Get ready to bake up a storm with this easy, super moist chocolate cake recipe that you can whip up from scratch in under an hour!
What Makes This Cake Special
Look no further for the perfect homemade chocolate cake! This recipe is the ultimate go-to for a simple yet delicious chocolatey treat. It’s moist, soft, and packed with rich cocoa flavor, and the best part? You don’t need any fancy ingredients or equipment!
Easy Chocolate Cake From Scratch
Servings 8
Ingredients
**For the Cake:**
- 1 cup all-purpose flour 130g
- ¾ cup granulated sugar 165g
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 egg
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil 65g
- ½ cup buttermilk 120g *(or make your own with ½ cup milk + ½ tbsp vinegar)*
- 1 tsp instant coffee optional, can be reduced to ½ tsp
- ¼ cup boiling water 60g
- ¼ cup cocoa powder 25g
**For the Ganache:**
- ¼ cup cream 60g
- 75 g chocolate of choice milk chocolate works great
Instructions
**For the Cake:**
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare a 9″ cake pan by lining it with parchment paper and greasing it with butter or oil.
- If making your own buttermilk, mix ½ cup milk with ½ tablespoon vinegar, stir, and set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Make sure to sift the ingredients to remove any lumps.
- Add the egg, vegetable oil, and buttermilk to the dry ingredients. Use a whisk to gently mix until just combined.
- In a separate bowl, mix the boiling water with cocoa powder and instant coffee until smooth and shiny.
- Add the cocoa mixture to the cake batter and gently fold until fully combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs attached.
- Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
**For the Ganache:**
- Heat the cream in a small saucepan until it just begins to boil.
- Pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate and let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Stir the mixture until smooth and glossy.
- Let the ganache sit for another 5 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Pour the ganache over the cooled cake and spread it evenly with a spatula.
- Slice, serve, and enjoy your decadent chocolate creation!
Notes
- You can easily make your own buttermilk by combining milk with vinegar or lemon juice.
- Be careful not to overmix the cake batter, as this can result in a tough texture.
- This cake can also be baked in a square pan or doubled for a larger sheet cake. Adjust the baking time accordingly.