Coffee Water Cake
- Lactose Free
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Energy Kcal 407
- Carbohydrates g 70.8
- of which sugars g 42.6
- Protein g 4.4
- Fats g 11.7
- of which saturated fat g 1.62
- Fiber g 1.4
- Sodium mg 8
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Prep time: 10 min
- Cook time: 50 min
- Serving: 8
- Cost: Very low
- Note + the time for brewing the coffee and its cooling
PRESENTATION
La torta all’acqua al caffè is like bringing a slice of Italian home baking right into your kitchen. It’s one of those coffee cakes that really, really surprises everyone with how light and moist it turns out—even though there’s no eggs, milk, or butter anywhere. Seriously, how is that even possible? This classic water cake stands out with its gentle, tender crumb and that subtle coffee hit. Each bite gives off this cozy, sweet vibe—just like the Italian merenda, where everyone sits down for a little treat in the afternoon. And look, across Italy, you’ll spot families whipping up this eggless cake on a whim. And why? Because it’s pretty simple. Plus, it doesn’t need any fancy ingredients. The base? Super versatile. Some toss in cocoa or chopped apples. And others stick to the pure coffee version for that aromatic flavor. Can’t go wrong, right? It’s perfect when you need something for everyone, even friends who skip dairy or eggs by choice or for health reasons. And here's the thing: this dairy-free cake feels both a bit old-school and still spot-on for today—really accessible, with that Italian charm. You get a delicate, fluffy texture that soaks up a drizzle of coffee syrup or a dusting of powdered sugar. Some folks in Italy even swap out the coffee for orange juice or throw in chocolate chunks for a twist. But, the coffee version? Still a favorite. Serve it with afternoon coffee or as a light dessert after dinner. And it’s just right—not too heavy. Honestly, the whole thing is proof a vegan cake can be full of taste and texture with just a few pantry staples. Whether it’s a coffee-flavored cake or a homemade Italian coffee dessert, you get a treat that feels special, yet never fussy. It’s really the kind of thing people want another slice of. So yeah, it's a perfect example of how traditional recipes can fit into modern lifestyles without missing a beat.
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INGREDIENTS
- Ingredients for a 9.5-inch diameter pan
- Coffee 4 cups (330 g)
- Type 00 flour 2.4 cups (300 g)
- Sugar 1 cup (200 g)
- Baking powder 1.1 tbsp (16 g)
- Sunflower seed oil 6 tbsp (90 g)
- To grease and flour the pan
- Type 00 flour to taste
- Sunflower seed oil to taste
- For the coffee glaze
- Powdered sugar 1 cup (120 g)
- Coffee 8 tbsp (40 g)
How to prepare Coffee Water Cake
To prepare the coffee water cake, start with the coffee: prepare 330 g (about 11.6 fl oz) of coffee with a moka pot; collect it in a jug and let it cool. Put the sugar in a large bowl, then pour the now-cooled coffee 1. Mix well to dissolve the sugar 2 and then add the seed oil, still mixing 3.
Sift the flour with the baking powder in a separate bowl 4 and then gradually add the dry ingredients, a spoonful at a time, to the coffee, sugar, and oil mixture, stirring well to avoid lumps 5. Now proceed to oil and flour the pan: pour some seed oil into a 9.5-inch diameter pan 6,
and spread it well over the entire surface of the pan, using a paper towel 7. At this point, flour it using a spoonful of flour and turn the pan upside down to remove the excess 8. Once the pan is oiled and floured, take the cake batter 9
and pour it into the pan 10. Once poured, if necessary, use a spatula to distribute the batter evenly 11 and bake in a preheated static oven at 356°F for 50 minutes. After this time, perform the toothpick test: if it comes out dry and clean, it means the cake is cooked. Remove it from the oven and let it cool 12. While the cake cools, prepare another 40 g (about 1.4 fl oz) of coffee with the moka pot and let it cool as well.
Now focus on preparing the coffee glaze: put the powdered sugar in a bowl and gradually pour in the cold coffee 13, mixing well to eliminate any lumps and to achieve a smooth, homogeneous glaze 14. When the cake is cold, remove it from the mold and place it on a plate. Pour the glaze over the cake 15,
and spread it well over the entire surface using the back of a spoon 16. Decorate with some coffee beans 17 and let it rest until the glaze is dry 18. Your coffee water cake is ready to be enjoyed!