Chocolate Cake Recipe

 

Classic and irresistible, this chocolate cake recipe is decadent, moist, and rich. Simple to make, this heavenly frosted cake is a chocolate lover’s dream.
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Table of Contents
  1. Chocolate Cake Recipe Ingredients
  2. Substitutions and Additions
  3. How to Make Chocolate Cake Recipe
  4. How to Serve Chocolate Cake Recipe
  5. Storage
  6. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
  7. MORE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
  8. JUMP TO RECIPE

Chocolate cake recipe is a classic, rich cake that is the perfect choice for a birthday party or any time you need to satisfy your chocolate craving. This fluffy and moist cake is topped with creamy frosting to satisfy all the chocolate lovers in your life.

Can’t get enough chocolate cake recipes? You’ll also want to make Chocolate Dump Cake, Chocolate Poke Cake, and Instant Pot Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Cake Recipe Ingredients

You will need:

Cake

  • 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1½ teaspoons baking soda
  • 1½ teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 cup boiling water or hot coffee
  • 1½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup canola oil

Frosting

  • ¾ cup salted butter softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • ¾ cup heavy cream

Substitutions and Additions

SPRINKLES: Don’t forget colorful sprinkles as an easy way to brighten up this delectable cake. 

TOPPINGS: Add nuts, a drizzle of caramel sundae sauce, or chocolate chips on top of the cake to make your cake extra fancy. 

How to Make Chocolate Cake Recipe

PRO TIP: This exceptional chocolate cake is an original Hershey’s cake recipe. It is similar to the Black Magic Cake. Milk is used instead of traditional buttermilk in the Black Magic Cake, making it a bit lighter and fluffier cake. 

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

STEP TWO: Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer.

STEP THREE: Add the milk, eggs, vanilla, and oil into the bowl with the dry ingredients.

PRO TIP: The boiling water is a traditional technique used to help break apart the dry ingredients in the cake batter.

STEP FOUR: Beat together with a hand mixer or whisk. Gradually add in the boiling water while mixing to help break apart the batter.

STEP FIVE: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan.

STEP SIX: Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cakes comes out with just a few crumbs.

STEP SEVEN: Cool the cake completely.

STEP EIGHT: Meanwhile, prepare the frosting.

PRO TIP: The frosting is a bit thicker and richer than the traditional Hershey’s chocolate frosting recipe. It’s a delicious chocolate buttercream frosting.

STEP NINE: In the bowl of a standing mixer or with a hand mixer, slowly begin to beat together the softened butter, vanilla, and cocoa powder.

STEP TEN: Rotate between adding the powdered sugar and heavy cream until both are fully incorporated, and the frosting is fluffy and smooth.

STEP ELEVEN: Spread the frosting over the cooled cake.

STEP TWELVE: Cut and serve.

How to Serve Chocolate Cake Recipe

You can never go wrong with a perfect chocolate cake recipe. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just feeling like something sweet, this rich chocolate cake is always the right choice. The only thing better than chocolate cake is to top the chocolate cake with whipped cream and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Drizzle with hot fudge sauce for a truly decadent dessert. 

Storage

IN THE FRIDGE: Cover this simple chocolate cake with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. 

IN THE FREEZER: Freeze this delicious chocolate cake for up to 3 months wrapped in plastic wrap and stored in an airtight container.

Chocolate cake recipe is a classic and irresistible dessert. You don’t need a reason to make the best chocolate cake recipe around! Chocolate cake is a classic dessert, and this one checks all of the boxes: decadent, moist, and rich. Simple to make, this heavenly frosted chocolate cake recipe is a chocolate lover’s dream.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why is coffee added to the chocolate cake? 

Coffee is a common ingredient in chocolate cake as it enhances the rich chocolate flavor in the cake. It creates a yummy chocolate taste without any hint of coffee in the flavor.

How can I store chocolate cake? 

Store this easy chocolate cake recipe wrapped in plastic wrap in the fridge for up to 1 week. You can also freeze the cake wrapped or in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Can I add other toppings to the cake? 

You can certainly add sprinkles, nuts, whipped cream, or chocolate chips onto this moist chocolate cake to make it even fancier.

MORE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

Chocolate Cake Recipe

Classic and irresistible, this chocolate cake recipe is decadent, moist, and rich. Simple to make, this heavenly frosted cake is a chocolate lover’s dream.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 55 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12

Ingredients
  

Cake

  • cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • teaspoons baking soda
  • teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 cup boiling water or hot coffee
  • teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup canola oil

Frosting

  • ¾ cup salted butter softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • ¾ cup heavy cream

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
  • Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer.
  • Add the milk, eggs, vanilla, and oil into the bowl with the dry ingredients.
  • Beat together with a hand mixer or whisk. Gradually add in the boiling water while mixing to help break apart the batter.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan.
  • Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cakes comes out with just a few crumbs.
  • Cool the cake completely.
  • Meanwhile, prepare the frosting.
  • In the bowl of a standing mixer or with a hand mixer, slowly begin to beat together the softened butter, vanilla, and cocoa powder.
  • Rotate between adding the powdered sugar and heavy cream until both are fully incorporated, and the frosting is fluffy and smooth.
  • Spread the frosting over the cooled cake.
  • Cut and serve.

Notes

PRO TIP: This exceptional chocolate cake is an original Hershey’s cake recipe. It is similar to the Black Magic Cake. Milk is used instead of traditional buttermilk in the Black Magic Cake, making it a bit lighter and fluffier cake.
Pro Tip: The boiling water is a traditional technique used to help break apart the dry ingredients in the cake batter.
Pro Tip: The frosting is a bit thicker and richer than the traditional Hershey’s chocolate frosting recipe. It’s a delicious chocolate buttercream frosting.

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