Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Starbucks on a Plate

Disclaimer: I have only been to Starbucks once, at the Tampa airport, after a misery of a 2 day trip, at 10AM on a Saturday following a 2 hour drive to the airport. Searching for more caffeine (following 4 diet cokes on the drive), I marched in knowing only these things about Starbucks: (1) their stuff is really pricy, and (2) their stuff is really stuffed with calories. So, to the great confusion of the clerk behind the counter, I asked for the biggest giant cup possible of plain, no calorie, black, strong hot tea. She did not understand. I repeated my request; the manager heard, came over and saved me. I'm not the dummy getting 2/3 of my daily caloric intake from my caffeine fix!

But people who love Starbucks coffee swear it's great. So when I tried this cake, I renamed it in honor of Starbucks, because it was really great. And I'm pretty sure you could add cinnamon or whatever other flavors are appropriate to the frosting to make it taste very much like your favorite coffee beverage. This was inspired by a recipe in my newer Fannie Farmer cookbook, although, of course, it has been subjected to some "Marjie" changes.

STARBUCKS ON A PLATE

3/4 cup hot water
3 tbsp instant coffee
1 stick (1/4 pound) butter
1-1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
2-1/4 cups flour
3/4 tsp salt

3 tsp baking powder
6 tbsp dry milk
1 cup chopped walnuts

Stir the coffee into the hot water and set aside. Cream the butter with the sugar until light; beat in the eggs and vanilla. Stir together the flower, salt, baking powder and dry
milk powder, and beat in alternately with the strong instant coffee. Beat at low speed until combined, then at high speed for 2 minutes. Stir in the chopped walnuts, and turn into a greased 9"x13" sheet pan or two greased layer pans. Bake at 350F for 38 to 42 minutes for the sheet cake or 30 to 35 minutes for the layer cake. Frost with buttercream frosting (1 stick butter, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 pound confectioners sugar beaten together and whipping cream added to bring it to perfect consistency).

Dan griped about the walnuts, but being a coffee fiend he picked them out and enjoyed the cake. All the other comments ranged from "It's decent," to "This is pretty good!" That's about as big as compliments come around here. So, try out this cake for the coffee fiend in your life, or for yourself. Flavor the frosting a la your favorite Starbucks brew, and you'll be able to say you're dieting while eating cake!

14 comments:

Paula said...

So does this make it a coffee cake? A year or so ago I tried a mocha something or other at Starbucks. It was pretty good ... how could it not be? It had chocolate, caramel, whipping cream, and sugar in it. It didn't even taste of coffee!!! Starbucks is all the rage out here; they should sell servings of your Starbucks on a Plate! :-)

buffalodick said...

Throw a little coffee cordial in it, and it's perfect!

Pam said...

Starbucks is huge here in Oregon but you are right - their drinks are loaded with calories. I would much rather have a big slice of this cake than a latte.

Diane said...

This looks really yummy, I love coffee cake and the nuts as well make it special. Diane

gMarie said...

you lead such a sheltered life. Truthfully - I'm not a big fan of starbucks (I think their coffee is really bitter and don't tell anyone because being native that's sacriligious). That being said it is the only game in town when I want a latte.

Cake looks lovely - g

SissySees said...

The Knight hates coffee, but I think I'll have to make this for my next stamp 'n scrap day!

The Blonde Duck said...

You can have your cake and eat it too!

Lapdog Creations said...

mmmm.....

Sue said...

Neither Rob nor I like Starbuck's coffee. It tastes bitter to us like it's been scorched. We do both like coffee however, so this cake will probably get a try.

Tatersmama said...

Hmmm... I'm wondering if I could just use a 3/4 of a cup of regular strong black coffee? I do have instant on hand, but I hate the way it tastes, and I stick to grinding my own beans.
I do love those Starbucks drinks that you can get at the stores in the states, (well, the only place I saw them was the gas station in CA) but they're an OCCASIONAL treat, and that's it.
The cake sounds perfect for the Old Guy and I, so it's going on the *I've GOT to make this!" list!!

Mickle in NZ said...

As I'm over in New Zealand I'll say what I like about starbucks.

2 years ago a High School friend, H, who now lives in France came over with her children to visit her parents. When we caught up for lunch one day H told me that NZ cafe made coffee was so good she was finding it too strong (!) - yet H still needed an after lunch coffee, so we went to Starbucks!

I seldom drink coffee because of my innards issues, but when I do I can find very freshly locally roasted coffee easily.

Love that you ordered tea! Next up is to teach "them" how to make a good pot of tea from loose tea leaves rather than from tea bags. There is a specialty tea shop near my workplace's new office (we've just moved) - very dangerous!!!

Anonymous said...

I've only ever been to a Starbucks once and have called it Fourbucks ever since......this looks great, now I can't decide which of your coffee cakes to make for branding morning.

Deana Sidney said...

Thor's presents look wonderful... but the dessert is great... love the coffee on a plate... much better than starbucks!

monica said...

so - what can I replace the dry milk with? don't have that around...