Quick Dobos Torte with Coffee Cream

My mother used to make the most delicious Hungarian "Dobos torte" which took so much time to bake, layer by layer. I make my own version with frozen pound cake which saves so much time and all Dobos torte lovers love it just the same.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 10 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 40 mins
• Calories: 395 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups white sugar
• 3 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules
• 2 (12 ounce) packages frozen pound cakes, thawed
• 2 ⅓ cups water
• 1 tablespoon quick-mixing flour (such as Wondra®), or more as needed
• 2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 10 ounces frozen whipped topping (such as Cool Whip®), thawed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Carefully slice each thawed pound cake into 6 to 8 horizontal even layers.

Step 2

Combine water, sugar, vanilla extract, and instant coffee in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a soft, slow, consistent boil with small bubbles. Stir frequently and cook until mixture starts to have a foamy look, about 1 hour.

Step 3

When cream starts to rise, continue stirring gently. If foam continues and does not settle by stirring, sprinkle with flour while stirring constantly, and allow to cook for about 5 more minutes. Coffee mixture should be a little syrupy and slightly caramelized. Don't overcook at this point once you reach the slightly syrupy stage or it will revert to a liquidy gritty texture which is undesirable to the final result of a fluffy cream.

Step 4

Remove from heat. Stir butter pieces into the coffee mixture until melted. Transfer to the refrigerator to cool down.

Step 5

Once cream is cooled, beat with an electric mixer until stiff and fluffy. Gently fold in whipped topping. Refrigerate for 2 more hours.

Step 6

Set the first layer on a cake platter and spread coffee cream in a thin layer on top. Add the 2nd cake layer and frost. Continue putting the torte together, sticking the individual layers together with coffee cream. Frost torte on the top and on the sides as well.