Chocolate cake wasn't actually chocolate until 1764 when cocoa powder was invented—before that it was just brown spice cake.
Homemade Chocolate Cake
Indulge in the ultimate chocolate lover's dream with this scrumptious homemade chocolate cake! Crafted with rich cocoa powder and velvety buttermilk, each slice is a moist, decadent delight that melts in your mouth. Get ready to impress your friends and family with this easy-to-follow recipe that guarantees a sweet celebration every time!
Prep
15
min
Cook
35
min
Serves
8
people
Level
intermediate
📝 Ingredients
Serves 8🥛Dairy & Eggs(4)
- 1 and 1 half cups of softened butter (340 g)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup of milk (240 ml)
- up to 1 half cup of milk (120 ml)optional
🫙Pantry Staples(9)
- 2 teaspoons of baking powder (10 ml)
- 1 and 1 half teaspoons of baking soda (7.5 ml)
- 3 fourths cup of cocoa powder (180 ml)
- 1 cup of cocoa powder (240 ml)
- 1 half cup of cooking oil (120 ml)
- 2 cups of flour (250 g)
- 5 cups of powdered sugar (1 kg)
- 2 cups of sugar (400 g)
- 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract (10 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(1)
- 1 teaspoon of salt (5 ml)
📦Other(1)
- 1 cup of hot water or coffee (240 ml)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Add flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, and baking powder to a large bowl and whisk.
- 2
Add milk, cooking oil, eggs, and vanilla extract and mix.
- 3
Slowly add hot water or coffee and mix.
- 4
Prepare 2 9-inch round cake pans with shortening or butter and flour.
- 5
Pour an equal amount of batter into each pan.
- 6
Bake at 350 F for 30 to 35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- 7
Let cool for 10 minutes then transfer to a wire rack and cool another 10 to 20 minutes.
- 8
Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
- 9
In a medium bowl, mix softened butter and cocoa powder.
- 10
Add vanilla extract and slowly incorporate powdered sugar.
- 11
Add milk a little at a time until you get your desired thickness.
- 12
Place parchment paper on a cake pedestal, add a dollop of frosting in the middle.
- 13
Add the first layer of cake and frost it.
- 14
Add the second layer of cake and frost the remaining cake.
- 15
Slice and serve.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Use hot coffee instead of water at 185-195°F because caffeine enhances chocolate flavor compounds and the heat blooms cocoa powder for 25% more intense chocolate taste.ingredient185-195°F
- ✓Mix wet ingredients to exactly 68-72°F before combining with dry ingredients because this temperature range creates optimal emulsion and prevents flour from developing excess gluten.technique68-72°F
- ✓Weigh your flour to 120g per cup rather than scooping because scooped flour can vary by 30% and create dense, heavy cake texture.ingredient120g per cup
- ✓Test doneness when internal temperature reaches 205-210°F rather than relying solely on toothpick test, as chocolate cakes can appear underdone while fully baked.timing205-210°F
- ✓Chill assembled cake for exactly 30 minutes before frosting because this firms the crumb structure and prevents frosting from melting or sliding off.timing30 minutes
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
35
min
Serves
8
people
Level
intermediate
Share this recipe
Chocolate cake wasn't actually chocolate until 1764 when cocoa powder was invented—before that it was just brown spice cake.
Homemade Chocolate Cake
Indulge in the ultimate chocolate lover's dream with this scrumptious homemade chocolate cake! Crafted with rich cocoa powder and velvety buttermilk, each slice is a moist, decadent delight that melts in your mouth. Get ready to impress your friends and family with this easy-to-follow recipe that guarantees a sweet celebration every time!
📝 Ingredients
Serves 8🥛Dairy & Eggs(4)
- 1 and 1 half cups of softened butter (340 g)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup of milk (240 ml)
- up to 1 half cup of milk (120 ml)optional
🫙Pantry Staples(9)
- 2 teaspoons of baking powder (10 ml)
- 1 and 1 half teaspoons of baking soda (7.5 ml)
- 3 fourths cup of cocoa powder (180 ml)
- 1 cup of cocoa powder (240 ml)
- 1 half cup of cooking oil (120 ml)
- 2 cups of flour (250 g)
- 5 cups of powdered sugar (1 kg)
- 2 cups of sugar (400 g)
- 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract (10 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(1)
- 1 teaspoon of salt (5 ml)
📦Other(1)
- 1 cup of hot water or coffee (240 ml)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Add flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, and baking powder to a large bowl and whisk.
- 2
Add milk, cooking oil, eggs, and vanilla extract and mix.
- 3
Slowly add hot water or coffee and mix.
- 4
Prepare 2 9-inch round cake pans with shortening or butter and flour.
- 5
Pour an equal amount of batter into each pan.
- 6
Bake at 350 F for 30 to 35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- 7
Let cool for 10 minutes then transfer to a wire rack and cool another 10 to 20 minutes.
- 8
Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
- 9
In a medium bowl, mix softened butter and cocoa powder.
- 10
Add vanilla extract and slowly incorporate powdered sugar.
- 11
Add milk a little at a time until you get your desired thickness.
- 12
Place parchment paper on a cake pedestal, add a dollop of frosting in the middle.
- 13
Add the first layer of cake and frost it.
- 14
Add the second layer of cake and frost the remaining cake.
- 15
Slice and serve.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Use hot coffee instead of water at 185-195°F because caffeine enhances chocolate flavor compounds and the heat blooms cocoa powder for 25% more intense chocolate taste.ingredient185-195°F
- ✓Mix wet ingredients to exactly 68-72°F before combining with dry ingredients because this temperature range creates optimal emulsion and prevents flour from developing excess gluten.technique68-72°F
- ✓Weigh your flour to 120g per cup rather than scooping because scooped flour can vary by 30% and create dense, heavy cake texture.ingredient120g per cup
- ✓Test doneness when internal temperature reaches 205-210°F rather than relying solely on toothpick test, as chocolate cakes can appear underdone while fully baked.timing205-210°F
- ✓Chill assembled cake for exactly 30 minutes before frosting because this firms the crumb structure and prevents frosting from melting or sliding off.timing30 minutes