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The Only Truly Moist and Easy Homemade Chocolate Cake from Scratch

Close-up of a thick slice of homemade chocolate cake with rich, dark layers and creamy chocolate frosting.
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Make a rich, decadent homemade chocolate cake that stays incredibly moist. This simple recipe from scratch includes instructions for a classic layer cake and a simple chocolate buttercream frosting, perfect for birthdays.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup hot water or hot brewed coffee
  • For the Frosting: 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened; 3 cups powdered sugar; 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 1/3 cup milk; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans or one 10-inch bundt pan.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Add the eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for two minutes.
  4. Carefully stir in the hot water or coffee until the batter is smooth. The batter will be thin.
  5. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans.
  6. Bake layer cakes for 30 to 35 minutes, or a bundt cake for 45 to 55 minutes, until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  7. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  8. To make the frosting, beat the softened butter in a large bowl until creamy.
  9. Gradually add the powdered sugar and cocoa powder, alternating with the milk, beating until smooth.
  10. Mix in the vanilla extract and salt. Beat on high speed until the frosting is light and fluffy.
  11. Once the cake layers are completely cool, frost and assemble the layer cake or frost the bundt cake.

Notes

  • Using hot coffee instead of hot water deepens the chocolate flavor without making the cake taste like coffee.
  • For an easy one-bowl chocolate cake, mix all dry ingredients first, then add all wet ingredients except the hot liquid, mix, and finish with the hot liquid.
  • Buttermilk helps create a tender crumb; if you do not have buttermilk, mix 1 cup of milk with 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice and let it sit for 5 minutes.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://tastethisplate.com/homemade-chocolate-cake-moist-easy-recipe/