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The BEST Chocolate Cake Recipe

This is the BEST chocolate cake recipe! Fudgy, chocolatey, moist, and made completely from scratch! Be sure to check out the VIDEO!

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 12 slices
Calories: 755 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 ⅔ 1 ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 1 cup light brown sugar firmly packed
  • 1 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ¾ ¾ cup natural cocoa powder
  • 1 ½ 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
  • ¾ ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ½ ½ cup unsalted butter melted
  • ½ ½ cup neutral cooking oil (use avocado, canola, or vegetable oil)
  • 2 2 large eggs + 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten room temperature
  • 2 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 1 cup buttermilk
  • ½ ½ cup hot coffee or hot water
  • 1 1 batch chocolate frosting see note

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and prepare two 8" round cake pans by lining the bottoms with parchment paper and lightly greasing and flouring the sides. Set aside. 
  2. In a large mixing bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment) stir together flour, sugars, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
  3. Add melted butter and oil, stir well. Batter may be thick, this is fine, just stir until all of the dry ingredients are moistened.
  4. Add eggs, egg yolk, and vanilla extract and stir until well combined. Pause occasionally to scrape sides and bottom of bowl.
  5. Gradually add buttermilk and stir well.
  6. Add hot coffee or water, stirring carefully until ingredients are well-combined (be sure to scrape sides and bottom of bowl to ensure batter is uniform).
  7. Evenly divide batter between prepared pans. Transfer to center rack of 350F (175C) and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean or with moist crumbs.
  8. Allow to cool for 15 minutes before inverting onto cooling rack to cool completely before frosting with your favorite frosting (I recommend the one linked in the recipe above, or one of my favorites linked in the notes below!).

Notes

  • In the video I used my favorite chocolate frosting (linked in the recipe card) but for the photos in this post I used my chocolate fudge frosting (I love both of these options!). Here are some other frostings that work really well with this cake:
  • Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. 
  • You can freeze the completely cooled layers by wrapping them very well with plastic wrap and then freezing.
  • You can also freeze the fully frosted cake. To do this, place your cake in the freezer for about 10-15 minutes or until the frosting is firm. Remove it, wrap very well with plastic wrap, and freeze for up to a month.
  • Two 9" pans: Cakes will need to bake for less time, start checking at 27-30 minutes. Please keep in mind that if your pans are dark-colored the cake may need less time to bake.
  • Three 8" pans: Bake approximately 23-26 minutes.
  • Three 9" pans. Cake layers will be quite thin. Bake approximately 20-23 minutes.
  • You'll get about 24 cupcakes, evenly divide into two lined 12-count cupcake tins and bake for 17-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Readers have commented that they have successfully made this recipe by substituting Bob's Red Mill 1:1 baking flour for the flour called for in this recipe.
  • Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream
  • Peanut Butter Frosting
  • Coffee Frosting

Nutrition Information

Serving 1slice Calories 755kcal (38%) Carbohydrates 88g (29%) Protein 6g (12%) Fat 44g (68%) Saturated Fat 22g (110%) Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 100mg (33%) Sodium 433mg (18%) Potassium 265mg (8%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 68g (136%) Vitamin A 857IU (17%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 84mg (8%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12slices

Amount Per Serving

Calories 755

% Daily Value*

Serving 1slice
Calories 755kcal 38%
Carbohydrates 88g 29%
Protein 6g 12%
Fat 44g 68%
Saturated Fat 22g 110%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 100mg 33%
Sodium 433mg 18%
Potassium 265mg 6%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 68g 136%
Vitamin A 857IU 17%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 84mg 8%
Iron 3mg 17%

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