Chocolate Tiramisu Layer Cake

🍫☕ Chocolate Tiramisu Layer Cake

Rich chocolate cake soaked with espresso and layered with creamy mascarpone filling, then finished with a generous dusting of cocoa powder. It’s tiramisu in cake form.

Ingredients

Chocolate Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
½ cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup hot coffee

Espresso Soak

¾ cup strong espresso, cooled
2 tbsp amaretto or dark rum, optional
2 tbsp sugar

Mascarpone Filling

16 oz mascarpone, cold
2 cups heavy whipping cream, cold
¾ cup powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract

Finish

Unsweetened cocoa powder

Directions

Bake the cake: Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and line two 8-inch cake pans. Whisk flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla. Mix in hot coffee until smooth.
Divide batter between pans and bake 28–32 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs. Cool completely.
Make the soak: Stir espresso, sugar, and amaretto or rum together until the sugar dissolves.
Make the filling: Beat mascarpone, cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until thick, creamy, and able to hold soft-to-medium peaks. Avoid overbeating.
Slice each cooled cake horizontally to create 4 thin cake layers.
Place the first layer on a serving plate. Brush generously with espresso soak, then spread with mascarpone filling. Repeat with the remaining layers.
Cover the top and sides with the remaining mascarpone cream. Chill for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
Dust generously with cocoa powder just before serving.