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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.
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?!)
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
- PREP. Grease two 9″ round pans, line with parchment paper, and set aside. Preheat oven to 350°F.
- DRY INGREDIENTS. Whisk dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- ADD WET INGREDIENTS. Whisk in milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract.
- COMBINE. To finish it off, pour in a cup of boiling water and stir everything together.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- FROST. Spread this delicious frosting over your cake and add any sprinkles before it sets up.
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.
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.
For More Cake Recipes:
Easy Chocolate Cake Recipe
This deliciously easy chocolate cake recipe is topped with homemade chocolate frosting. This 2-layer cake is simple and decadent!
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- ¾ cup cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
Chocolate Frosting
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- 6-8 tablespoons half and half
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.
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Oh my God I love this chocolate cake it was wonderful I made it for my daughter‘s birthday yesterday one of the most delicious chocolate cakes I ever ate my husband loved it and my daughter thank you for sharing❤️❤️❤️😋
You are so welcome!! Thank you for trying it! Glad it was a hit!
I have made this recipe about 4 times and each time it is absolutely delicious and so moist. Thank you!
Perfect!! Thank you for letting me know that!
It was pretty easy to make and also had a lot of flavor in the littlest of peices. I would definitely use this recipe again!
Happy to hear that! Thank you for trying it 😉
I am going to try this recipe for the first time, I want to make it for my wife’s birthday. I think I will try substituting coffee for the hot water because I have read it enhances the chocolate taste.
The other thing I want to substitute is soar cream for the milk, hear it makes it very moist. Has anyone ever tried that with this recipe and how did it turn out?
Hi, can this delicious looking cake be made in a Bundt pan?
Thank you for sharing.
Linda
Glad to share! I have never tried, but I am sure it could. There would be adjustments to time, but I am not sure what they’d be, since I haven’t done that. I’m guessing longer.
Hi,
It’s my first attempt on making a chocolate cake from scratch! I would like to know what would be the best type of oil and milk (1% vs 2%) to use with this recipe!
Thank you 😊
I use vegetable oil & 2% 🙂 Enjoy!!
Do you think this would be good with a hint of orange
Oh, yes! Great idea! Thank you!
This was my first chocolate cake and it turned out Fabulous!! Thanks
You are so welcome!! I am so glad you gave it a try & liked it! Thank you!
This was my first chocolate cake from scratch and it was amazing. Easy to bake and everyone loved it and wanted seconds. It will now be my go to birthday cake. Thanks so much!
Woohoo!! Happy to hear that! Thank you for letting me know 🙂
My cake was flat Like a brownie basically. I bake all the time And I just can’t imagine what went wrong. Any ideas?
I’m sorry, I wish I knew. There are different reasons, cakes may turn out flat, but it’s hard to know since I wasn’t there. Usually, it’s because of the wrong raising agent or using the wrong flour.
Honestly, I didnt know how much it would rise. I ended up filling them 3/4ths full and they ended up overflowing. I could have made a 3rd layer if I had known 😑
I am in the middle of the bake time, I took a peak only to see it overflowed as well…could have made a 3rd layer, hope it turns out ok once I am done hacking into what will resemble a a round 2 layer
Made this for my son’s birthday and he said it was the best cake he’s had! Thanks for all the tips