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 doesn’t 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!
Ingredients
- 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
Instructions
- 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 at 350, 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.
Wow…this looks super yummy! I’ve been looking for a good chocolate cake recipe too, so I can’t wait to try this one!
What do you do for recipes like this that call for coffee and you either don’t have it or don’t want to use it? I am a non-coffee drinker (can’t stand it!) and can always taste it no matter what people say in chocolate recipes. I want to try them, but not sure what to put in place of the coffee? Water?? Your cake looks fabulous though!!!
I made this cake last week using a cup of dark beer instead of coffee. It turned out great!
Awesome idea Justice!
I have a recipe very similar to this one that calls for a cup of boiling water instead of coffee. It’s delicious!
What if the cake is for children. (that means coffee and beer are out of the question) what can i substitute for coffee and dark beer? I need to know this asap!
Water works great!
Thanks!!
I make this cake for my children all of the time! I hate to brake it to you, but water really does not work. The coffee can’t be tasted, as coffee is my least favorite drink and this is my favorite food. There is so much caffeine in the chocolate anyway that the coffee won’t really make a big difference. Also, for the beer, it’s the same idea as cooking with wine- you cook out the alcohol, so it is 100% kid friendly. I really recommend you use coffee- I made one cake with coffee and one cake without for Easter, and everyone (kids ate it) said the coffee one was better without knowing which was which. Coffee is really the secret ingredient in this! Thanks for this amazing cake!
Alcohol actually doesn’t cook out when you put it in baked goods. I watched a science/cooking show where they tested this and was surprised, so I did some research and found that they were right. The top of the cake basically seals it in, so the alcohol can’t vaporize like it does when you add it to a sauce or something else on the stove top. That being said, if you use a cup of beer in the whole cake and give your kids one piece, the amount of alcohol they consume is almost non-existent – probably the same amount that comes from the vanilla, which is 41% alcohol. Only a teaspoon of that, but beer has about an eighth of the alcohol content – so one cup of beer is about equivalent to an ounce of vanilla in a recipe, which people serve to kids all the time.
I made this cake from your recipe for my sons first birthday. I also made cupcakes to take to our after church social time. Everyone loved them. For the cupcakes I frosted with cream cheese frosting. I had 4 people tell me that they were the best cupcakes they had ever had and that they would be good enough to begin a specialty cupcake shop with
. Anyway, wonderful cake, I love it!!!! Thanks!
Looks great!
Love the first picture – nice high contrast.
oh that looks sooo good.!!! anything with buttermilk i just LOVE!
Looks yummy and beautiful!!! My son has requested a chocolate cake for his birthday next week and I think I will try this one.
This really is the best chocolate cake ever! It’s the only chocolate cake I make. It goes very well with buttercream too (when I’m doing decorated cakes). I blogged about it too! I learned about this recipe from a friend and didn’t even know it was Ina’s recipe to begin with!
This will definitely go in the recipe stash. Totally salivating over here! I wish I could lick my screen…well, kinda.
~traci
I’m very interested in seeing the answer to Emily’s question about what to put in place of the coffee…because I’m thinking you could substitute with a cup of chocolate liqeuer! Anyway, this cake looks absolutely fantastic! …I bring in freshly baked or made goods to my office every week (last week: white chocolate lollipops for both holidays), and THIS cake is going to be the next treat I make – it looks soooo moist and delicious! I KNOW it’ll be a huge hit. Thanks so much for posting this!!
yum! and it looks so pretty too, do you have the recipe for the frosting?
This looks quite scrumptious! I’ve been trying to decide what kind of cake I’m going to make for my daughter’s third birthday party and this might have to be the one. Thanks for sharing!
Is this the cake you were eating right in front of me? Looks soooo good.
YUM!
I wish I was your neighbour…then you could share all your stuff with me. But we’d always have to meet at my house because I’d be too fat to fit out the door to go to your house.
You made 5 chocolate cakes???? OMG! Did you give them away after tasting and posing?
Loving the last one, though. Might have to make it….but just one!
This looks and sounds AMAZING! The presentations is really beautiful. Can’t wait to try it!
That looks so goooood right now…trying to think of an excuse to make it while my children sleep.
I’ve actually used that recipe before and agree-it’s the best!
Wow! No one can make striking desserts like you can.
OY! Its the wrong time of the month to be showing me this chocolate
It looks lovely, and YUMMY!
This looks oh so yummy!!! I so wish my puter screen was scratch and sniff….We’re going to try it out gluten-free, corn free style! (We found a baking mix that mesures like wheat flour, that is safe for May to eat. She’s been missing eating her crations.) I’ll let you know how it goes!
mmmm, chocolate! fantastic! Thanks for sharing!
PS: (I too would love to know what to substitute for coffee!)
Laci
http://zigzagsthisandthats.blogspot.com/
Will you share the two frosting/icing/ganache recipes you used to frost top and sides with?
it’s so great! i am also a baker, this is my job ever since, but this recipe is really good than to what is mine. thanks, at last i found it!
You can substitute a cup of boiling water for the coffee!
Blessings!
Wow. That looks very yummy. It makes my chocolate cake box mix down right disgusting that I will be baking for my birthday today.
I have all the ingredients for the cake except the coffee and buttermilk. I don’t drink either. However, I will save this recipe for a future baking!
Thanks for sharing!
A very eady substitue for buttermilk is an almost cup of milk (just underthe 1 cup line) and 1tbsp. White vinegar. I never buy buttermilk bc it’d go to waste faster than i would use it.
Oh my! I recently watched some show on the Food Network where they baked a chocolate cake and cut it into a million different little layers and put gnache between each one. They then stuck it in a Spring Form pan to sort of set and frosted it with more ganache. I have been dying to try it (in a small form) and now I have a chocolate cake recipe to use!
Would you share your icing recipe as well? (The top part) Beautiful cake!
Coffee? Really?! That’s so gross… I mean… I hate coffee and I hate anything that might have the slightest hint of coffee in it. Blech! But it looks good…
Oh my gosh, I totally have to try this!!!!! YUM!!
what did you frost it with?
I just wanted to note that I am not a coffee drinker either, but I love this cake and you cannot really taste the coffee in it. We have some of those instant coffee singles for when recipes call for coffee. I also used the powdered buttermilk when I made it. Anyway it is great…. coffee and all
Hersey’s Perfect has been my go-to for a long time, but I’m willing to try this one out. Lovely photos! They truly are amazing! What did you do with all of that cake, though?
Amanda, This looks so delish!! Can’t wait to try it. Did you make a double batch for the 4 layers or did you cut the 2 layers each in half to make it 4? Plus, what frostings did you use? Thanks!
Also, for the commenters that said they didnt have buttermilk, there is always the trick of using just less than a full cup of regular milk and adding a tablespoon of white vinegar to it and it will make buttermilk. It’s tried and true. =D
Angie
Wow, that looks amazing! My husband roasts our coffee beans and makes the world’s best cup of coffee…how great would it be in cake!?!
I LOVE having a go-to recipe for cakes and cookies (like all of your Amanda exclusive recipes!)! Dinner dishes = very willing to try a new recipe, but don’t go messing with the desserts!
Looks moist and wonderful! This one goes in the recipe file
Pouhh your cakes make me dream!!!
Your photos look incredible! (and so does the chocolate cake!) I need a lesson on getting super smooth frosting…maybe you’ve already given a tutorial and i’ve missed it…but if not, this is my official request!
that cake looks amazing!! yum!
the recipe is practically exactly the same as one I also made a few days ago, it was called Black Magic Cake. mmm…of course it didn’t last, maybe I should make another..:)
MMmmmm…that looks delicious!
glorious! no, there would be no sharing if i was involved. i can be selfish like that. truly, amanda, this cake looks perfect. the layers look perfect. the crumb looks perfect. the frosting looks perfect. kudos to you!
si puo’ solo dire meravigliosa!
Will you share your frosting recipes for this cake?? How did you create the multiple layers?? Looks amazing!
i have a question. did you back two round cakes and cut them in half? and what typ of icing did you use to creat such smooth sides? and what is that stuff on top? sorry, i just want to make this cake for my sons birthday this month so i would really like to know the details.
This looks delicious , going to try and make for a birthday on Friday , can you please share your frosting and filling with me ??
These photos are incredible! I love how you decorated the cake
I am planning on making this cake tomorrow for my mother in laws birthday and had a few of questions. Actually others are wanting to know too. First: did you bake two cakes and then cut them in half? Second: What kind of frosting did you use on the sides? Last: Is that ganache on top?
Oh that’s heaven.. I will definitely make this for my birthday and give this to myself as a gift from me. lol! Silly me… It’s beautiful promise.
Thank you so much.
How many cake pans does this recipe make? You didn’t indicate in your recipe. It looks fabulous – I’ll definitely try it!
WOW! Do you know, I was —- that close to making this exact recipe for my little one’s Bday Friday! I know coffee helps the chocolate flavor, but I did not want my kids eating that (some of the reviews said it was a very rich cake and 1 C of coffee??!!) and I even thought of using decaf. BUT I made a mocha bundt cake (using 1/4 C coffee) for TWD and my kids did not like it, so I knew this cake recipe would be out. I found another dark chocolate cake recipe that I baked tonight, hope it’s good!
ANGELA WITH MY PAST EXPERIENCES ON BAKING I HAVE A FEW REASONS OF WHY YOUR CUPCAKES MIGHT NOT HAVE WORKRD AS YOU WANTED THEM TO BE. YOUR OVEN MIGHT OF NOT BEING HOT ENOUGH OR YOU DINT COOK THEM LONG ENOUGH. TRY TAPPING YOUR CUPCAKE TRAY ON A COUNTER TO ELIMINATE ANY AIR BUBBLES IN THE CENTER AND HELPS SMOOTH OUT THE BATTER. MAKE SURE YOU MEASURE YOUR LEAVENING AGENTS RIGHT SUCH AS BAKING SODA AND BAKING POWDER. HOPE THIS WORKS FOR YOU.
This cake looks lucious!!!!
Love the white with the chocolate top! I am totally going to make this….soon!
great looking chocolate cake!
My birthday is next Saturday. Will you make this for me?!?!?!?! *grin* *batting eyelashes*
Mmmmm chocolate cake….my favorite! I would have loved to be your taste tester. My all time go to chocolate cake is straight from the Hershey’s cocoa container….the Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake…but your use of buttermilk and addition of coffee…sounds amazing. I will have to try it on my husband ( who hated chocolate cake until he married me..
)
I love chocolate cake! I have to try this.. Hopefully it will work with cupcakes
YUM,YUM,YUM!
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?
Gorgeous Cake! What type of icing did you use? Could I please have the recipe?
Thank you,
Twyla
Yum…yum…yum! God bless – Holly
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!!
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.
What frosting recipes did you use for this lovely cake??? I love how the top is frosted differently than the sides!
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.
Yummy! what more I can say? this is so delicious I really wanted to eat this.
vee
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..
Yummm that cake looks fabulous. I shall have to give it a whirl next time I am baking a cake
Geez! I missed ANOTHER one?!? Holy COW…that cake looks incredible! (My birthday is in October.)
Great cake! It looks so moist and chocolaty!
What kind of pans do you use, what is their side?
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
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
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!
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
Tried to reply Jennifer.. but there is no email address for you. Your cake is beautiful! I am really impressed!!!
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.
That looks great! But how do you manage to cut the layers, or do you just bake 4 separates?
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!
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
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
Where can I find the frosting recipe?
How many 8″ cake pans?
How did you make the chocolate frosting and the white frosting on the sides?
This looks really delicious.
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!
Thank you. I made this cake yesterday for hanukkah and was amazing. I filled with chocolate mousse and was a success.
OMGoodness!!! Mouth-watering choco cake! Thanks for posting this. I really need to try it tonight.
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!!!
Can I substitute kosher salt with anything else?
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!
Looks divine. I would love to have the frosting recipe if you are willing to share! Can’t wait to try it.
What a fab looking cake. Glad it isn’t right here in front of me or I’d be eating the whole thing!
I’d like 2 of these please. I’ll email my shipping address.
you kill me Amanda . . . really, you just kill me . . . put a fork in me and just roll me on over . . . swoon-worthy
That looks amazingly delicious! I think I need to speak to my hubby about moving to Minnesota. I need to be your neighbor!
This is the stuff of good bribes! Dang Amanda, you are so mighty talented and this looks awesome!
This looks fabulous…what did you use for the icing??
Thanks!
omg!!! best cake ever is right! stay moist and delicious even after the third day. soooo worth the baking process. thank you for sharing!
HI! your chocolate cake looks fabulous! For the cocoa powder, is it the sweetened or unsweetened? THanks so much for sharing..
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
Wow! Yummy. i love this cake. thanks for sharing this. keep it up……
Can we have your frosting recipes please?! This looks so yummy!
Looks amazing I think i might try it:)
Okay, HOW can I adapt this recipe for a 12 ‘ layer cake???? How, How, How???? you can help me,right???
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
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.
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
question: I made this, in 2 greased and floured 8 in. pans and it totally overflowed…did I over mix it or what? I would try the recipe again but in 9 in. pans…just wondered if you could figure out why mine totally overflowed? Thanks!
Hi, Amanda, This cake is very sophisticated. I checked out the Spring Celebration Cake. Did you use the same cream cheese frosting or buttercream for the cake in this post? What type of frosting did you use on the top?
Hi, I love how this cake looks, just beautiful!!!
I was just wondering on the icing/filling recipe and what you used as the topping?
love the cake. but where can we get the frosting recipies please. thanks
zita
This looks awesome – mybakingaddiction sent me here – I’m on the hunt for a chocolate cake recipe for a groom’s cake. Is this one sturdy enough for two tiers? I’ve heard wedding cakes are a different breed, is this true? Have you ever made your own fondant?
I was thinking that a cup of hot chocolate instead of coffee might make this delicious! ??
LOOKS YUMMY!!! Going to try this out for a birthday party tomorrow. =)
hi! i’m from chile
so i don’t understand this:
“1 cup buttermilk, shaken”
what’s buttermilk?
thanks!
would really like to know the two frosting recipes and how you assembled everything
GIRLFRIEND, GIRLFRIEND, GIRLFRIEND!!!!THE BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE EVER. And I mean EVER! I was searching for a great choc. cake recipe for my daughter’s 23rd birthday. She requested a “chocolate cake”. I didn’t want to settle. It was RIDICULOUS! TASTY AND MOIST. Everyone Ooohed and Aaahhed as they took their first bite and their last. I filled it with real whipped cream and homemade choc. frosting (on hershey’s cocoa canister) and then topped the cake with sinful ganache frosting and let it drizzle down the sides. I put the hershey’s frosting in the middle then placed gobs of whipped cream onto that. I frosted the entire cake with the hershey’s recipe THEN the ganache all drizzly on top. It was oh so pretty and wicked, wicked good. Thank you for your excellent recipe. Oh, and to those who think the coffee in the recipe will spoil it. NO WAY. YOU TASTE IT IN THE BATTER, BUT NOT IN THE FINISHED PRODUCT. JUST MAKE IT!!!! You will not regret it.
I was looking for a good recipe and remembered your blog..! and i am going to try this one today…! Thank you…!
Hi,
I came across your recipe when I was searching the net for good chocolate cake recipes and boy did I get the right one. As soon as I saw the pictures and recipe, I couldn’t wait to try it, so the next day I did! It was amazing. I got good comments from my family and I even blogged it and posted a link to your blog!
thanks for sharing! will definitely bake it again.
btw, cute daughters!
-diyana-
nicely work done by you, looking awesome work…
nice work done…
Oh these cakes are awesome and I love to make and to taste it .
Love this recipe & Love the cake!! I made it on Saturday for a lunch party we had and today *Monday*..all gone…!! My husband had it for breakfast, lunch & tea…I used Chocolate Ganace in between layers & the frosting..high level of Chocolate…
I am making this cake for the second time tonight. My boyfriend and his family loved it the first time… he is coming home from a month long Army training and I know he will be happy to have some delicious cake!!
The frosting on the sides looks amazing! and the filling, does it have chopped strawberries in each layer? Topping? can you share the frosting receipes?
I’m making this cake for a friend’s birthday and was wondering if you use 2 round pans and cut the cakes in half or 4 rounds? thanks so much! can’t wait to taste it!
I like Chocolate Cakes Banoffee I make it my birthday. yammmmmy.
Fine biscuit crumbs in a food processor. Melt 80g butter and add the crumbs with cocoa. Process to combine. Press 10 cm in six pans with melted bitter. Put in refrigerator for 20 minutes until a solid foundation.
A recipe I have is similar, but instead of coffee you add more cocoa to your dry mix (1 to 1 1/2 cups) and you add boiling water at the same time it states in this one to add the instant coffee.
I Have this cake in the oven now with the coffee though to see how it goes and how similar the end results are.
Hi could you send me de frosting recipe. it looks amazing!
Chocolate for cake is my ultimate favorite flavor.And I’m happy that I find your site because you share information on how to explore more chocolate flavor to become more delicious and tasteful.
what else can I used for buttermilk/
If you have regular milk you can butter it by adding 1 tbls of white vinegar per 1 cup of milk and let it sit for about 10 minutes. unless your looking for a completely different alternative.
Looks yummy !!! I just made a lemon cake today. So I’ll save this one for next week !!
***If I don’t have buttermilk i just use regular milk and add a tablespoon of white vinegar for every cup !!***
The cake you’ve made is mouth watering. It looks so delicious. I want to learn how to bake it.
I made this cake into cupcakes for a friend’s birthday this last weekend. I substituted the coffee with boiling water and I was so nervous as the batter was SO thin! Made it kindof messy getting into the cupcake liners, but boy were they delicious! I topped them with big roses of your favorite buttercream frosting recipe and M&Ms made into ladybugs with a food writer pen (love those things). Had many many comments on the cake and frosting. Will be making again! Thank you!
OK, i made this cake into cupcakes today, and they taste delicious, however i was not able to make them rise enough to have the nice round puffy top you want on a cupcake, in fact some of them even sank slightly in the middle. What did i do wrong, or do you have any recommendations for me to improve next time??? Much appreciated!
Angela
OK i made this into cupcakes and they were very tasty, however they did not have the nice round cupcake top and in fact some of them slightly sank in the middle… Any suggestions?
This recipe is fantastic! I made cupcakes and everyone raved about them. The batter seemed too liquid-y at first, but they baked up into heavenly chocolate clouds! And the best part for me is that I always have these ingredients on hand. Thank you!
Hola from Spain! I love chocolate cakes and I’m always searching for the Ultimate Chocolate Cake. Will this one be THE ONE? I’m trying this recipe tomorrow, with whipped cream and chocolate frosting, and I’ll give the coffee a try.
Thanks for sharing. I love your blog. Mucho, mucho, mucho.
Un saludo.
Hi from Brazil! Sorry by the awful english, but I NEED tell you… I made this recipe last weekend to my son’s party and it was a success! It’s beautiful, soft, easy e specially delicious!!! Thanks for sharing that with the world!
You make a wonderful job and your website is amazing!!!
This cake looks awoesome!I cannot wait try this weekend.I need the recipe for the frosting please thanks!
Your cake looks awesome, can’t wait to try it. Please, I would love to have the recipe for the frosting, would you share with me?
Thank You,
Donna
Heehee, this has been my favorite chocolate cake recipe as well and I think I found the recommendation on your blog as well. I <3 the barefoot Contessa and just realized that I have the cookbook that she shares this recipe in… d’oh for having so many cookbooks that I forget what’s in them.
Help please! making it for my sons bday. What do i use instead of coffee
I was asked to make someone an extremely chocolatey cake and this looks amazing however i’m not sure if this person likes coffee as i don’t know them personally. When you eat the cake can you taste the coffee in it?
This cake is DELICIOUS!!! Seriously one of the tastiest chocolate cakes I have tried. I don’t really taste the coffee for those that are concerned about that, but it definitely intensifies the flavor of the chocolate…um, yum!! My only issue was that it fell in the center but that was my fault for opening the oven before the cake set, oops! Thanks sooo much for sharing! This will be my “go to” chocolate cake from now on!
I’m still awaiting the recipe for the icing to the your chocolate cake.thanks!!!!
I have been hunting for the perfect chocolate cake recipe for years and so far, this one takes the cake (he he he… gotta love a good pun!) I’ve had more than a few compliments on this cake. One suggestion I will make is about the buttermilk. I always buy a carton of buttermilk for a recipe and never finish it (I don’t have many recipes that call for it). The last time I made this cake my mother pointed out that you can make a buttermilk substitute with regular milk and a small amount of vinegar! I tried it and it worked beautifully. It saved me a separate trip to the grocery store and I didn’t have to waste any unused buttermilk. Thanks “I am Baker” for the recipe and thanks Mom for always being one step ahead of me!
Hi everyone..
i want to order for a birthday cake for my one year old daughter..i am thinkin of double decker..and base as chocolate cake..what would best go with chocolate on the top deck./..as i wnat to mix two flavours..is it a good idea..i want to make it look bright on the top..please let me know what flavoured cake shuld i have on the top like vanilla or blue berry..please help
Hi,
I made this cake for my little guy’s birthday and it was soooo good. The coffee does definitely add a unique taste to the cake. One thing I totally didn’t think of us feeding coffee to my 2 year old but hey, it is a birthday. Thanks for sharing the recipe!!!
Hi,
I made this cake for my little guy’s birthday and it was soooo good. The coffee does definitely add a unique taste to the cake. One thing I totally didn’t think of us feeding coffee to my 2 year old but hey, it is a birthday. Thanks for sharing the recipe!!!
I made it in 9″ cake pan and it turned out perfect.
mmmmmm thankxxxxxxxxx alot for the reciepe
Hi,
My son doesn’t eat my homemade pies. He wants a chocolate cake. He has asked for it the last couple of years. I decided to make your best chocolate cake ever. I found the buttercream frosting but I need to know how to make the chocolate topping on top of the cake. Also did you put the batter into two cake pans and then cut them in half? I know it is a busy season but if you have time to answer me, MY SON WOULD SURE APPRECIATE IT!
Thanks, Brenda
Such an amazing recipe! Made it once before as a cake and my mom requested it for Christmas dinner tomorrow as well
… it’s in the oven right now as cupcakes!
Thanks for sharing it!!
Hi,
This cake looks amazing. It’s Christmas day and I’m suppose to make my German Chocolate cake but forgot to get all ingredients before today and since the grocery stores are closed I am in search of a good replacement. This looks like the one. I am however have been looking all over you page looking for the icing recipe. I will find one to use but if I could get the recipe for the icings that you used. I would really appreciate it. I’ll try it again with your icing recipes. THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY FAMILY CHRISTMAS MEAL.
Hi,
this cake looks delicious and make me drooling for it
could you share the frosting recipe too and is the recipe for 4layers of cake or it’s just for one ?
Thank you… btw, I dig you Site! All the cakes looks delicious !!!!
This recipe is the best ever, whenever I use it, either for cupcakes or for an actual cake, everyone is telling me its the best they ever had and I love it as well;). I don’t even bother to search for other chocolate cake recipes anymore this one rocks
happens if you do not miss yeast?
Absolutely love this recipe, super moist and delicious! Have you ever had a problem with your cake cracking? I made this last night for valentines day in 3 layers and covered in buttercream. The cake slowly cracked right down the middle and began to resemble the grand canyon! Either way it tasted yummy!
Hi Amanda, I urgently need your suggestion for this. I tried this recipe twice with the exact recipe you have shared. When I checked with a toothpick after 35mins of baking I found the consistency of the cake still quite liquid. So I had to bake for another 45mins for the cake for the toothpick to come somewhat clean. Yet it didn’t come that clean. Where do you think I am going wrong?? I put the oven at 177 degrees C. Please email me, thanks!
Hi! I would recommend getting a thermometer for your oven to verify its heating to the right temp. They are really inexpensive! Once you know everything is good on that end we can continue trouble shooting.
I can’t believe I’ve only just found this recipe! Is it possible to get the frosting recipes? along with any further instructions on how many tins and layers
ohgosh that looks so good. same question: what frosting did you use and how many tins?
Beautiful cake! Please advise frosting recipes-thanks in advance….
Love your blog!
Lucie
Where’s the recipe for the white icing…?
love to have the frosting receipe the cake looks so good!!!!!!
You mentioned you make several cakes and actually the one you made before you liked better. Do you have that recipe on here, and if so where?
thanks
do you have the other chocolate cake recipe you liked better than this one that you mentioned on this site? I would love to see it. thanks
Looked through the entire page and did not find the frosting recipe, can I PLEASE have it?
I really want to make this cake for my mother’s 50th birthday! I was wondering if you would share your recipe for the frosting that was used! Or a link to another blog perhaps?
I would greatly appreciate it!
This recipe is the exact same recipe as the one I saw in Barefoot Contessa. I swear by this recipe. The best chocolate cake indeed!
I have my own out of home business and I’m STILL trying to find or create that perfect chocolate cake recipe. This is usually my go-to but it can be a pain. For example, the top of the cake crusts and doesnt dome. Also, the cake is so moist that it completely collapses while making a layered cake. Yes I know the tricks of freezing the cake before cutting but when u are trying to make this into a business you simply dont have the time to cool the cake AND freeze it. Any suggestions or did anyone experience the same? I love the taste of this recipe its GREAT for cupcakes but not really practical for a layered cake. :/
Most really good chocolate cake recipes call for either freshly brewed coffee or instant espresso and its not because you want the flavor of coffee but it actually enhances the flavor of the chocolate itself. Unless you put way too much coffee in it you shouldn’t taste coffee at all just rich chocolate. This looks wonderful my daughter and I are about to make it!!
I love this recipe . I knew it would be great because the batter tastes good . (:
I just have to say.. I just made a 12″ 2 layer cake (had to quadruple the recipe) and it came out PERFECT! Seriously the best chocolate cake I have ever tasted and the perfect texture. I will never use another chocolate cake recipe
So glad I found this blog!!!!
i totally relate to your attitude of not sharing… i once ate 3/4 of a 10″ chocolate-raspberry layer cake over ONE day while convincing myself i was helping my mother and sister who are borderline diabetic.
it wasn’t until years later that i realized it was me with the problem!
This is amazing. What type of icing did you use on the outisde and in between the layers? Also did you bake 2 cakes and halve them or 4 cakes?
Hi Alice! I baked 2 two-layer cakes, then made it into four. I used Betty Crockers Classic White frosting. Happy Baking!
this is the best chocolate cake I ever made. and it is my only go-to recipe when I’m making chocolate cake. it is so moist and soft and everybody loves it.
I’ve made it as a cupcakes and mini cupcakes also.
Hi Amanda! I’m planning on making this cake on Sunday, but what icings did you use for it? It’s absolutely beautiful! Thank you soo much!
I just made your cake (with a few changes) and it was AWESOME! I changed the all purpose flour to 2 1/2 cups cake flour and added hot water instead of coffee. The batter was a lot runnier than I’m used to but I went with it anyway and the cupcakes turned out great! ♥
Yay!!! Great job… and glad you liked it!
HONESTLY IM SO GLAD I FOUND YOUR WEBSITE. I DID THIS CAKE AND FILLED IT WITH CHOC. MOUSSE AND COVERED IN FONDANT. THIS CAKE IS NOT TO CHOCOLATY NOR DRY, ITS DENSE, FLAVORFUL, MOIST AND JUST WELL BALANCE. I WOULDNT FIX THIS RECIPE AT ALL. THIS CAKE RECIPE MAKES ABOUT 2 9INCH CAKE 2 INCH HIGH. 4 LAYERS. IF YOU HAVE A PERFECT VANILLA CAKE PLEASE CONTACT ME …THANK YOU =)
This looks very delicious! I would definitely try this one! Thank you!
First of all I must say thank you for posting this recipe. Being an avid baker, I have tried and tested a fair few chocolate cake recipes and can honestly say that this will be the owne that I will rely on. I used the recipe to make 3 x 8 inch cakes substituting the coffee for boiling water and this worked perfectly. Rather than using buttercream for icing, I used an old icing recipe which uses flour instead of icing sugar and leaves an icing which has the texture of whipped cream and is perfect to team up with chocolate cake. I would urge anyone hesitating to give this a try and watch the family members queue up to dig in once it’s finished – that’s if they are able to wait that long as the aroma whilst it is baking is heavenly.
That’s two 8″ round pans, right? Then split those layers?
Yes, that is what I did for this recipe.
Thanks!
I love the look of this cake and want to try to make it for my daughter birthday party on Friday. Is the chocolate frosting homemade or store bought as well? I saw where you said you used the Betty Crocker white frosting on the sides and filling. Just wondered about the chocolate icing as well. Also any tips for frosting this cake? I am a real novice at this. I really want this cake to turn out.
Thanks for your help.
Donna K.
I am baking my fourth one of these yummy cakes right now..it IS the best chocolate cake ever, the coffee gives it a rich flavor.
I use a butter – cocoa- powdered sugar no cook frosting recipe and it is YUM!
LOVE the cake Amanda ~ featured here today:
http://www.familyfreshcooking.com/2012/10/13/pinfresh-chocolate-bliss/
Hi i would like to do this with a apricot filling but do u suggest doing two or 8 inch rounds and just adding the filling in between then adding the frosting around please
I consider coffee is intended to highlight the flavor of chocolate more than to add coffee flavor. Usually when you use cocoa powder in a recipe, you are asked to add coffee as well.
Rgds!
The best!!!!!
Thanks Amanda for sharind this with us…. I just made this cake… and it is great!!!!!!
The best chocolate cake!!!!
I made it yesterday….. and it was delicious, moist…..
Thank you Amanda!
The best ever!!!!! thank you Amanda… Its amaizing!!
We loved it!!!!!
Gabi
What temperature to bake at?
Hi! how do you make the frosting and filling of this cake?
I used frosting from a can.
THIS WAS DELICIOUS! I have made countless homeade chocolate cakes but nothing has turned out so moist and tasty as this one. This is now my go to chocolate cake recipe, thanks for sharing. PS…I used a simple chocolate buttercream frosting with chopped almonds. AMAZING CAKE!!!!
Could you please include the baking temperature and the size pans (as well as how you prepared them) in this recipe? Thanks!
Is it just me or is there no temp? And was it really runny for anyone else? I baked it at 350 and added an extra cup of flour!! It was delicious!!!!
350 is right, and yes, the batter is very runny!
I love the cakes, i have some own recipes on my personal blog.
Any hints on the icing?
Beautiful cake. I was wondering on what temperature should i bake this cake?
350
This is absolutely the best chocolate cake I have ever tasted! Even though I am not a coffee drinker (can’t stand the stuff) I followed the recipe exactly as written. You cannot taste the coffee at all. Was a little worried after I added the coffee because the batter was super runny and crossed my fingers it would turn out ok as I was making it for my husband’s birthday. Cake turned out beautiful! It was very fluffy and split both layers to make a Black Forest Cake. A definite keeper!! Thank you!!
I have just made the chocolate cake, it is absolutely delicious. Thanks for sharing, I´m definately keeping it as my favourite chocolate cake recipe.
I live in spain and we dont have buttermilk, so for any one out there with the same problem, I used
1 plain yougurt and made up to the cup with liquid cream, used for mounting for desserts etc.
It came out fantastic, as for the salt we dont have this either so I used normal yoda salt found in all spanish supermarkets.
All I need now is to know what frosting you have used. On this one I have used cheese frosting for sides and ganashe for the top. All in all million thanks again. I´ve just made it for Saint Valentines. I´m sure I will be conceded what ever I ask for………………………today…..;)
Ami
ok so what did everyone bake this cake at!! Recipe doesnt say
I just made this cake in two 9″ circle pan, the taste is great but why did the centre deflate when I remove it?
How to make the 1 cup coffee ,which you add to your cake I mean how much coffee and water ratio?
I recognize this cake. It’s one that the Barefoot Contessa featured:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/beattys-chocolate-cake-recipe/index.html
Ah… I see your link now.
Your frosting looks fabulous.
Amanda doll, this looks
KILLER
delicious!
Can I use Dutch processed cocoa in this recipe?
I dont see why not!