Coffee and Walnut Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-20 · Updated 2026-06-20

Moist sheet cake infused with coffee and studded with toasted walnuts, topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting. This American-inspired recipe, ready in about 60 minutes, layers all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 12, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup, softened unsalted butter
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup, cooled strong brewed coffee
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup, toasted chopped walnuts
• 8 oz, softened cream cheese
• 1/4 cup, softened unsalted butter for frosting
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract for frosting

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch sheet pan.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, and 1/2 tsp salt until combined.
3. Step 3: In another bowl, beat 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter with 2 large eggs until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
4. Step 4: Add 1 cup cooled strong brewed coffee, 3/4 cup buttermilk, and 1 tsp vanilla extract to the butter mixture and stir until smooth.
5. Step 5: Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing gently until just combined.
6. Step 6: Fold in 1 cup toasted chopped walnuts evenly.
7. Step 7: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Step 8: While cake cools, prepare frosting by beating 8 oz softened cream cheese with 1/4 cup softened unsalted butter until creamy.
9. Step 9: Gradually add 2 cups powdered sugar and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract to the cream cheese mixture, beating until smooth and fluffy.
10. Step 10: Spread frosting evenly over cooled cake and sprinkle additional chopped walnuts if desired before serving.