Seriously. Do you have a 'go to' recipe? If no, you do now.
I have made five chocolate cakes in the last week. I am testing out recipes and I think I have finally found one that I adore.
Well. That sure doesnt look like a chocolate cake.
Next picture please!
We're getting warmer...
Much better.
This chocolate cake is light and moist and rich and oh so delicious.
This piece no longer sits on a bright white plate next to a clean fork.
I sorta ate it about 32 seconds after I took the picture.
Just keepin it real folks.
Would you like the recipe? Oddly enough, the recipe that I ended up liking as the best was one I had made before!
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
- 2 cups sugar
- 3/4 cups good cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup buttermilk, shaken
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare you cake pans. I used 8in rounds, you can use rectangle pans or cupcakes or whatever floats your boat!
Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl and mix until combined.
In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. With mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean.
Cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.
You can share with others but I dont recommend it.
Then there would be less for you.
I'm kidding.
Kinda.
I love chocolate cake! I have to try this.. Hopefully it will work with cupcakes :)
Posted by: Courtney | Apr 10, 2010 at 07:58 AM
YUM,YUM,YUM!
Posted by: Diane {createdbydiane.blogspot.com} | Apr 12, 2010 at 12:51 AM
hi can i ask how much is a cup of coffee? cause down here my coffee is in granules form as i don't own a coffee maker. so approximately how many teaspoons/tablespoon of coffee granules to 1 cup of warm water?
Posted by: Phoebe | Apr 12, 2010 at 07:07 AM
Gorgeous Cake! What type of icing did you use? Could I please have the recipe?
Thank you,
Twyla
Posted by: twyla clark | Apr 12, 2010 at 10:31 AM
Yum...yum...yum! God bless - Holly
Posted by: Holly Neaton | Apr 13, 2010 at 03:56 PM
I was just going to say, my favorite chocolate cake recipe BY FAR is Ina Garten's...and I believe yours is similar. The outside is gorgeous - love the sliced strawberry. Nice work!!
Posted by: kristen {just-iced cookies} | Apr 17, 2010 at 12:28 AM
This is my favorite chocolate cake recipe too, I made one yesterday and it's in my fridge waiting to be taken to a potluck today. people can never believe this cake. Your frosting and assembly are beautiful. I always use the frosting that Ina uses - I just love it.
Posted by: teresacooks | Apr 20, 2010 at 07:42 AM
What frosting recipes did you use for this lovely cake??? I love how the top is frosted differently than the sides!
Posted by: Amalia Standard | Apr 23, 2010 at 03:07 PM
I am so glad to see this recipe here, this is the only recipe I use on my cake bussines. it is so delicious and moist. Lovely blog.
Posted by: Kathia Castro | Apr 27, 2010 at 09:12 PM
Yummy! what more I can say? this is so delicious I really wanted to eat this.
vee
Posted by: cakes philippine | Apr 27, 2010 at 11:56 PM
wow..that chocolate cake was different from others.. I love want, your chocolate look so very delicious really.. I'll copy the recipe and try to bake that at home..I want that cake now..so yummy..
Posted by: medical consultation | Apr 30, 2010 at 02:28 PM
Yummm that cake looks fabulous. I shall have to give it a whirl next time I am baking a cake :)
Posted by: Skittlesaremydrug | May 02, 2010 at 06:11 PM
Geez! I missed ANOTHER one?!? Holy COW...that cake looks incredible! (My birthday is in October.)
Posted by: bridget {bake at 350} | May 05, 2010 at 09:36 PM
Great cake! It looks so moist and chocolaty!
What kind of pans do you use, what is their side?
Posted by: Irina | May 07, 2010 at 07:32 AM
Amanda, I made your cake. It WAS delicious!
I hope you had a wonderful mother's day!
http://almotaroses.blogspot.com/2010/05/oh-happy-day.html
Posted by: Wendy @ Almota Roses | May 10, 2010 at 12:40 AM
Amanda...i TRIED to make your cake. I really need to work on my frosting skills...at least the cake tasted delicious! :)
http://blogsnooper.blogspot.com/2010/05/mothers-day-cakes-part-ii.html
Posted by: janice | May 12, 2010 at 04:15 PM
I just stumbled onto your site. First off, this cake... WOW! Yep, not meant for sharing. hee. Second, thank you for sharing your cookie secrets! I can't wait to try to make some. =)
Ooh, and this cake!
Posted by: Tess | Jun 06, 2010 at 06:10 PM
This recipe is amazing! Soooo moist!! Here's my attempt... you have inspired me! This is my 3rd cake decorating attempt!
Oh, and I overfrosted the heck out of it to get this smooth finish, haha!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=252177&id=100000389799231
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=252801&id=100000389799231
Posted by: Jennifer Nett | Jul 16, 2010 at 09:14 PM
Tried to reply Jennifer.. but there is no email address for you. Your cake is beautiful! I am really impressed!!!
Posted by: Amanda Rettke | Jul 16, 2010 at 10:20 PM
Yes u r right this is best Cake Recipe. I am very enjoying reading your post. This is very delicious Cake Recipe. I will try to make it. Thank you so much.
Posted by: Dum Bhindi Recipe | Sep 19, 2010 at 06:37 AM
That looks great! But how do you manage to cut the layers, or do you just bake 4 separates?
Posted by: Lovisa | Oct 06, 2010 at 03:39 AM
Absolutely loved this cake! I am not normally the biggest chococlate cake fan either but I was in a mood and found this reciepe. I did use boiling water instead of coffee and the white vinegar +whole milk substitution for the buttermilk and it turned out great. cut into layers and put ganache and raspberries as filling! topped with basic chocolate frosting and it was fantastic and moist! it was delicious, thank you for sharing!
Posted by: J Phelps | Oct 18, 2010 at 09:51 PM
Could you send me the frosting recipe? I'm making a cake for my friends 40th and I would love to make this cake..
Thank you
Debbie
Posted by: Debbie | Oct 19, 2010 at 07:09 PM
Trouble. I just tried to make this lovely cake but i think I went wrong somewhere. It was really crunchy on top and took forever to cook and was still a bit heavy.Any ideas where I went wrong?x
Posted by: Naomi | Nov 22, 2010 at 06:34 PM
Where can I find the frosting recipe?
Posted by: Magirly9 | Nov 23, 2010 at 11:39 AM
How many 8" cake pans?
Posted by: carol | Nov 27, 2010 at 09:01 AM
How did you make the chocolate frosting and the white frosting on the sides?
This looks really delicious.
Posted by: Mida jane | Nov 27, 2010 at 09:53 PM
Is this cake good for layering, shapeing, etc?
I sell cakes from home and am looking for a better chococate cake recipe. But I always have a had time finding one that holds up to fondant, plus decorations and being tiered and such.
Regardless it looks so delicios and I will be making it today, heh.
Thanks!
Posted by: Nathalie Andrews | Dec 04, 2010 at 12:12 PM
Thank you. I made this cake yesterday for hanukkah and was amazing. I filled with chocolate mousse and was a success. :-)
Posted by: kineret | Dec 08, 2010 at 08:34 AM
OMGoodness!!! Mouth-watering choco cake! Thanks for posting this. I really need to try it tonight.
Posted by: hollywood | Dec 14, 2010 at 03:08 AM
my husband and father-in-law always request this one on their birthdays (yesterday and tomorrow, respectively). the funny thing is this is the same recipe that comes on the back of hershey's cocoa. so who knows where it first came from, but thank goodness it's here!!!
Posted by: jennie | Dec 14, 2010 at 08:32 PM
Can I substitute kosher salt with anything else?
Posted by: chiara | Jan 01, 2011 at 05:16 AM
thank you sooo much for answering my previous question...I also wanted to know if I can use instant coffee powder...and is it just coffee and water or do you add sugar with that?
Also can I use sunflower oil and is it ok if I use substitute the oil with butter?...can u give me the recipe for the frosting as well?...I'm sorry I'm such a pain...I'm new to this and I have only baked about 5 cakes till now...I'm planning to make this cake for my friend and I want it to be perfect...please please please reply! Thanks!
Posted by: Chiara | Jan 01, 2011 at 09:29 AM
Looks divine. I would love to have the frosting recipe if you are willing to share! Can't wait to try it.
Posted by: Morgan Richardson | Jan 03, 2011 at 04:28 PM
I'd like 2 of these please. I'll email my shipping address.
Posted by: Amy | She Wears Many Hats | Jan 03, 2011 at 07:59 PM
you kill me Amanda . . . really, you just kill me . . . put a fork in me and just roll me on over . . . swoon-worthy
Posted by: SMITH BITES | Jan 03, 2011 at 08:52 PM
What a fab looking cake. Glad it isn't right here in front of me or I'd be eating the whole thing!
Posted by: Kristen | Jan 03, 2011 at 10:04 PM
That looks amazingly delicious! I think I need to speak to my hubby about moving to Minnesota. I need to be your neighbor! ;)
Posted by: bridget {bake at 350} | Jan 04, 2011 at 09:17 AM
This is the stuff of good bribes! Dang Amanda, you are so mighty talented and this looks awesome!
Posted by: naomi | Jan 04, 2011 at 12:43 PM
This looks fabulous...what did you use for the icing??
Thanks!
Posted by: Robin Lieb | Jan 06, 2011 at 11:48 AM
omg!!! best cake ever is right! stay moist and delicious even after the third day. soooo worth the baking process. thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Deandra Miller | Jan 16, 2011 at 03:45 PM
HI! your chocolate cake looks fabulous! For the cocoa powder, is it the sweetened or unsweetened? THanks so much for sharing..
Posted by: Luzel | Jan 21, 2011 at 09:48 AM
I used this recipe for my son's birthday cake (decorated like Lighning McQueen). The decorations were for him, but the cake was for me! I loved the cake and it worked very well for the birthday cake too.
I posted a link to your page on my blog as well. Here is a link to the post:
http://www.kitchymamameals.com/2011/01/lifes-little-interruptions-pizza-and.html
Posted by: Leah Smith | Jan 21, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Wow! Yummy. i love this cake. thanks for sharing this. keep it up......
Posted by: Houston SEO | Jan 29, 2011 at 05:44 PM
Can we have your frosting recipes please?! This looks so yummy!
Posted by: Jesica | Feb 17, 2011 at 01:07 PM
Looks amazing I think i might try it:)
Posted by: shelly | Feb 18, 2011 at 04:18 PM
Okay, HOW can I adapt this recipe for a 12 ' layer cake???? How, How, How???? you can help me,right???
Posted by: Megan O. | Feb 19, 2011 at 06:29 PM
Amanda, so impressed with your designs, presentation and recipes......and most of all being a Godly person...that is one thing that drew me over & over to your different blogs, etc......that and all your "SWEETNESS".......on this chocolate cake, what icing are you using...both the BUTTERCREAM and the chocolate. Also curios if you used 2 - 8" rounds and torted the layers or used 4 - 8" pans? Thanks for answering these questions. Sweet Blessings, Linda
Posted by: Linda | Feb 20, 2011 at 05:22 PM
Felicitaciones por tan exelentes recetas,por favor me puedes ayudar en la lista de ingredientes no aparece mantequilla y en la preparacion si se menciona es que quisiera hacer el pastel para mis nietos gracias QUE DIOS TE BENDIGA.
Posted by: Nelly | Feb 23, 2011 at 04:52 PM
Hi Amanda! I tried this recipe twice as cupcakes and they turn out soooo good and also plenty! Plus everyone loves it too! I love how easy it was to make as well - especially not needing to wait for butter to come to room temperature.
Will have to give it a go as a whole cake.
Thanks a million for this fantastic recipe!!! xoxox
Posted by: Suzanne | Mar 02, 2011 at 06:56 PM