Sunday, March 11, 2012

Mocha cake - Mockaruta

This cake is one of my childhood favorites. Mockaruta a delightful chocolate cake with a pretty sweet mocha frosting. It goes by many names in Scandinavia. In Sweden, it is often addressed as mockaruta or chokladruta (literally meaning mocha square or chocolate square) because it is baked in rectangular baking pans and then cut into squares, like brownies. I used to order this at every single cafe I visited in my school days. But those cafe visits were very expensive for me back then and I had look up other alternatives. Even though I was under the impression that this cake was difficult to make at home I gave it a shot. It turned out wonderful the second time and there was no stopping me every since from making this. 


Cake:
150 g butter
2 eggs
1 cup caster sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanillin sugar (or 1/2 tsp vanilla extract)
2 tsp baking powder
3 tbs cocoa powder
1 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole milk

Frosting:
75 g butter
2 tbs cold coffee (1-2 tsp espresso coffee powder + 2 tbs hot water)
1 tbs cocoa powder
1 tsp vanillin sugar (optional)
3/4-1 cup icing sugar/confectioner's sugar

Garnish:
Desiccated coconut or sprinkles (optional)
Strawberries (optional)


Method:
Melt the butter at below medium heat. Put aside and allow to cool down. Lightly butter either a 7*9 inch square baking pan or a 9 inch round baking pan. Place a parchment paper at the bottom and butter the parchment paper lightly. Prepare the dry ingredients by mixing flour, vanillin sugar, baking powder and cocoa powder and sift twice. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs with sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the butter and mix until well blended. First, drizzle half of the milk into the egg mixture. Then sift half of the dry ingredients in there and fold with a spoon. Then drizzle the remaining milk and then the dry ingredients. Fold until well-blended.

Spoon in the cake batter into the baking pan and put the cake in the oven. Bake the cake in a preheated oven at 200 C (about 400 F) in the bottom third rack for about 25 minutes or until the skewer comes out clean when inserted in the centre of the cake. Take the cake out of the oven and allow it to cool down and meanwhile, go ahead and prepare the mocha frosting.

To make the frosting, add the coffee powder in a small cup and then pour 2 tbs of warm water and mix. Put aside. Melt the butter at low heat. Once the butter has melted, sift the cocoa powder and then drizzle the coffee. Whisk until well blended. Measure up the icing sugar and sift it in the same bowl, add the vanilla sugar and mix. Cook at low heat for about 2-3 minutes while continuously whisking until it is completely free of any lumps. Once the frosting looks smooth, take it away from the stove. Let it cool for sometime (but not completely) before spreading it on the cake. Drizzle it on top of the cake and spread it evenly. Sprinkle some desiccated coconut or sprinkles on top, if desired. Allow the frosting to stiffen completely before cutting into slices. I prefer to keep this cake in an airtight container at room temperature but you can also store them in the fridge.

27 comments:

Mahi said...

Artistic clicks Rathai! :)

Cake looks yumm! :P

Only Fish Recipes said...

wow...what a delicious cake dear...ur clicks r absolutely fabulous...makes me drool.....I hav an award for u in my space...plz accept :-)

mjskit said...

I love the name of this cake as much as I love the look of it.:) It looks like a really moist and creamy cake with a wonderful topping! YUM!

Katarina said...

Mockarutor is so yummy!

Purabi Naha said...

Loved the recipe and the photograph!! You are so talented!http://cosmopolitancurrymania.blogspot.com

MyFudo™ said...

Fantastic recipe. I would love to try this out sometime.

Vimitha Durai said...

Beautiful clicks and the cake looks so awesome

Kanan said...

as always lovely pictures. cake looks beautiful and I love any chocolate flavored cake with especially with chocolate frosting

Ramya said...

wow...lovely cake..awesome pics

easyfoodsmith said...

The cake looks fabulous and the frosting finger licking good!

Sangeetha M said...

mocha cake looks so perfect n tempting...awesome clicks dear!!
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Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

What beautiful photos of a delicious cake. My family would love this~

Deeps @ Naughty Curry said...

the pic speaks a thousand words, looks so inviting i love chocolate desserts with coffee in it too

Nami | Just One Cookbook said...

Hi Rathai! Very beautiful mocha cake! It looks very moist from the side view. Love the last picture. :-)

Lifewithspices said...

delicious cake..love it..

Kai Ruchi said...

Mocha cake looks simply delicious! It looks so moist and perfect. You definitely made justice to your sweet craving!

Rathai's recipe said...

Thank you all for your comments.

Sobha Shyam said...

fabulous cake..amazing clicks dear :)

Join the Just "4" Fun event :)

kitchen flavours said...

Lovely dessert and beautiful photos! Would love to have a slice! Have a great weekend!

Rathai's recipe said...

Thanks a bunch for your comments, Sobha and Joyce. :)

schmetterlingwords said...

Dear Radhai, your space looks fantastic. Every pic is a masterpiece. :)

By the way, the last pic in that Chiemgau post was Kampenwand, a hill in the Bavarian Alps. When you get a chance, just visit once more :)

Happy to follow you now :)

Winnie said...

Very beautiful and very elegant cake

Rathai's recipe said...

Aww, thank you Aysha, Winnie and Amy for your compliments and kind words. They make me blush. :)

San said...

Scrumptious mocha cake, its distinctive color speaks it all. Pics are awesome. Happy to follow your drool worthy space.

Amy's piece of cake said...

Mockarutor mums yummie!

divyagcp said...

Delicious cake!! Looks so tempting..

Kitchen Simmer said...

What ever the name it goes by... I want a slice. :) Looks heavenly. :)