Coffee and cardamom embody this loaf cake with spicy magic. This isn't merely a "coffee cake," as in a cake to eat with coffee--it has coffee laced into every layer. Start your morning off with a caffeine-sugar wallop! Modified from Relish Magazine.
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Keyword: cardamom, coffee, quick bread
Author: Beth Cato
Ingredients
For the cake:
1 1/2cupsall-purpose flour
2teaspoonsbaking powder
1/2teaspoonsalt
1teaspooncardamom
1cupvanilla low fat yogurtor vanilla or plain Greek yogurt, or sour cream
1cupwhite sugar
3eggsroom temperature
1/2teaspoonvanilla extract
1teaspoonespresso powder dissolved in 1 teaspoon water
1/3cupolive oil or vegetable oil
For coffee infusion:
1/4cupbrewed coffee
1/4cupwhite sugar
For icing:
1cupconfectioners' sugarsifted
2Tablespoonsbrewed coffee
pinchcardamom
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Cut a piece of parchment paper to act as a sling across the wide part of a 8 1/2 by 4 1/4-inch loaf pan. Grease the pan well, press in the parchment paper inside so it sticks up on either end, and grease the paper as well.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and 1 teaspoon cardamom. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine yogurt/sour cream, 1 cup sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, hydrated espresso powder, and oil; whisk well.
Gradually stir in flour mixture.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 50 to 55 minutes, until it passes the toothpick test in the middle of the loaf. Let it cool in pan for 10 minutes then lift out by the parchment and place on a wire rack over a sheet pan. You can reuse the parchment by placing it beneath the rack to make the next clean up stage easier, too.
While the loaf is still warm, use a chopstick or skewer to poke deep holes all over the top and sides. Use a saucepan to heat up the 1/4 cup brewed coffee and 1/4 cup sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Slowly spoon the coffee mix over the cake, giving the liquid time to soak in; use it all, with the excess dripping into the pan below.
When the loaf cake is completely cool, make the icing. Combine sifted powdered sugar, remaining 2 tablespoons brewed coffee, and pinch of cardamom. Stir until smooth. Add more sugar or a touch of coffee (or milk or water, in a pinch) if needed for consistency. Drizzle glaze over cake.