Valentine's Day Chocolate Kahlua Cake with Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

A rich, moist Valentine’s Day Chocolate Kahlua Cake with Strawberry Buttercream Frosting featuring layers of dark cocoa sponge infused with Kahlua, espresso, and topped with whipped strawberry buttercream and chocolate ganache.

Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Total time: 1 hour
Yield: 12 servings

Ingredients

Cake: 3 cups flour 3 cups sugar 1½ cups dark cocoa ½ cup regular cocoa 1 tbsp baking powder 1½ tsp baking soda 1½ tsp salt 4 eggs ½ cup sour cream 1 cup buttermilk 1 cup warm water ½ cup Kahlua ½ tsp espresso powder ½ cup canola oil 1 tbsp vanilla Frosting: 2 cups butter 6 cups powdered sugar 4 tsp vanilla ½ cup diced strawberries 5–7 tbsp cream Ganache: 1 cup chocolate chips ½ cup cream

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare pans.
Step 2: Mix espresso powder, Kahlua, and water.
Step 3: Combine dry ingredients.
Step 4: Add wet ingredients and beat until smooth.
Step 5: Divide batter and bake 25–35 minutes.
Step 6: Cool cakes 20 minutes, then remove.
Step 7: Beat frosting ingredients until fluffy.
Step 8: Layer cakes and frost.
Step 9: Make ganache and whisk until smooth.
Step 10: Pour over cake and decorate.

Notes

Pat strawberries dry before adding to frosting. Chill cake before slicing. Replace Kahlua with strong coffee for an alcohol-free version.

Nutrition

Calories: 340
Fat: 15
Saturated fat: 9
Sugar: 32
Sodium: 160
Protein: 4
Carbohydrates: 45
Fiber: 3