one of the very special men in my life: my dad, John.
Although he's seems about a million miles away on the other side of the country, I made a cake for him anyway.

Whether self-appointed or elected, I was always the one in the family to make my dad's birthday cakes when I was growing up. Usually they were ghastly creations, covered in garishly colored icings, but slowly improved over the years, thank goodness! Even though my siblings teased me about how some of the cakes looked, Dad alway made me feel like they were beautiful works of art.

This recipe for coffee cake became a favorite in our home as simply everyone in the family loves coffee (we kids all started drinking at the ripe old age of twelve) and my dad often requested it.
No subtle coffee flavoring in this moist cake! The basic white crumb is steeped in a strong coffee syrup and then layered with vanilla bean whipping cream.

Oh yeah.


I'll save the really personal stuff for a phone call to my dad, but I will say that he has encouraged me in my cooking skills for as long as I can remember and next to my husband, is my biggest fan.

Thanks Dad, for all the support-not just in cooking, but in every area of my life.

I love you.

“Cake and Coffee” Cake

¾ cup butter, room temperature
¾ cup sugar
3 eggs, room temperature
½ teaspoon vanilla
1 ½ cups flour, sifted
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 Tablespoons milk

Coffee Syrup (see below)

Whipping Cream for garnish
1 vanilla bean


Preheat oven to 350F.

Grease a 7 inch round cake pan and set aside.

Combine flour, salt and baking powder together in a small bowl.
With an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each one. Beat in vanilla.
With a spatula, fold in dry ingredients, alternating with milk. Combine gently.

Scrape batter into cake pan and level top with the spatula. Bake until a cake tester or toothpick comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cake will be fairly dark on top and sides.
Cool five minutes in pan, then remove from pan and cool cake on a wire rack.

While the cake is baking, prepare the coffee syrup.

When cool, slice cake horizontally so as to have two layers. Pour a little (1/4 cup) of the coffee syrup into the bottom of the 7-inch round cake pan and place the top layer of cake into it. Take another 7-inch cake pan and add some syrup to the bottom. Place the bottom layer of the cake into it. Pour more coffee syrup over both pieces of cake and place in the fridge to soak. Keep adding syrup to both layers as it is absorbed. Chill well.

Whip cream to stiff peaks and sweeten with sugar. Remove seeds from vanilla bean and fold into cream.
Place the bottom layer of the cake on a cake stand and cover with a layer of whipped cream. Place second layer of cake on top and cover whole cake with whipped cream. Chill well.

Slice and serve with -what else- great coffee!

Coffee Syrup: boil two cups strong black coffee with 1/3 cup sugar. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla. Cool.

20 comments:

Patricia Scarpin said...

Happy Birthday to your Dad, Aimée! I wish him all the best.

And with a cake like this, it's a big happy day indeed! :)

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

So sweet Aimee :D Happy birthday to your Dad :D for all his unwavering love and encouragement

Cookie baker Lynn said...

A cake worthy of a wonderful dad. Happy birthday to him!

Nora B. said...

Happy Birthday to your dad!

Lucky him to have you bake his cake all these years.

I love this beautiful yet simple cake. The coffee reminds me of tiramisu. I am sure that I would enjoy this cake very much.

Happy Valentines' Day ;-)

x Nora

LyB said...

Oh yeah, indeed! I think I just found what I'm making for MY birthday, if I can wait that long! ;)

Kajal@aapplemint said...

Hey Aimee, thats is really so sweet !
Wish your dad a Happy Birthday too ! Wish him a healthy and happy life. and Happy Valentines to you :)

Anonymous said...

looks fabulous! i am going to try the recipe out myself. i've never had it, but yet i crave it! :)

Aimée said...

Hi Patricia- Thanks, we enjoyed the cake, anyway!

Hi Valli- Yep, he's the best.

Hi Lynn- Thanks!

Hi Nora- I'll pass along the best wishes. Yes, it is a little like tiramisu.

Hi Lyb- Drop some hints and maybe someone will make it for you!

Hi kate- Thanks and happy valentine's to you too.

Hi Lisa- hope you enjoy it!

L Vanel said...

There's nothing I can think of that counts as more loving than making a cake for someone. It's a beautiful one. I bet your dad loved it.

kickpleat said...

this cake looks amazing! i love coffee so i'll definitely bookmark this for future use!

Caffienated Cowgirl said...

Oh, that is gorgeous! So simple and straight-forward...the best kind of cake :) Happy Birthday to your Dad...I hope he enjoyed it!

dina (Lucas' mom) said...

This is going to be the next cake I make. I am a super coffee junky and I think this is a perfect recipe. I can't wait!

Sagari said...

happy birthday to your dad and yummy cake

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Aimee I have nominated you for an award over at my site if you have a moment to check it out....well deserved. I must comment on your new photo as well...you go girl!!!

Emily said...

Happy Birthday DAD!!!

That is a beautiful cake. I would love to try this sometime.

That made me laugh about your family starting to drink coffee at 12. That's the same for my family. We're all coffee nuts.

Aimée said...

Hi Vanel- Thanks for dropping by UtHC! I couldn't agree with you more.

Hi Kickpleat- If you are a coffee lover, you can't pass up this cake.

Hi Cowgirl- Thanks!

Hi Dina- I hope you and Mony enjoy it. Maybe you can serve it at your housewarming...can you believe you'll be moving in soon?

Hi Sagari- Welcome to UtHC! I'll be sure to pass on the birthday wishes.

Hi Valli- How exciting! Thank you, thank you! Glad you like the photo.:)

Toni said...

What a touching post, and a wonderful tribute to your dad. Happy birthday to him. I understand how lucky you are to have such a loving and supportive dad - I was blessed with one, too.

Anonymous said...

Man...too bad he doesnt get to eat it!

Obsessive Foodie or Food Addict....You Decide said...

This looks luscious.....I am definately going to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing!

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