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
- Room temperature ingredients are important. Cold ingredients are harder to incorporate and can result in flat, lumpy, dense baked goods.
- Sifting dry ingredients is a good thing. 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.
- Good quality ingredients. Dutch process cocoa 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.
Why Warm Water in Chocolate Cake?
This recipe does NOT use coffee. You still need the moisture that coffee would bring, but can achieve the necessary results by using hot water instead. Using warm water when making this chocolate cake recipe will help the baking process. You don’t want to add cold cake batter to a hot oven.
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.
Can I use a 9×13 Baking Dish?
Yes, you absolutely can. No changes need to be made to the recipe, but it will not be as thick as in an 8×8 baking dish. Bake at 350°F for 28-32 minutes. The cake is done when an inserted toothpick is removed with crumbs, but no wet batter.
How to Store Chocolate Cake
As there is sour cream in the frosting, this cake does need to be refrigerated. When in an airtight container or wrapped with plastic wrap, it should last 2-3 days.
How to Freeze Chocolate Cake
I don’t recommend freezing with frosting on.
- Allow the cake to cool in the pan fully.
- Place a layer of plastic on top of the cake and then place a cutting board or cooling rack on top.
- Flip the cake over. Remove the pan.
- Wrap the plastic up over the edges of the cake and then add another large piece and wrap it again as tightly as possible without crushing the cake. Make sure that none of the cake is exposed in the freezer as this can cause freezer burn.
- Now wrap it in a layer of foil. Label and date the cake. The cake will freeze well for 1 month and should be fine for up to 3 months.
More Chocolate Cakes
Chocolate Craving Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (63g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup (100g) whole milk
- ¼ cup (55g) vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup (118g) warm water, (can use coffee instead)
Frosting
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8-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.
- Mix flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of stand mixer.
- 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.
- Add in warm water and gently stir- batter will be very thin.
- Pour batter into prepared dish. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick is removed with a few crumbs. There should not be wet batter, but a few crumbs is good.
- Cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then continue cooling on a rack until room temperature.
Frosting
- 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.
- Add the sour cream and vanilla and stir by hand until frosting is well combined and fluffier.
- Spread over cooled cake.
Video
Did you make this recipe?
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can you use almond milk instead of whole milk???
I did, and I don’t feel like it changed anything! I used vanilla almond milk and it’s so yummy !!
Love this cake! Deep chocolate flavor, frosting compliments it nicely.
I found this recipe several years ago, then I would double the recipe because we had kids in the house. Everyone loved this cake full of deep rich comfort!
Now, in 2023 we are empty nesters and the 8×8 size is perfect for the both of us, and it still gives deep rich chocolate comfort!
I really enjoy this chocolate cake! Very easy to make and the frosting is perfect because it is not too sweet and enhances the chocolate cake. I have made this many times when I have a chocolate craving.
My fool-proof go to when you want a silky intense chocolate hit!!!
I seriously crave this cake…This is the BEST chocolate cake ever… and so easy!
I’m super excited to try this cake out! A couple of questions before I get started: it calls for baking powder and baking soda but in the video I didn’t see the baking soda added. Also, it says to line the baking dish but it’s not done in the video. So is it necessary to line or can I just spray my baking dish?
Thank you!
The written recipe is correct.
Ok we totally love this cake. At first I wasn’t wowed by the sour cream frosting until I tasted it on day two straight from the fridge. Then, omg PERFECT!
Since it is mostly only hubby and me, for dinner this cake is perfect for a few day’s dessert and a lunch treat.
It’s SO FAST to throw together!! Try it. You will be amazed how simple it is.