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Easy Chocolate Cake
4.6 from 162 votes

Easy Chocolate Cake

This chocolate cake is made with a combination of cocoa, butter, and sour cream creating a moist, tender crumb contrasted by a rich chocolate sour cream frosting. The cake is baked in a 9x13-inch pan and delivers a classic chocolate dessert suitable for various occasions without complicated preparation steps.

Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 16
Calories: 428 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

For the chocolate cake:
  • 1 cup butter unsalted
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder unsweetened
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 egg at room temperature, large
  • 1/2 cup sour cream at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract pure
For the chocolate sour cream frosting:
  • 3 cups confectioners sugar
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder or Dutch process cocoa, unsweetened
  • 1/2 cup butter unsalted
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch salt

Instructions

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  1. For the cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x13-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
  2. In a small saucepan, combine the butter, water, cocoa powder, and salt and place over medium heat. Cook, stirring with a spatula, just until melted and combined. Remove from the heat and set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and baking soda. Add half of the melted butter cocoa mixture and whisk until completely blended. The mixture will be thick. Add the remaining butter mixture and stir until combined.
  4. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking until completely blended. Add the sour cream and vanilla extract and whisk until smooth.
  5. Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 25-30 minutes. Let the cake cool completely before frosting.
  6. For the frosting: In a large bowl, sift together the confectioner's sugar and cocoa powder. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter until smooth, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the confectioner's sugar and cocoa, sour cream, vanilla, and salt. Beat until frosting is smooth, about 3 minutes. If you need to scrape down the sides, do so, and mix again.
  7. Frost the cooled chocolate cake with the chocolate sour cream frosting. Cut cake into squares and serve.

Nutrition Information

Serving 16g Calories 428kcal (21%) Carbohydrates 59g (20%) Protein 3g (6%) Fat 21g (32%) Saturated Fat 13g (65%) Cholesterol 73mg (24%) Sodium 421mg (18%) Potassium 116mg (2%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 44g (88%) Vitamin A 650IU (13%) Vitamin C 0.2mg (0%) Calcium 32mg (3%) Iron 1.5mg (8%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 16 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 428

% Daily Value*

Serving 16g
Calories 428kcal 21%
Carbohydrates 59g 20%
Protein 3g 6%
Fat 21g 32%
Saturated Fat 13g 65%
Cholesterol 73mg 24%
Sodium 421mg 18%
Potassium 116mg 2%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 44g 88%
Vitamin A 650IU 13%
Vitamin C 0.2mg 0%
Calcium 32mg 3%
Iron 1.5mg 8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.