Espresso and pecan cake with chocolate buttercream

Rich espresso and salty pecans enhance the flavour of this light sponge cake with a soft buttercream

Espresso and pecan cake with chocolate buttercream

SERVES

12

PEOPLE

PREP TIME

15

MINUTES

COOKING TIME

35

MINUTES

Ingredients

  • 225g butter, warmed

  • 215g golden caster sugar

  • 225g self-raising flour

  • 2 tsp baking powder, sieved

  • 100g pecan nuts, chopped

  • 3 eggs, lightly beaten

  • 40ml espresso

  • For the icing:

  • 150g butter, softened

  • 250g icing sugar

  • 25g cocoa powder

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Method

  1. Line a 9in round tin with baking parchment and heat the oven to 180°C.

  2. Place the soft butter and the caster sugar into your mixing bowl and whisk until the mixture is light and fluffy.

  3. In another bowl combine the rest of the cake ingredients. Add these to the butter and sugar mixture and mix slowly until everything is combined.

  4. Scoop the mixture into the prepared tin and flatten it out. Bake for 35 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Allow to cool completely.

  5. To make the icing, whisk all of the ingredients until light and fluffy and turning pale in colour. Add to the cake with a pallet knife and decorate it with fresh fruit and edible flowers.