Espresso Swirl Loaf Cake
When I was a kid, my parents and I used to visit family in California during the summers. On one of our trips, I distinctly remember a coffee cake sitting on my aunt's dining room table. I thought it looked like the most delicious thing in the world, but my mom told me not eat any. I was a pretty obedient kid, so I held out as long as I could. But one morning, I couldn’t resist any longer. I woke up before everyone else and snuck a slice.
I remember it tasting like coffee, but in hindsight it probably didn’t. Coffee cakes typically aren’t flavored with coffee; they are just meant to be eaten alongside coffee. But in this recipe, I didn't want to bake a coffee cake. I wanted to recreate the cake of my memories: an espresso flavored cake with a streusel topping.
To accomplish this, I use espresso powder (AKA "instant espresso" or "instant espresso coffee") to flavor the cake. You can most easily find espresso powder at specialty baking stores, but it is also available at some grocery stores. Espresso powder is different from instant coffee because it is a lot more concentrated. If you only have instant coffee on hand, you can substitute by using 50% more than I call for in the recipe.
Alternatively, you could substitute finely ground coffee, using 50% more than I call for in the recipe. This results in a subtler coffee flavor and a less defined swirl (pictured). The coffee grounds do not dissolve completely, so the texture is also a little more grainy. I did not mind the texture difference in my test bake, but please keep this in mind if you plan to use ground coffee!
Let me know what you think of the recipe and don’t forget to follow the sustainability tips below!
Time: 1 1/2 hours
Makes: A 9-inch by 4-inch loaf cake
Serves: about 8-10 slices
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus 1 tablespoon
8 tablespoons (1/2 cup, 1 stick) softened butter, plus 1 tablespoon melted
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup strong brewed coffee, room temperature
2 tablespoons espresso powder, divided
If you do not have espresso powder, you can substitute 3 tablespoons of instant coffee (using 1.5 tablespoons in the batter and 1.5 tablespoons in the topping)
Steps
Preheat the oven to 350 F. In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the flour, sugars, butter and salt until the butter is evenly distributed and the mixture resembles sand. Place 3/4 cup of this mixture in a small bowl and set aside. You will use this for the crumble topping later on.
To the large bowl, add the baking soda and mix until distributed. Then, add buttermilk, eggs and vanilla and stir until just combined. Transfer about half of the mixture to another bowl along with the brewed coffee and 1 tablespoon of espresso powder. Stir until just combined.
Grease a 9-inch by 4-inch pan. Alternate dolloping large spoonfuls of each batter into the pan until all batter is used. Let sit while you prepare the crumble topping. Grab the 3/4 cup of dry ingredients that you set aside earlier. Add the remaining tablespoons of espresso powder, sugar and melted butter and stir to combine. Sprinkle the crumble on top of the batter. Bake the loaf for 50-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Nosh!
Sustainability Tips
Flour: I like to buy King Arthur brand flour because King Arthur Flour is a B Corp, which means that they're held to a high environmental and social standard. Alternatively, you could seek out a farmer who grows and mills flour locally. Buying locally can help connect you to your local food system and cut back on the miles your food has to travel.
Butter and buttermilk: Since cows contribute a lot to climate change by releasing methane, I like to buy my dairy products from B Corps, which are held to really high environmental and social standards. You could also try out vegan dairy options if you're feeling adventurous.
Egg: Local eggs are pretty easy to find in most regions. Buying locally means your eggs won't have to travel as far, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy use.
Espresso Powder: Ideally, you would use a direct trade espresso powder. Alternatively, you could buy Fair Trade espresso powder, or buy King Arthur Flour brand espresso powder. Fair Trade certification requires fair pay for farm workers and King Arthur Flour is a B Corp, which means they're held to a high social and environmental standard.