Description
This Best Chocolate Cake Recipe delivers rich, moist chocolate cake layers with deep chocolate flavor, perfect for any occasion. It uses simple, quality ingredients like unsweetened cocoa powder and coffee to intensify the chocolate taste while maintaining a tender crumb. Easy to follow and versatile, it can be customized for gluten-free, vegan, or fudgy variations, making it a go-to decadent treat for any baker.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend for gluten-free option)
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1½ tsp baking soda
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- 2 cups granulated sugar
Wet Ingredients
- 2 large eggs (replace with flaxseed meal mixture for vegan option)
- 1 cup buttermilk or sour cream (or plant-based milk with lemon juice for vegan option)
- ½ cup vegetable oil or melted butter (use vegan butter alternatives for vegan option)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup hot coffee or espresso
Instructions
- Prep Your Ingredients and Tools: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease your cake pans. Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and baking powder to remove lumps and combine evenly.
- Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the sugar, eggs, buttermilk (or sour cream), oil, vanilla extract, and hot coffee until smooth and well blended. This builds the moisture and flavor foundation of the cake.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the cake tender and prevent a dense texture.
- Bake the Cake: Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool and Frost: Allow cakes to cool in their pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Once cool, frost with your choice of chocolate frosting or ganache and stack the layers.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients for better blending and rise.
- Sift dry ingredients to prevent clumps and ensure a light crumb.
- Do not overmix the batter to maintain a tender crumb.
- A splash of hot coffee enhances the cocoa flavor without making the cake taste like coffee.
- Test doneness carefully to avoid overbaking and drying out the cake.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12th of cake)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: chocolate cake, moist chocolate cake, best chocolate cake, gluten-free chocolate cake, vegan chocolate cake, fudgy chocolate cake, birthday cake, chocolate dessert