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.
The photo shows a 3 layer cake but the recipe says 2- 8 inch cake pans. I had to cook the 2 layers for at least 50 minutes. Should it be 3 -8 inch pans?
Hi, louise! I work with iambaker and am happy to help with questions. For the pictures, we actually doubled the recipe to get four layers. I hope this helps, and have a great day!
What is the best way to store a cake after being made? How long does a cake last for?
I have made this cake as written many times and it is excellent. However, my husband would like it as a 9×13 for his birthday this week. Is this enough batter for this size and how long should it bake?
I made this for my boss. He is 75 and never had a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. He LOVED it.
This cake was great. This was the first time I’ve added coffee to chocolate cake and now I have to do it every time. Thank you
Hi! Do you know if this is enough batter for 3 6inch layers? Thank you!
Hi, Maureen! I work with iambaker and am happy to help with questions. There should be enough batter for 3, 6-inch layers. However, we have not tested that, so I can’t say how baking time would be affected. Let us know if you try it, and have a wonderful day!
This is honestly the best chocolate cake recipe ever!! It is the only one I use now! I even make it gluten free (Robin Hood Gluten Free All Purpose Flour Blend) and it comes out so soft and fluffy every single time! You can’t even tell it’s gluten free! It makes wonderful cupcakes too!! Thank you Amanda for such a wonderful recipe! ❤
I recently moved to Denver area and would like to know if there are any adjustments for high altitude baking this recipe?
Hi, Robin! I work with iambaker and am happy to help with questions. Here are some high-altitude baking tips that might help. Have a wonderful day!
Question and please don’t take this the wrong way . It’s the perfect chocolate cake but it has American buttercream I’m just a student wouldnt Italian buttercream tastes better and not so heavy
You can use whatever frosting you prefer.
Thank you so much Amanda I don’t need to go buy over and over to bake chocolate cake thank you so much