Light, fluffy, espresso-infused cake with the most amazing buttercream that ever was. Let’s start #TheCakePlateProject!

Last month, I was rearranging stuff in our dining room hutch and happened to notice just how many cake plates and cake stands I have.

I guess it’s a bit of an addiction, but I find it hard to pass up a pretty cake stand.

Although in my defense, I have under 10.

So not too terrible.

And knowing how many I already have, I am very picky about adding to the collection.

I don’t add just for the sake of adding.

It has to be different enough to warrant the space in my home, and I’m like that with most things.

But that got me to thinking… I want to make a concerted effort to use my cake stands more.

Not just for holidays and birthday cakes.

And so, #TheCakePlateProject was born.

Once a month, I will be sharing a new recipe worthy of using YOUR OWN beautiful cake stands.

Since I had already been in the kitchen all afternoon, I wanted a recipe that was simple to start us off. Making dinner for Sunday evening, and my breakfasts and lunches for the week had already used up most of my energy, so I used a boxed cake mix and started doctoring it.

No guilt when using a cake mix, because it’s really just pre-measuring your base ingredients.

#winning

I added some espresso and mini chocolate chips and now it’s a completely different animal.

But honestly, the star of this show is the Espresso Buttercream Frosting.

If you’re a long-time reader, you know that buttercream is pretty much my favorite kind of frosting.

And this version takes it to completely differently levels.

Even if you don’t make the cake, MAKE THE FROSTING.

Especially if you love coffee.

Or espresso.

Or cappuccino.

Or anything in the caffeine family.

It is SO good.

And I don’t really have a sweet tooth.

I actually ended up pouring water in the bowl that had the leftover frosting in it.

Just so I could stop dipping my finger in for swipes.

It is that good.

Half of the cake went to a neighbor, and the rest is going to my office tomorrow. The other part of my plan with this project is to gift them, and make other people happy.

Because, luckily, unless it’s chocolate, my kids don’t go crazy for cake. And I don’t need any temptation.

So a project that makes good use of beautiful dust collectors AND puts smiles on other people’s faces?

Can’t think of anything better.

I hope you will join me with my new monthly project. If you do, use the hash tag #TheCakePlateProject and tag me. Let’s get ALL of our beautiful cake stands and cake plates out there in the every day. I can’t wait to see YOURS.

*Details: The cake plate above is from HomeGoods (here is a similar one from Amazon), and the little flags are from the dollar spot at Target. LOVE THEM. Because, glitter.

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