This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This deliciously easy chocolate cake recipe is topped with homemade chocolate frosting. This 2-layer cake is simple and decadent!

If you love chocolate cake, you’ll also love our Classic Chocolate Sheet Cake and Flourless Chocolate Cake.

Easy chocolate cake recipe slice on white plates.


We Love This chocolate cake!

I’ve tried several made-from-scratch chocolate cake recipes over the years, and I finally found a winner!

This easy chocolate cake recipe is a family-favorite that is so soft, delicious and MOIST. Yes, I just said the “m” word, but for good reason. 😉

More reasons why we love it:

  • Easy. This easy chocolate cake calls for simple ingredients that I always have on hand so it can easily be made without a trip to the store!
  • Delicious. This homemade easy chocolate cake was perfectly fudgy and moist.
  • Party perfect. You can’t beat a slice of easy chocolate cake served with Ice Cream.

We love dessert, and especially cake, which is why we have so many cake recipes here on the site (have you tried our Cream Puff Cake and Favorite Sheet Cake recipes?!)

Chocolate cake batter in bowl.

IngredientS

  • all purpose flour – or cake flour for a silkier crumb
  • white sugar
  • unsweetened cocoa powder – since the recipe also uses baking powder, you can use natural or Dutch processed cocoa powder.
  • baking powder
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • milk
  • vegetable oil
  • eggs
  • vanilla extract
  • boiling water
  • butter
  • powdered sugar
  • half and half

How to make chocolate cake

  1. PREP. Grease two 9″ round pans, line with parchment paper, and set aside. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. DRY INGREDIENTS. Whisk dry ingredients in a large bowl.
  3. ADD WET INGREDIENTS. Whisk in milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract.
  4. COMBINE. To finish it off, pour in a cup of boiling water and stir everything together.
  5. BAKE. The cake batter will be thin. Pour the batter into greased 9″ round cake pans that have been lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes.
  6. COOL. Let the cakes cool for about 10 minutes in the pan, then invert onto wire racks. Cool completely and frost with chocolate frosting.

Variations

  • Other decorations. sprinkles and birthday candles, frosting flowers, a worded message, beautiful berries, or sliced almonds or chopped walnuts.
  • Cupcakes. Turn this cake into cupcakes! Just add cupcake liners to a muffin tin and fill to about ⅔ full. Bake for 17-19 minutes. Makes about 24-30 cupcakes.

The Frosting

It’s hard for us not to make a delicious Chocolate Buttercream frosting for this best chocolate cake.

  1. BEAT. The frosting is best when the butter is already softened. Once it is, beat all the ingredients in a small bowl until smooth. Add or take away half and half to get it to be the frosting consistency you desire.
  2. FROST. Spread this delicious frosting over your cake and add any sprinkles before it sets up.
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting spread over cake.

Frosting Tips

  • Crumb coat. Add a thin layer to coat the crumbs. Let it set and then add a thicker layer of frosting without worry that the crumbs will get caught up in it.
  • Types of frosting. Try a chocolate ganache, or even Whipped Cream.
  • Frostings flavors. Add a sweet Vanilla Frosting, Caramel Frosting, or even Peanut Butter Frosting. Bright flavors like lemon, orange, and berry are a perfect contrast that works well, too.
  • Layers. Buttercream and custard are both great choices to spread between cake layers. Spread an even layer, leaving an ¼ inch of space around the edge so there is room for it to spread when the next layer is added.
Easy chocolate cake slice being dished out.

Storing cake

  • Bake ahead of time. Bake a cake 2-3 weeks ahead of time and store it in the freezer until ready to frost it. Allow the cake to cool and wrap each layer with plastic wrap and again with foil before freezing.
  • STORE. Keep frosted cake stored, uncut on the counter for 4-5 days. Cover it with a cake keeper or a large bowl to protect the cake from dust. 
    • Unfrosted cake is best stored tightly wrapped in plastic wrap and then placed in a Ziploc bag on the kitchen counter for up to 3-4 days or in the fridge for en extra day.
    • Once the cake has been cut, press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the exposed cake, or cover it with more frosting to prevent drying out. Store for 3-4 days at room temperature.  
  • FREEZE. Place the frosted cake in the freezer for 4-5 hours, or until the frosting is solid. Wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and then again with aluminum foil for 4-6 weeks. Unwrap the plastic wrap, recover it lightly with the foil, and allow the cake to thaw. Freeze unfrosted layers if using later than 5-6 days.
Easy chocolate cake recipe slice close up image on plates.

For More Cake Recipes:

4.97 from 262 votes

Easy Chocolate Cake Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
This deliciously easy chocolate cake recipe is topped with homemade chocolate frosting. This 2-layer cake is simple and decadent!
Servings: 12
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Cooling Time: 10 minutes
Total: 50 minutes

Ingredients 

Chocolate Frosting

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two 9" round pans with parchment paper and spray with non-stick spray.
  • Whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
  • Whisk in the milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla till smooth. Stir in the boiling water, mixing until smooth.
  • Divide batter evenly between the two pans. Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes or till toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Cool for 10 minutes in the pans, then invert onto cooling racks. Cool completely.
  • While cake is cooling, make frosting by beating all ingredients in a bowl until smooth, adding enough half and half to get a spreadable consistency.
  • Place one cake on a cake stand or serving tray. Spread about one cup of frosting on the top. Place the other cake on top. Frost sides and top of the cake with the remaining frosting.
  • Serve immediately or cover and let sit overnight.

Video

Notes

Turn this cake into cupcakes! Just add cupcake liners to a muffin tin and fill to about 2/3 full. Bake at 350 for 17-19 minutes. Makes about 24-30 cupcakes.

Nutrition

Calories: 562kcal, Carbohydrates: 96g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 20g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 50mg, Sodium: 449mg, Potassium: 289mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 74g, Vitamin A: 320IU, Calcium: 89mg, Iron: 2.4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Making this recipe? Tag us!
Share it with us on Instagram using the hashtag #lilluna, so we can see what you’re creating in the kitchen!



About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

So Easy & So Yummy

Get my cookbook!

My new cookbook is the ultimate resource for feeding your friends and family with 200+ simple recipes including videos, tips & more!

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




317 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This recipe turned out really well!! Usually the cake recipes I make turn out way too dry but the CONSISTENCY of this cake was absolutely perfect! I will DEFINITELY be making this again. Also for the Buttercream I SUBSTITUTED some of the water for coffee and it tasted great.

    1. I have not personally tried in the bundt pan, but I am sure you could & yes, you could use the other milk 🙂 Enjoy!

    1. I guess it’s a good mix between liquidey & cake like consistency. But, yes, it is on the more liquidey side.

  2. Hello, do i have to use parchment paper? Couldnt I just grrase and flour the pans? I cant figure out how to make a perfect circle with the parcHment paper

  3. 5 stars
    Made This double layer choc cake for my nephEw’s 1st birthday- it was a hIt with everyone! The cake was so Moist, with perfectly balanced sweetness! Another bonus: the recipe didn’t require any speCial trips to the GROCERY store, all the ingrediEnts are pantry staples.

  4. 4 stars
    I am having trouble with the FROSTING Part it doeant seem to have that rich chocola tast the consis is great but it has a off tast not sUre what i did wrong tho…

    1. I am sorry you are. I wish I knew what the problem is. Did you try adding a little more cocoa powder?