Double Espresso Chocolate Cake with Cappuccino Froth

• 1/2 cup Boiling Water
• 1/4 cup Instant Dry Espresso Powder
• 1 cup Cold Water
• 1/2 cup Coffee Liquor
• 1 cup Softened Butter
• 2 cups Granulated Sugar
• 4 Room temperature Eggs
• 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
• 5 ounces Cooled Unsweetened Chocolate
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 2 cups Flour
• 1 cup Whipping Cream
• 2 tablespoons Powdered Sugar
• 2 teaspoons Espresso Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 2 Bars Ghirardelli Intense Dark Espresso Escape Chocolate Bars Broken into small pieces
• 1/3 Softened Butter
• 1 tablespoon Light Corn Syrup
• 1/3 cup Sifted and Divided Sweetened Cocoa Powder
• 16 Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans

* For coffee liquor, can use Frangelico, Kahlua, Irish Cream or Starbuck Coffee Liquor.

** Can also use favorite brand of espresso chocolate

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In medium bowl, pour boiling water over ¼ cup dry espresso powder; stir to dissolve; stir in cold water and liquor, set aside.

In a large bowl, using a hand held mixer, cream butter with sugar until light and fluffy; beat in eggs one at a time. Beat in extract and chocolate.  Sprinkle with salt and baking soda and 1/3 of the flour.  Beat on low to blend.  Slowly pour in 1/3 of the liquid and continue beating.  Repeat to add all the flour and liquid.  Pour batter into well-buttered Nordic Ware Anniversary Bundt pan, dusted lightly with flour.

Baking instructions:
Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until cake when tested near the center comes out clean and dry.  Do not overbake.  Cool on wire rack 15 minutes; invert and remove Bundt pan.  Cool on wire rack for one hour.

While cooling, make cappuccino froth by simply whipping cream with powdered sugar; using an electric hand held mixer, in a large bowl until stiff.  Beat in espresso and extract.  Chill until serving.

In a small saucepan, combine espresso chocolate, butter and corn syrup.  Heat over medium heat, stirring until mixture is smooth.  Remove from heat and cool.

Serving recommendations:
Dust cake and dessert plates lightly with sweetened cocoa powder; drizzle cake with dark chocolate espresso glaze in an attractive pattern over the cake.  Fill center with cappuccino froth.  Dust with sweetened cocoa powder.  Slice cake and serve with a dollop of cappuccino froth.  Garnish with a chocolate covered espresso bean.