Easy Chocolate Cake with chocolate frosting is so simple with very little prep time. With mostly pantry staples, this moist chocolate cake recipe is delicious.
Chocolate Cake is always a crowd favorite. This easy cake recipe is my families most requested dessert. It’s rich and moist with the best frosting. Once you make it, you will know why it is one of the Best Chocolate Desserts.
I also make Butterfinger Cake.
Table of contents
Why We Love This Recipe
The total time is minimum, and the entire recipe is super simple. You don’t need any special ingredients or gadgets to make this. Most of the recipe is pantry staples for an incredibly easy dessert.
Everyone always loves chocolate cake, and this recipe makes it easy to enjoy anytime. It is packed with the chocolate flavor for one of the best chocolate cakes. Try it for a birthday cake, holiday or just because.
Ingredients
Cake
- Butter. Softened at room temperature.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder. Make sure that you purchase unsweetened.
- Baking soda. Best Baking Soda Substitutes
- Buttermilk. Don’t substitute for regular milk. The buttermilk makes it so moist.
- Vanilla Extract. Use pure vanilla extract.
Frosting
- Unsalted Butter. It will be easier to beat if it’s softened.
- Confectioners Sugar. Sift until smooth.
- Heavy Whipping Cream. This needs to be cold. Do not remove from fridge until ready to use.
Scroll to the bottom of the page and get the complete ingredients.
Variations and Additions
- Frosting. Other delicious ideas include chocolate ganache, Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting, Oreo Frosting and more.
- Nuts. Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts on top of the frosting.
- Skip the icing. Enjoy the cake without frosting and sprinkle powdered sugar on top.
- Cake pans. Bake the cake in 9-inch round cake pans to make cake layers.
- Coffee flavor. Add espresso powder for coffee flavor.
Step by Step Instructions
Cake
- Step 1. First, Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9×13 baking pan.
Step 2. Add the butter, cocoa powder and water to a small saucepan. Then whisk the mixture constantly until it begins to boil. Remove from heat and set aside.
Step 3. Get out a large bowl. Combine together the all purpose flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Add large eggs, buttermilk and vanilla and beat well. Mix together the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients.
Step 4. Next, pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Step 5. While the cake cools on a wire rack, make the frosting. Beat the butter on medium speed with a hand mixer or stand mixer until smooth and creamy. It will take about 2-3 minutes.
Step 6. Then add the confectioner’s sugar, cocoa powder, heavy cream, vanilla extract and salt. Mix on low speed until combined. Add more heavy cream if needed for the desired consistency.
Step 7. Finally, spread the chocolate buttercream frosting on the cooled cake. Then it’s ready to slice and serve.
Storage
Cover leftovers with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Refrigerate up to 1 week.
You can freeze the unfrosted cake up to 3 months. When ready to use, remove from freezer and thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
FAQs
If you do not have buttermilk, you can make some. Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar per 1 cup of regular milk.
If your cake turns out dense, there are several reasons. You may have overmixed the batter. Another reason is too much flour. Make sure to spoon the flour into the measuring cup instead of scooping.
Also, the baking soda that you used may not be fresh.
Once the cake is completely cool, the frosting can be added. Any sooner and the frosting will melt on the cake.
More Easy Chocolate Cake Recipes
Make this easy Chocolate Cake Recipe and find out how great it tastes. Then please leave a comment and star rating. I love hearing from you!
Easy Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
Cake:
- 1 cup Butter
- 1/3 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups All Purpose Flour
- 2 cups Granulated Sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 2 Large Eggs
- 1/2 cup Buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
Frosting:
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter softened
- 3 cups Confectioners Sugar
- 1/2 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 3-4 Tablespoons Heavy Whipping Cream
- 2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
Instructions
Cake:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 9×13 baking pan.
- In a saucepan, add butter, cocoa powder and water. Stir constantly until mixture begins to boil. Remove from heat and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Add chocolate mixture and beat well.
- Add eggs, buttermilk and vanilla and beat well.
- Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely before topping with the frosting.
Frosting:
- Beat the butter on medium speed with a hand held mixer or stand up mixer until the butter is smooth and creamy (2-3 minutes).
- Add in the confectioner’s sugar, cocoa powder, 3 tablespoons of the heavy cream, vanilla extract and salt. Mix on low speed until fully combined (approximately 1 minute). Check the frosting consistency and add more heavy cream if needed.
- Spread the frosting on the cooled cake.
- Then the cake is ready to slice, serve and enjoy!
So delicious!