Here’s One Ingredient Will Give Your Chocolate Cake The Kick It Needs

Nothing beats a sliver, or more, of a classic chocolate cake. And not much more can make it better, especially if you enjoy your cake with coffee.

But what if you tried putting coffee IN your cake? Celebrity baker Ina Garten has a trick that will take your chocolate cake from basic to having seconds or maybe even thirds. By adding coffee, you’re bringing out the chocolate flavor even more. Coffee should be added to the batter, and you can choose what type to include. Suppose you prefer to brew some fresh as you do for your morning cup, set aside the same amount of coffee as you would water as you’re following the directions. In other words, if the recipe calls for a half cup of water, use your brewed coffee to replace the water.

Coffee in the granular form is also a great choice for the recipe. Use a teaspoon of the granules in the dry ingredients such as flour, sugar, or baking soda.

Espresso can also be used, whether it’s in a powder or liquid, the small-but-mighty drink can pack a powerful punch to your cake. Mix it in with the corresponding form of the ingredient. If you’re a decaf drinker or serving the cake to someone who shouldn’t have caffeine, your favorite decaf blend works just as well.

Keep that granule of coffee nearby because when it’s time to frost the cake, you’ll add more to the mix again. Just a little goes a long way and will enhance the easy recipe. This discovery of the two ingredients together is in no way recent. For thousands of years, mankind has been combining chocolate and coffee together. Both crops are raised in a similar fashion and originate from the same region, making them a natural pairing. You can find the two in many places, including your favorite candies or desserts.

Garten first introduced her fans to the cake she calls Beatty’s Chocolate Cake in 2006 with the release of her cookbook Barefoot Contessa At Home. Since then, she has published 13 cookbooks and, most recently, a memoir. She began her passion, which would turn into a career while her husband served in the military. To keep herself occupied, she dabbled in the kitchen. Just a decade later, in 1978, Garten opened her first specialty food store with a familiar name of Barefoot Contessa.

That book has published more than 14 million copies and eventually led to her guest appearances on the show of fellow baker-extraordinaire Martha Stewart. Food Network picked her up in 2002 for her own show, and just three years later, she signed a contract that was reportedly the most lucrative for a culinary author. Today, she’s estimated to be worth $60 million.