Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Lightly mist a 13- by 9-inch baking pan with vegetable oil spray.
  3. Set the pan aside.
  4. Place the cake mix, water, oil, eggs, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl.
  5. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute.
  6. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
  7. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat 2 minutes more, scraping the sides down again, if needed.
  8. The batter should look thick and well blended.
  9. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing it out with the rubber spatula.
  10. Place the pan in the oven.
  11. Bake the cake until it is golden brown and springs back when lightly pressed with your finger, 32 to 35 minutes.
  12. Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool.
  13. Meanwhile, prepare the syrup.
  14. Place the hot water, coffee powder, and sugar in a small bowl and stir to combine until the coffee and sugar dissolve.
  15. Stir in the coffee liqueur.
  16. Poke holes in the cake with a chopstick or drinking straw and spoon the syrup over the cake so that the syrup can seep down into the holes.
  17. Set the cake aside.
  18. Prepare the topping.
  19. Place the yogurt, cream cheese, and confectioners' sugar in a large mixing bowl and blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 to 2 minutes.
  20. The mixture should look well combined and thick.
  21. Spread the topping over the syrup-soaked cake, using the rubber spatula to spread the topping out to the edges of the cake.
  22. No more than an hour before serving, sift the cocoa powder over the topping so that it covers the top of the cake.
  23. Slice the cake into squares and serve.
  24. Store this cake, covered in aluminum foil, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.