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chocolate cake

🍫 Chocolate Cake Recipe Card – Decadent Styles for Every Occasion

This decadent chocolate cake is rich, moist, and layered with smooth chocolate buttercream frosting—perfect for any celebration. Made with pantry staples like cocoa powder, flour, sugar, and eggs, it's easy to prepare and bake in just two 9-inch pans. The addition of buttermilk and hot coffee deepens the chocolate flavor, while the fluffy frosting adds the perfect creamy touch.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Cooling + Decorating 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 slices
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • electric mixer
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Two 9-inch cake pans
  • Rubber spatula
  • cooling rack
  • Cake turntable (optional)
  • Offset spatula or knife

Ingredients
  

For the Chocolate Cake:

  • 1Âľ cups 220g all-purpose flour
  • Âľ cup 65g unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 cups 400g granulated sugar
  • 1½ tsp baking powder
  • 1½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 eggs at room temperature
  • 1 cup 240ml buttermilk
  • ½ cup 120ml vegetable oil
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup 240ml hot water or brewed coffee (for richer flavor)

For the Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:

  • 1 cup 226g unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup 45g unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3½ cups 440g powdered sugar
  • ÂĽ cup 60ml heavy cream or milk
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions
 

  • Preheat Oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 9-inch round cake pans.
  • Make the Cake Batter: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  • Add in eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla. Mix until just combined.
  • Carefully stir in hot water or coffee. The batter will be thin.
  • Bake for 30–35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then remove and cool completely on wire racks.
  • Make the Frosting: Beat butter until creamy. Add cocoa powder, then powdered sugar, cream, vanilla, and salt. Beat until fluffy.
  • Assemble: Level cakes if needed. Frost the first layer, add second, and frost top and sides.
  • Decorate with your preferred chocolate cake design (see ideas below).

Notes

Swap buttermilk with 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp vinegar (let sit 5 min)
Add espresso powder (1 tsp) to enhance chocolate flavor
You can double the recipe for a 3-layer tall cake
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