A decadent, moist Chocolate Cake recipe with the easiest chocolate frosting and a soft, tender crumb. This cake always gets rave reviews and makes a stunning, tall chocolate birthday cake.
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Chocolate Cake Video
I hope this Moist Chocolate Cake recipe becomes a new favorite for you. This cake is intensely chocolatey with an ultra-moist crumb and rich whipped chocolate frosting.
Chocolate Cake Recipe
My son’s first words when he saw the cake were, “Wow that looks just like the cake from Matilda!” (We watched the Matilda movie recently). My chocolate cake is intensely chocolatey and satisfies the fiercest chocolate craving without being cloyingly sweet. It really is the best chocolate cake recipe.
I paired my favorite Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting with the soft crumb from my Moist Chocolate Cupcakes to create the ultimate chocolate layer cake. The warm coffee intensifies the chocolate flavor without making the cake taste like coffee. P.S. This recipe also happens to be an eggless chocolate cake (bonus if you are egg-free).
Why This Chocolate Cake Is So Moist
- Don’t overbake — pull the cake out of the oven as soon as a toothpick comes out clean with a few moist crumbs.
- Oil instead of butter keeps the crumb soft and moist even after refrigerating the cake.
- Coffee deepens the chocolate flavor without making it taste like coffee.
- Vinegar activates baking soda for a light, airy texture.
- The batter is thin on purpose to create a softer, fluffier crumb.
Chocolate Cake Ingredients
- Dry Ingredients – All-purpose flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt make up the base of the cake.
- Cocoa Powder – The best cocoa for chocolate cake is natural unsweetened 100% cocoa or “cacao”. You can use a variety of brands such as Hershey’s, Nestle, or Ghirardelli, but be sure to use “unsweetened” cocoa.
- Coffee – Use very warm coffee to create a complex chocolate flavor. If you add some espresso or espresso powder, it will have even more flavor. You can substitute with decaf coffee if caffeine is an issue.
- Wet Ingredients – Vinegar activates the baking soda, vanilla extract for flavor and aroma and I use light olive oil to make the cake super moist, but you can sub with vegetable oil.
Can I use Dutch Processed Cocoa?
When a recipe calls for baking soda, it is best to stick with Natural cocoa powder because it has a higher acidity level than Dutch process. You should use the cocoa called for in a recipe for the right chemical reaction to happen. You can read more about that in our Red Velvet Cake post.
How to Make Chocolate Cake
Making a chocolate cake from scratch doesn’t get any easier. It’s no more complex than a boxed cake, so long as you measure ingredients correctly.
- Whisk together the wet ingredients
- Whisk together the dry ingredients
- Combine the wet mixture with the dry ingredients and stir. Do not overmix. The batter will seem thin — that’s normal and creates a super moist crumb.
- Divide into prepared 9-inch cake pans and bake.
How to Get Even Cake Layers
When making a layered chocolate cake, here are our best tips for even cake layers:
- Divide the batter equally – Even heights will make for a prettier cake and even bake times. I always double-check for accuracy with a digital kitchen scale. Zero out the cake pan and weigh how much cake batter is in each pan. Your cake layers will be flawless every time.
- Test your leavening – make sure your leavening is not expired so it has enough rising power for the cake layers to rise evenly.
- Preheat the oven – ensure your oven is fully preheated before baking the cake layers.
- Bake Immediately – as soon as you add baking soda to a recipe, it starts reacting immediately so bake right away.
Tips for Smooth Chocolate Frosting
The whipped chocolate cream cheese buttercream frosting is indulgent, chocolatey, silky smooth, and one of the easiest frostings you will make. To get the smoothest chocolate frosting, be sure to:
- Cream together the butter and cream cheese first to prevent lumps
- Sift in the powdered sugar and cocoa since cocoa tends to clump.
If you prefer a frosting that doesn’t have cream cheese in it, another favorite is our Chocolate Buttercream Frosting or even Vanilla Buttercream for a delicious contrast. Both are terrific on Chocolate Cake.
Natasha’s Tip for Frosting a Cake
It is critical to fully cool the cake layers to room temperature before applying frosting. If the cake layers are still warm, it will cause the frosting to melt and slide off the cake.
Chocolate makes everything better, from Chocolate Chip Cookies to Chocolate Chip Banana Bread, and let’s not forget Chocolate Mousse! If you are a chocolate lover, this recipe is for you.
I can’t help but smile when I have a generous slice of frosted Chocolate Cake on my plate. I hope this recipe brings joy and food memories wherever this recipe travels. Let me know if you’ve served it in any creative ways? We’ve done everything from sprinkles to princess themes on top, which my daughter has loved.
Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
Ingredients for Chocolate Cake:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, (natural)
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups warm coffee, (not hot), or use decaf
- 2 Tbsp white vinegar
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup light olive oil, (not extra virgin), or Canola oil
Ingredients for Chocolate Frosting:
- 12 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup unsalted butter , (16 Tbsp) room temperature
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, (natural)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
How to Make Chocolate Cake:
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Butter two 9" cake pans and line the bottoms with a ring of parchment paper.
- In a large bowl whisk together your dry ingredients: 3 cups flour, 1/2 cup cocoa powder, 2 cups sugar, 2 tsp baking soda and 1 tsp salt until there are no more cocoa lumps (a few tiny lumps are ok; it also helps to sift the cocoa before using it).
- In a separate bowl, mix together your wet ingredients: 2 cups warm coffee, 2 Tbsp vinegar, 1 Tbsp vanilla extract and 2/3 cup olive oil.
- Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients just until they come together. Your batter will still be slightly lumpy. Divide equally between prepared cake pans (a kitchen scale helps for even portioning), and bake in a preheated oven at 350˚F for 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool in the pan 15 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
How to Make the Chocolate Frosting:
- In the bowl of an electric mixer using paddle attachment (or using an electric hand mixer with a large bowl), beat together 12 oz cream cheese with 1 cup butter on medium/high speed until creamy (3 min), scraping down the bowl as needed.
- Sift in 5 cups powdered sugar with 1 cup cocoa powder, sifting in batches as needed to ensure there are no lumps. Then add 1/2 tsp salt. Mix on low speed until well combined. Thoroughly scrape down the bowl, then increase to medium/high speed and beat until smooth and whipped (1 min).
- Add 2 tsp vanilla and beat on medium/high until smooth (1 min). Now it's ready to be spread or piped onto the cooled cake layers.
How to Frost Chocolate Cake
- Set a cake layer onto a serving platter. Apply 1/3 of the frosting over the first layer then cover with the second layer, placing it top-side-down for an even top. Frost the top and sides of the cake. Enjoy or store it for later*
Notes
- Short-Term Storage – store covered at room temperature for up to 24 hours.
- Cover Properly – Use an overturned bowl or pot to cover the cake and keep it from drying out. If the cake is sliced, press a piece of plastic wrap directly over the cut portions to prevent drying out.
- Refrigerating -Cover as directed above and refrigerate for up to a week.
- Freezing – to freeze unfrosted cake layers, wrap individual layers in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze up to 3 months then taw wrapped at room temperature. To freeze a frosted cake, freeze for 1 hour to harden the frosting then wrap with plastic wrap and foil and freeze up to 3 months.
- To Serve – Thaw a covered frozen frosted cake overnight in the refrigerator then bring to room temperature for at least 30 minutes before serving. You may need to fix up the frosting with a spatula.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
More Chocolate Desserts (for Chocolate Lovers!)
- Chocolate Ganache
- Chocolate-Frosted Eclairs
- Hot Chocolate Recipe
- Chocolate Lasagna
- Chocolate Souffle
- Black Forest Cake
- Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Hi Natasha, is the recipe missing eggs in it? Because isn’t this the same as your cupcake recipe and they have an egg in it?
This recipe does not require eggs as we use a different ingredient to help with the rise.
Hi Natasha! How many tbsp.for instant coffee to make 2cups? Plan to bake for my son’s 14th birthday this month…thank you! 🥰
We used brewed coffee but I suggest following the package instructions which will usually give you a fairly strong coffee.
Can we make ahead of time and freeze them ?
Hi Ramya, yes, this cake freezes well. See the “How to Store Chocolate Cake:” section of the recipe post.
The best cake ever. Natasha is the best all her recipes are amazing!
Hi Natasha! Can I substitute anything with coffee? I’m planning to bake this chocolate cake recipe on my daughter’s birthday this month.
You might be surprised to see coffee in the cake batter, and don’t worry, you can’t taste the coffee in the final product, but it really amplifies the flavor of chocolate. Feel free to substitute with decaf coffee if you prefe
My daughter asked for a chocolate cake for her bday. I made this cake. It’s delicious, chocolaty. I used 3 cups of powdered sugar in the frosting and not five and it was still really sweet, I’m glad I didn’t use 5.
Thank you Natasha
Great to hear that it was a success!
Hi Natasha,
Thank you so much for this recipe, it’s delicious! I was just wondering, what are the ratios for substituting whole wheat flour for the all-purpose flour in this recipe? Thank you.
Hi Rose, I haven’t tried that substitution, but here’s what one of my readers wrot: “Delicious recipe! Super easy. Used Bob’s Red Mill whole wheat flour and it tasted great. And glad it didn’t have eggs so my kids could eat the batter.”
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Hi Natasha,how many tablespoon of coffee for 2 cups wàrm coffee😍
We used brewed coffee but I suggest following the package instructions which will usually give you a fairly strong coffee.
Natasha, this is the best chocolate cake ever!!! I make it every my sons birthday. That is super yummy!!! Thank you so much for the best recipes ❤️
Happy Birthday to your son, Dina! I’m so happy it was a hit.
Best chocolate cake ever!!! My husband is very picky with desserts. He absolutely loves this cake , so do I and all my guests! Love all your recipes and I also love and bought your cookbook!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Alexandra! You know its good when the picky eater approves.
Hi! I wanted to make chocolate cupcakes using this recipe. Will it work well? How many cupcakes will this recipe yield? Thank you!!
Hi Keeks! I recommend using my Eggless chocolate cupcake recipe for that (without the frosting). It’s essentially the same recipe except modified for cupcakes.
Hi I want to make this into a sheet cake. Do you have info on how this converts?
Hi Michael! I’m sorry, I do not. I have not tested this in different size pans to know how to make adjustments to the quantities. The baking temperature should be the same but you will need to adjust the baking time and possibly even increase the recipe to fit your pan depending on the size pan.
Hi Natasha, 1) would 35% whipping cream do the work for making the frosting? 2) I used to write with melted chocolate chips, but brown on brown is hard to see the writing. What should I use to write? Thanks.
Hi Donna! Yes- to make the buttercream frosting for this cake, that would be fine to use.
Regarding the writing. I’m not sure, maybe white chocolate or melting chips/wafers that come in different colors.
Hi Natasha , how do I make the frosting less sweet. My daughter was saying that the frosting is quite sweet. Please advise. Thank you.
You can experiment with using less sugar but the sugar helps to stabilize the frosting so it holds its shape better, using less will change its consistency.
This frosting recipe makes waaaaay too much and I halved it. Tastes good but really tough to make and broke my beater
Hi Millie! I’m glad you enjoyed the taste. I recommend using a stand mixer or a good quality hand mixer that doesn’t burn out fast. Be sure to use room temperature butter and cream cheese. If they are too cold, it will cause your mixer work harder than it needs to.
Hi Natasha, I would like to make the cake with 7″ pan. 1) Do I need to reduce the ingredients? 2) What can be substituted to do frosting because we don’t eat cheese nor butter? 3) Also how to write on a swivel & wave surface of the cake? Thank you.
Hi Donna, I haven’t tried this recipe in that size pan, but I recommend using this helpful guide. I haven’t tried this with a substitute for cream cheese, but I imagine it may be possible to use an alternative ingredient. Writing on a swivel surface may be tricky, but with steady hands and piping tools/ technique its possible. I hope this helps.
Hello,
I baked my chocolate cake and every time it turns out a bit dry ? Please advise. Thank you.
Simply love ur recipes. I’ve made so many. Love it 💕
Hi Fatima! A dry cake is often due to over baking or not measuring your ingredients correctly (using too much flour or even cocoa powder). Watch my tutorial on How to measure ingredients to help.
Also- this recipe was tested in a conventional oven, on regular bake mode. If you’re using a convection oven, it would bake faster and require adjusting time/temperature. I hope that helps.
Checking. Shouldn’t there be eggs in the recipe? There are in the cupcake version. Great recipe for the cupcakes so hoping the cake is the same.
Hi Susan, this recipe does not have eggs, but the Chocolate Cake in our new Natasha’s Kitchen Cookbook does have eggs. It’s just a different recipe. The one we make most often now is the one in our cookbook because our daughter requests it.
Can I use any type of oil? Not sure I’ve ever seen light olive oil. Just extra virgin. Love your recipes! I can’t wait to make this cake.
Hi Patti. Light olive oil is neutral tasting (unlike extra virgin olive oil). You can use vegetable, canola, etc.
What kind of coffee do you recommend? I don’t drink it, so I wouldn’t have a clue on “what’s good”
Hi Caitlyn. I just used home brewed coffee made with ground coffee beans. Any type will work, or you can purchase a cup of black coffee from a local coffee shop too.