Halloween is over, Thanksgiving is gone, and Christmas is SO last year. We’ve officially entered the long, slow crawl toward spring with no holidays to break up the monotony. Sure, there’s Valentine’s Day, but what if you’re single? We’re talking about equal opportunity holidays here, and in that case Valentine’s Day just doesn’t cut it.
Luckily, there’s an easy and delicious way to get your celebration fix. Nearly every day of the year has been deemed a national food holiday, giving countless meals, ingredients, and desserts their day in the sun. While I’m looking forward to celebrating many of them—Peanut Butter Day (January 24th), Café Au Lait Day (February 17th), and Banana Cream Pie Day (March 2nd), to name just a few—I’m most excited about January 27th, otherwise known as National Chocolate Cake Day.
And how, you might ask, shall I celebrate this very important holiday? With coffee, of course! Coffee and chocolate are a traditional pairing, enhancing one another’s flavors in delicious and decadent ways. This January 27th, why not brighten up a cold, dark day by baking a chocolate cake infused with coffee? As inspiration, we’ve collected some of our favorite recipes to get you started. Enjoy, and make sure you come back on September 29th, when we’ll be pulling out all the stops for National Coffee Day!
Beatty’s Chocolate Cake, via the Food Network
You can’t go wrong with Ina Garten, as this recipe proves. Two layers of delicious chocolate, infused with a cup of hot, fresh coffee. For a truly festive celebration, serve it on a cake stand and enjoy while sipping your favorite brew.
Flourless Chocolate Cake with Coffee Liqueur, via Epicurious
At first glance this cake might seem humble, but looks can be deceiving. Moist and sweet, it’s free of fuss and frosting, which chocolate cake purists will no doubt appreciate.
Chocolate Spider Cake with Caramel-Coffee Mousse
If you really want to go all out for National Chocolate Cake Day, this is the recipe for you. It features moist chocolate cake, layered with a silky caramel-coffee mousse, and glazed with bittersweet chocolate ganache. If ever there was a time to eat dessert first, this is it.
Instant Chocolate Cake, via the Food Network
Sometimes chocolate cake isn’t so much a want, but a need. On those days when your chocolate cake craving must be met, this recipe will deliver instantly. Although it doesn’t use coffee in the traditional sense, it takes only two minutes to cook, thanks to the magic of a microwave and a coffee cup. Sometimes that’s exactly what you need. If you want to make this a local treat, simply mix up the ingredients in your favorite Port City Java mug and enjoy!
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