Chocolate cake recipe – Did you ever dream of baking the best chocolate cake? I did and my dream came true when I tried this recipe for the first time years ago. This super delicious, moist & rich chocolate cake has never failed to amaze my family & friends.
This best chocolate cake recipe is simple & easy to follow even by a beginner. It is a one bowl cake that just needs a whisk, no mixer needed except for the frosting. This recipe uses 1 egg which helps the cake to rise & keeps it moist. If you do not eat eggs, then you can check this moist Eggless chocolate cake.
I have baked this cake in a oven. If you do not have a oven you can also bake it in a cooker or a heavy bottom pot following this post on Cooker cake recipe.
The following tips will help you to adapt the recipe to different pan sizes.
Tips on chocolate cake recipe
1. I have baked this cake in two 6 inch round pans as I do not prefer to cut my cake to layers. If you do not have 2 pans then you can bake it in a single 7 or 8 inch round pan. To make it a layered cake you will have to cut the cake to 2 layers and then frost.
2. This recipe cannot be halved but can be doubled to make a 2 or 3 layers 8 inch cake.
3. The recipe can be used to make 12 cupcakes.
4. Do adjust the baking time depending on the pan size used.
5. I have made chocolate buttercream frosting which needs a stand or hand mixer. If you do not have one, you can also beat the mixture using a whisk but it is a bit of arm work.
6. You can also make a simple chocolate ganache instead of buttercream frosting or spread some melted chocolate over the cake. This needs no mixer & you can bake the entire batter in a single pan.
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Chocolate cake recipe | How to make the best chocolate cake
Chocolate cake recipe - Rich, moist & delicious chocolate cake for beginners. This recipe is super simple to make and is done just in 2 steps.
Ingredients (240 ml cup used)
Dry ingredients for chocolate cake recipe
- ¾ cup + 2 tbsp flour or 112 grams (all-purpose flour or wheat flour)
- ¼ cup + 2 tbsp cocoa powder or 34 grams (6 tbsps)
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- ¾ tsp baking soda
- 1 cup sugar (organic)
Wet ingredients
- 1 egg
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup oil - 4 tbsps (I used virgin coconut oil)
- 1 to 2 tsp vanilla extract or powder as needed
- ½ cup boiling hot water
For chocolate buttercream frosting (optional)
- ½ cup butter unsalted (soft but cold)
- 1¾ cup powdered sugar or confectioners sugar
- 4 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1½ tbsp milk or whipping cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
How to make the recipe
Preparation for chocolate cake recipe
Grease and line 2 - 6 inch cake pans or 1 - 7 or 8 inch pan. Preheat the oven to 175 C for at least 15 mins.
Sieve together flour, cocoa, salt, baking powder and baking soda to a mixing bowl.
Add sugar to the bowl. Give a good stir until well combined.
How to make chocolate cake
Make a well in the center of the bowl. Pour egg, oil, vanilla extract & milk. Whisk together all the wet ingredients. Then mix wet and dry together until just combined and no lumps appear.
Pour boiling hot water and whisk until all the water is absorbed by the batter. The batter is runny at this stage.
Pour this to the cake pans. Tap the pans gently twice to the counter.
Bake at 175 C for 28 to 30 mins or until the tester inserted comes out clean. Please adjust the timing as it depends on the oven.
Cool the cake in the pans on a wire rack for 10 mins. Invert to a cooling rack and cool completely before frosting.
Making chocolate buttercream frosting
Ensure butter is soft yet cold. Beat it until light & creamy for 2 mins. Then add the rest of the ingredients except milk. Beat until smooth, light and creamy. If the frosting is too thick add milk and beat. If it becomes runny, just add more powdered sugar.
Refrigerate for a while and spread on the cake. For more details watch the video.
Refrigerate and use up the chocolate cake with in a week.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Ensure you use good quality cocoa and a flavorless or neutral oil.
This is a old recipe I shared in 2014, I updated with video & measurements in grams.
Recipe source : Hersheys
Preparation for chocolate cake recipe
Preheat the oven to 175 C or 350 F for at least 15 mins.
1. Grease and line 2 – 6 inch cake pans. You can also make a single layer cake in a 7 or 8 inch pan.You can also just grease and dust with some flour or cocoa.
2. Place a sieve over a mixing bowl. Add flour.
3. Add the rest of the dry ingredients – cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Sieve them all.
4. Next add sugar.
5. Mix everything very well until uniform. Make a well in the center.
How to make chocolate cake
6. Heat half cup water in a pot.
7. Pour milk, egg, oil and vanilla.
8. Whisk the wet ingredients first. Then whisk together wet and dry ingredients just until combined. Do not over mix.
9. You will have a slightly thick batter at this stage.
10. Quickly pour the hot water to the batter. The water must be very hot.
11. Immediately whisk the batter just until the water is absorbed and the batter looks uniform. Batter is very runny at this stage.
12. Pour this to the pans. Tap the pan to the counter 2 to 3 times.
13. Bake for 28 to 30 mins or until the tester comes out clean. Please adjust the timing depending on the oven and pan sizes. If baking in a 7 inch pan you may need to bake upto 35 to 38 mins. Cool the pans on a wire rack for 10 mins.
14. Then invert to a cooling rack. Cool completely before frosting.
Frosting chocolate cake
15. Please follow the recipe card to make the frosting. I have shared below quick tips on how to frost the cake.
16. Spread a tsp of frosting in the center of the cake board or cake stand. Place 4 parchment papers on all 4 sides such that they don’t touch the frosting. Place the cake on the parchment paper. The center of the cake has to be on the frosting that was spreaded. Begin to spread the frosting with a spatula. Even out for smooth surface. Place another cake and repeat the frosting. Then frost on the sides. Smoothen the sides as well with the spatula.
17. I just used some choco chips and sprinkles on top. Then remove the parchment paper gently.
Slice the chocolate cake.
Carol says
Iyummy! I made cupcakes with this recipe and turned out Super delicious 😋. Thank you so much
swasthi says
Hi Carol,
you are welcome. Thanks for trying. Happy to know they turned out good.
Punam Paul says
December is the season for cakes and this seems too much delicious I will surely cook it on Sunday.
swasthi says
Hi Punam
Thanks for rating the recipe. Yes try it. I am sure you will love it
🙂
Kate says
Dear swasthi
Thankful to you for the detailed instructions. Mine turned out beautiful even without frosting. I sprinkled some cho chips but sunk down as the batter is too runny. Will be making this again
swasthi says
Hi Kate
You are welcome. Thanks for trying.
Madhurima says
Tried it. But got a thin crust on TOP. Why? I used wheat flour. The cake tasted yummy
swasthi says
Hi Madhurima
Thanks for trying. A crust can form if the cake is over baked or if the pan too small for the batter. With this recipe the cake top should be moist. Not sure if you have over baked. Even the pan size could be a issue. A little research from your side should help you to fix it.
Piya shah says
Awesome recipe! I poured the batter all in one pan. It baked so well. Tasted fantastic Thank you ☺️
swasthi says
Hi Piya
Thank you so much for trying. Glad to know it turned out good.
Natcha says
Hi Swasthi,
Greetings from Chiang Mai! I am big fan of yours. Since moving out from Bangkok a couple of years ago, I have been looking for easy and delicious homemade recipes, especially Indian. It is rather difficult to find any decent restaurant near where I live. I am very happy to have found your site. Your posts are informative, inspiring and entertaining indeed. Keep up the good work!
One question here, if I use cake flour, how much flour in grams do I need?
Thanks for mentioning 240 ml cup is required. This may be one of the reasons the hersheys original recipe has never worked out for me. I have a 200 ml cup. But I will give it another try this time with your tips.
Thank you again Swasthi!
swasthi says
Hi Natcha
Glad to know you.
Thanks a lot for the encouraging words.I will update the required flour in grams
🙂
Devi says
I want jalebi recipe will u please post that one