Chocolate Cinnamon Loaf w/ Sugar Spice Crust



When I used to work on the road a lot, I was addicted to Starbucks iced Americano drinks. 2 shots of espresso with some water on ice. Loved the kick. Needed the kick.

Since times are tough, and business is slow, I am on the road less and drinking less Starbucks treats. Coffee at home will do just fine.

During my addiction, I remember this fantastic chocolate cinnamon cake with a delicious sugary spicy crust on top. Where can I find that damn recipe???????

On GOOGLE! Where else? I googled "Starbucks Chocolate Cinnamon Cake" and a zillion blogs came up as well as the Starbucks website showing the NYC chef & owner of Aquavit restaurant, Marcus Samuelsson's ever so popular recipe. A nice blogger named Baking Bites cut the recipe in half so I didn't have 2 of these loaves sitting around. One will be enough, thank you.

I made it instead of a birthday cake for my mom, and we LOVED it.
Now if I can only make that iced Americano!



Starbucks Chocolate Cinnamon Loaf w/ Sugar Crust (recipe has been halved)

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup all purpose flour
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 tbsp water
1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cocoa powder
pinch ground cloves
pinch of ground ginger

Preheat the oven to 350F and thoroughly grease a 9×5″ loaf pan.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time, waiting until the previous egg has been completely incorporated before adding the next.

In a medium bowl, sift together all purpose flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
In a measuring cup, whisk together buttermilk, water and vanilla extract.
Working in two or three additions, alternately add the flour mixture and the buttermilk mixture to the sugar mixture. Begin and end with an addition of the flour mix.

Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.



In a small bowl, whisk together topping ingredients: sugar, cinnamon, cocoa powder and ground cloves. Sprinkle evenly on top of the loaf cake.
Bake at 350F for about 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Allow cake to cool in pan for 10-15 minutes, then run a knife around the edge and turn out onto a wire cooling rack.
Cool completely before slicing.



Chocolate chip cookie recipe by Jacques Torres will follow......

Comments

That cake looks spectacular! I am definitely making it this weekend and NOT halving the recipe. Happy Birthday to your mom.
♥Rosemary
Anonymous said…
For someone who hasn't eaten breakfast yet reading your blog this morning was torture. My mouth is literally watering.
This cake has GOT to be fantastic.
My question.. why didn't you bake two as called for. I know where you could have dropped the extra one.
Mil
Bob said…
Wish they had had that when I worked at Starbucks! It looks wicked good.

I made myself raspberry mochas all the time when I was working. I used both kinds of chocolate syrup and three times the espresso as in a normal mocha. Man, those were good. And if I had been paying for them they would have been almost seven dollars each. Heh.
kat said…
oh my can I have that instead of oatmeal this morning! We cut out our coffee shop drinks too luckily Matt makes me a mean cinnamon mocha.
Linda said…
Hi Sta!
You know nothing gets my attention like something CHOCOLATE!! and the last pic with the chocolate chip cookies, what a lovely couple!!!
YUMMY!!!
Happy Birthday to Elaine!!!
PS Guess who's coming home from college this weekend because she wants to BAKE!! Go figure!!
Love ya
LaDue & Crew said…
Oh I love it! It looks so moist. Can't wait to see what Jacques can do to a chocolate chip cookie!
Oh wow - this is going straight to my "make now!" folder. I am a total sucker for all of Starbucks goodies.
Are you trying to kill me? Who needs Starbucks when you have this!! Happy B-Day Stacey's Mom!!!
StaceyEsq said…
This looks wonderful, Stacey - something my kids will definitely enjoy as a treat!

Happy Birthday, Elayne!
This looks good. I love chocolate and cinnamon together.
Colleen said…
Ooh cinnamon and chocolate - a great flavor combination!
Anonymous said…
I. want. it. now.

I'll trade some fennel ice cream for a piece of this!
Anonymous said…
Oh my word that crust. I have never tried this but it sound delicious! Must make soon!
Randi Lynne said…
I plan on making this for the second time today. It is so moist and delicious, possibly the best chocolate cake I've had. The only thing it needs to compliment it is a glass of milk!
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Unknown said…
That looks absolutely stunning. I have printed off the recipe and look forward to sharing my thoughts. I have been making a cinnamon spice loaf for quite sometime using this recipe which is also fantastic: http://bit.ly/b4JiDE

Looks great Stacey!

Jess from Tate & Lyle