This Perfect Chocolate Cake recipe is moist, flavorful, and inspired by Hershey’s famous chocolate cake, made with a touch of coffee for a unique twist. No more dry cakes! Passed down by my grandma, this recipe is a true classic. The addition of Homemade Chocolate Buttercream takes this cake to the next level and sets it apart from the rest.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Buttermilk: I prefer to use store-bought buttermilk for this cake, but you can absolutely use homemade. I have a post on How to Make Buttermilk should you want to make your own! I like the sour cream method for this cake.
Coffee: I have many recipes on my site for chocolate cake and most of them use coffee. Coffee will enhance the flavor of the chocolate, not overpower it. If your recipe is good (and this one is) you will not taste the coffee at all, you will only taste the richest chocolate cake you have ever had. You may substitute water for the coffee if you prefer, but the chocolate flavor will not be as intense.
Chocolate Buttercream: The recipe for the whipped chocolate buttercream is a large amount. If you don’t plan on piping on embellishment, you can cut the recipe in half. Or, use your favorite kind of frosting.
Can I Make This Chocolate Cake Into Cupcakes?
This recipe has not been tested as cupcakes, but if you decide to make it into cupcakes, here are some guidelines. Fill each cupcake liner 2/3 full with batter and bake at 350°F for 16-22 minutes. Check on the cupcakes starting at 16 minutes to avoid overbaking. For a tried and true cupcake recipe, try my Ultimate Chocolate Cupcake recipe.
Can I Use a 9×13-inch Baking Dish?
Yes, you absolutely can. Bake at 350°F for 28-32 minutes. The cake is done when an inserted toothpick is removed with crumbs, but no wet batter.
Can This Cake be Gluten-Free?
I am often asked how to make this recipe gluten-free. I recommend good quality gluten-free flour that can be used interchangeably with all-purpose flour. (A 1:1 blend) This recipe is best when gluten is used, but will still taste delicious with gluten-free flour.
How to Freeze Chocolate Cake
I don’t recommend freezing with frosting on. To freeze the cake, follow these instructions.
- Allow the cake to completely cool in the pan.
- 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, removing 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 a freezer burn.
- Finally, 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
The Perfect Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups (219 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
- ¾ cup (90 g) good quality unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup (240 g) buttermilk, room temperature
- ½ cup (112 g) vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons McCormick pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup (237 g) freshly brewed hot coffee, regular or decaf, or hot water
- chocolate buttercream frosting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray 2, 8-inch x 3-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray. (8-inch cake pans with shorter sides may cause an overflow in your oven.) Set aside.
- To the bowl of a stand mixer, add the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix to combine.
- In a separate bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla.
- With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. With the 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 30-40 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick comes out mostly clean with no wet batter.
- Let the cakes cool in the pans for 30 minutes. Then, turn them out onto a cooling rack to let them cool completely.
- Frost the cake with chocolate buttercream frosting.
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
Hi there, I absolutely love this cake, I make it all the time but I just have one problem. I put all the mixture in a 9 inch pan and bake @ 180/350 degrees for about 1 hr but it always dips slightly in the middle before I take it out. Why is that. Am I doing something wrong. I want to bake this cake for a 3 tier wedding cake because I love the cake.
Could you give me a suggestion for a brand of good quality cocoa powder?
Hershey’s coco.powder really rich delish
Hershey’s Coco powder really rich and delish results
I like this chocolate cake
Hi I’m planning on making the chocolate buttercream for a birthday cake. I want to do the rosette cake design you have pictured. Is the icing okay to use for making rosettes or do I need to find a different one? I read on another page of yours that the icing needs to be less creamy. Just want the cake to be perfect if possible! Thanks for your help and the recipes ????
Hi there, I am wanting to make this cake for a wedding, can you tell me how long it lasts? and also can you double it to malke a bigger cake?
Can this cake be warmed up to serve????
MY FAVORITE CAKE IS … CHOCOLATE ON CHOCOLATE. I WANT TO ENTER TO WIN THIS MIXER . I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE 1 NO MATTER WHAT COLOR . I JUST WANT ONE , THANK YOU .
I am making this cake now and just checked on it and it is over the sides of the pan and on the oven bottom. Did not realize it was for three layers and not two. I divided between two pans. Oops!
It is a 2-layer cake recipe, but for 8-inch rounds or 9-inch rounds. 🙂 However, it’s a safe bet to never fill your pan more than 2/3 full or it could spill over.
I cant find buttermilk… any substitute?
One cup of whole milk and add 1Tb of lemon juice or vinegar. Stir and let sit for 5minutes. I’ve used this in many recipes . Hope this helps.
I was wondering how many days this will stay ‘fresh’ for? I know it is always best to eat same day, but will it last 2 (make Thursday night, eat Saturday night)? And should I keep it in the fridge while we wait to eat it?
Thanks!
Jen