Chocolate cravings cannot be ignored! This perfectly proportioned cake will definitely satisfy every single craving! If you love the chocolate version, don’t miss my White Snack Cake! You may also love my Best Chocolate Cake (sheet cake) and find your favorite recipe on my 50 Best Cake Recipes list!
Chocolate Craving Cake
I wanted a chocolate cake. No, I needed one. But I didn’t want to make a huge cake or get out special cake pans. I just wanted the most decadent, rich chocolate flavor without a whole lot of fuss. This cake fits the bill! Paired with a chocolate frosting that is nothing like I have ever imagined!
How to Make a Chocolate Cake
First, I recommend reading through the ingredients and making sure everything is out and ready. The eggs and milk should be room temperature so getting them out of the fridge ahead of time will solve that for you. (Same with the sour cream in the chocolate frosting recipe.)
Make sure dry ingredients are sifted and measured properly. When measuring flour, get out your container or bag. Open it and use a fork to stir it, or sift it, loosening it up. Spoon the flour into a dry measure cup then use the back of a knife to level the cup off. (Or you can measure your ingredients on a scale.)
Use the proper tools. You can use a hand-held mixer (or even stir by hand) but make sure the ingredients are fully mixed and incorporated before moving on to the next step in the recipe.
Use the best quality ingredients if you are able! Dark cocoa’s or high-quality cocoa, fresh eggs, and good quality vanilla make a difference! Feel free to upgrade to all organic ingredients. When it comes to substitutions though, I do recommend making the recipe as-is first, then altering it to make it yours, including adjusting with High Altitude Baking Tips.
Why Warm Water in Chocolate Cake?
Many chocolate cake recipes include coffee, but this recipe does not. You still need the moisture that coffee would bring, but can achieve the necessary results by using hot water instead.
Another reason that you want to use warm water when making a cake recipe is that it will help to even the baking process. You don’t want to add cold cake batter to a hot oven.
Warm water will also help bring eggs within the recipe to room temperature if they have been refrigerated. As I mention often, eggs should be at room temperature before adding to the cake batter.
Chocolate Frosting (Read this before making!)
You will notice that there is no added sugar in the frosting. It is meant to complement and contrast the sweet cake! It is NOT very sweet on its own. If you prefer a sweeter frosting I recommend halving this Chocolate Buttercream recipe.
Make sure you prepare your dish well! I love using GOOP (Homemade Pan Release) in this recipe.
If you plan on serving your cake right in the pan as I did, try my tips for baking a level cake.
This is one of the best chocolate cake recipes I have ever had the pleasure of eating. It’s moist and fudgy but still has a light cake crumb. It’s got a depth of flavor and a distinct rich deep chocolate essence.
Small in size but not in flavor!
- 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (63g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup (100g) whole milk
- 1/4 cup (55g) vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (118g) warm water, can use coffee
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
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Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch glass or ceramic baking dish with parchment paper and spray sides and bottom. If using a metal baking pan, heat oven to 325°F.
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Mix flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of stand mixer.
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Add in egg, milk, oil, and vanilla and mix on low until incorporated. When mixed in increase speed to medium and mix for 2 minutes.
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Add in warm water and gently stir- batter will be very thin.
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Pour batter into prepared dish. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick is removed.
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Cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then continue cooling on a rack until room temperature.
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In a medium microwave-safe bowl, heat the chocolate chips in the microwave at 50% power in 30-second increments, stirring after each heating, until they are fully melted.
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Add the sour cream and vanilla and stir by hand until frosting is well combined and fluffier.
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Spread over cooled cake.
Recipe Video
If the ads on my blog are driving you crazy, you need to read this.
When I watch the video you were only adding baking powder but the printed recipe says baking powder and baking soda. Do I use both?
The written recipe is correct.
This cake was fantastic! I made it for our weekend snack. The frosting was perfect!
The birthday man gives it 2 enthusiastic thumbs up! He especially liked the “not too sweet” frosting. It’s great to find a 2 person size chocolate cake for those days you absolutely positively need one! Thanks for sharing!
It’s very nice amazing thanks for sharing madam
Yummy cake
My family and I love this chocolate cake. I’ll never buy a chocolate cake mix again!
Do you want a yellow cake one that is just as good? Or can I make substitutions for the cocoa to make it a yellow cake?
Thanks.
Hi, Nicki! I work with iambaker and am happy to help with questions. Here is a homemade yellow cake mix you might like. Have a wonderful day!
With the frosting having sour cream – does it need to be refrigerated?
Hi, Kelly! I work with iambaker and am happy to help with questions. Yes, refrigerate the cake. Have a great day!
I need to use gluten free flour ??
Hi, Eddie! I work with iambaker and am happy to help with questions. We have not tested the recipe using gluten-free flour, so I can’t say how it would affect the cake. Let us know if you try it and how it turns out. Have a great day!
I made this cake today and it’s easy, quick and just delicious! I exchanged 18g of water for cointreau 😁. Thank you for sharing such a great recipe. This one goes to my cookbook 😊
It is ok to use canola oil or corn oil?
Silly question, but in the chocolate frosting, you add sour cream. Does it taste like sour cream? Is it tangy? I’m asking because I’m not a fan of it and I’m unsure. Thank you.
Hi Gina – it doesn’t taste like sour cream but it is not a sweet frosting. It’s meant to compliment the cake and doesn’t hold up on its own, if that makes sense?
Love this cake! It is like a heaven!
Can I double this and put in 9×11 pan?