Photo of Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Cake

Every baker needs a go-to chocolate cake recipe, and this one is it. It’s incredibly moist, deeply chocolatey, and surprisingly easy to make. The secret ingredient is a cup of boiling water, which "blooms" the cocoa powder, intensifying its flavor and creating a wonderfully tender crumb. Paired with a rich, fudgy chocolate frosting, this cake is a showstopper for birthdays, celebrations, or any time a serious chocolate craving hits. It’s a reliable recipe that delivers consistent results, making it perfect for bakers of all skill levels. You can dress it up with different fillings or keep it classic—either way, it’s a dessert that’s sure to be a hit. The batter for this cake will be very thin and liquidy, which might seem unusual, but trust the process! This high moisture content is what makes the final cake so soft and moist. This recipe is also very forgiving; it’s a one-bowl cake batter (for the cake part), which means less cleanup. The frosting is a classic American buttercream, which is simple to make and deliciously rich. The key to a great frosting is to beat the butter until it’s very light and fluffy before adding the sugar. This incorporates air and makes the frosting smooth and easy to spread.

Curated by the RecipeNest Team

Prep Time

25 minutes

Cook Time

35 minutes

Total Time

1 hour

Difficulty

Medium

Skills

Baking, Frosting

Kitchen

Average

Ingredients & Nutrition

New Feature: We're excited to introduce our nutrition calculator! Please treat these values as an estimate, as they are auto-calculated. For specific dietary needs, consulting a professional is always recommended.

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowls
  • Cake Pans
  • Whisk
  • Spatula
  • Hand Mixer
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Recipe Variations

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Instructions

Instruction visual for Chocolate Cake

Reviews

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