Quick Dobos Torte with Coffee Cream

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Cook's Notes:

Optional Candy Topping: If you like, you can add a candy topping which takes practice. It's a work of art if it comes out right. I prefer to have someone help with this part.

Reserve top layer of your cake without frosting it. Place this layer on a cutting board. In a saucepan, cook 1/2 cup sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly and quickly, breaking up any chunks. Remove from heat immediately when the sugar melts; do not continue cooking at this point or the result will be too caramelized and/or gritty. Working very quickly, pour the caramel over the reserved top layer of cake, smoothing and spreading quickly over the layer. It will begin to harden like Almond Roca(R). With another smooth knife, make indentations for slicing the cake. I usually have boiling water on hand to clean the knife. Place candied cake slice on top of the frosted cake and refrost sides up to the top layer.

Refrigerate before serving. For best results, this cake tastes best served a day or two after frosting, as the cake absorbs more of the frosting. With practice you could make the perfect Hungarian Dobos Torte famous for winning many baking contests.