Cold brew coffee, cream cheese frosting, and extra chocolate chips turn boxed cake mix into something wonderful.
Cook Time
35 minutes
Total Time
2 minutes
Yield
8 servings
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake
nonstick cooking spray, for greasing
2 boxes chocolate cake mix
4 large eggs
⅔ cup vegetable oil (160 g)
1 ⅓ cups cold brew coffee (320 mL)
Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
16 oz cream cheese (455 g), softened
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 cup cocoa powder (110 g)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
5 cups powdered sugar (600 g)
12 oz mini semisweet chocolate chips (340 g)
How to Make It
1. Step
Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C).
2. Step
Make the cake: Grease 3 8-inch (22-centimeter) round cake pans with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper.
3. Step
In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, oil, and cold brew. Mix with an electric hand mixer until smooth.
4. Step
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cake comes out clean. Let the cakes cool for 10 minutes in the pans, then invert onto a wire rack and let cool completely.
5. Step
Make the frosting: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter with an electric hand mixer on medium speed until well combined.
6. Step
Add the cocoa powder and salt and beat on high speed until well combined with no lumps. Sift in the powdered sugar and beat until well incorporated and the frosting is smooth.
7. Step
Use a large serrated knife to trim off the domed cake tops, keeping the cakes as level as possible.
8. Step
Place 1 layer of cake on a cake stand or serving platter lined with strips of parchment paper (for easy cleanup). Spread ¾ cup frosting evenly over the cake. Repeat with the other 2 cake layers, then spread the rest of the frosting evenly over the top and sides of the cake.
9. Step
Use your hands to gently press handfuls of mini chocolate chips onto the sides of the cake. Wrap the sides of the cake with parchment paper. Rub against the sides of the paper to press and align the chocolate chips into place. Remove the parchment paper.
