This is The Ultimate Chocolate Cake! Rich, decadent, and packed to the max with chocolatey goodness. This recipe is sure to impress!
For The Chocolate Lovers
When it comes to sweets, chocolate has to be one of the most loved. I love the range of sweetness it can have, some varieties more bitter than they are sweet. It’s such a versatile ingredient, but it truly shines in this cake!
It will be hard to pass up a slice of this undeniably delectable cake. Read on to learn more about The Ultimate Chocolate Cake!
How This Recipe Became The Ultimate Chocolate Cake
When I graduated college, I like to joke that I realized my Senior year that I should have gone to culinary school. The idea of being in a classroom where I would be learning classic recipes and honing my kitchen skills made me absolutely giddy. But, following the path of a well-trained broke college student, I opted to start a full-time job and make money.
Nonetheless, over the following years something continued to nag at me: what if I was cooking for a living? I had taken to baking, making delicious sweets and treats for family, friends, and coworkers. I thought to myself, what if I opened my own…BAKERY?! Countess cookies, cakes, cupcakes, and confections followed, with me keeping a rigorous record of recipes I loved and those that flopped. Through this research, I’ve altered recipes, experimented with lower fat ingredients, tweaked, and tinkered and this fact remains: this is by far the BEST recipe I have ever made.
How To Make The Ultimate Chocolate Cake
This recipe was originally on the back of the Trader Joe’s cocoa powder container! My best friend, Sara, and I would always use this recipe when we had a get-together to go to, shower to host, or holiday gathering to contribute to. It features just a handful of ingredients and it all goes into one bowl!
First, you combine the following ingredients:
- Cocoa Powder
- Sugar
- Baking Soda
- Salt
- Butter
- Vanilla
- Eggs
Then, you alternate between buttermilk and flour, ensuring the mixture is completely combined. This recipe makes a massive amount of batter, which is perfect for 2 large 9-inch cakes, or else a ridiculous amount of cupcakes. I’ve gotten almost 45 cupcakes out of this recipe once!
Making The Ultimate Chocolate Frosting
The Ultimate Chocolate Cke wouldn’t be complete without the Ultimate Chocolate Frosting!
This version is rich and velvety, featuring both cocoa powder and meted chocolate. I love how little powdered sugar this frosting has. I find that so many frosting recipes out there call for an obscene amount of sugar. This is understandable when it’s building volume, but 5 cups of powdered sugar just sounds like a toothache! This recipe calls for a tiny 1/2 cup, and that’s plenty considering the melted chocolate that’s also included.
Follow the below instructions to get the perfect frosting!
- Mix the butter, sugar, and salt until combined. I like adding a small pinch of salt to my frostings, as it helps balance the sweetness.
- Add 1 pound of chocolate chips that have been melted and completely cooled. Be sure the chocolate isn’t still warm, or else this will melt your butter!
- Add a slurry of water and cocoa powder. This adds extra chocolate flavor that can’t be replicated.
That’s it! Ok, ok. I get this likely oversimplifies the process, but it’s completely worth home making this unbeatable rich frosting. Those you’re feeding will agree too!
How To Frost A Cake
Frosting a cake doesn’t need to be intimidating or difficult! With the right tools and a little practice, you can frost your own beautiful edible art. Head on over to my article, “How To Frost A Cake” to learn how to simply frost a cake (no special equipment needed!).
Tried this recipe and loved it? Use the hashtag #sohappyyoulikedit and tag @sohappyyoulikedit on social media so I can see your creations!
Let’s be friends! Find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Don’t forget to check out my YouTube Channel!
The Ultimate Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 3 1/3 cups flour
- 1 1/3 cups cocoa powder
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 Tbsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 sticks unsalted butter
- 3 cups buttermilk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 5 eggs
For the dark chocolate frosting:
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup boiling water
- 3 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 1 pound semi-sweet chocolate, melted and cooled
Instructions
For the cake:
- Preheat oven to 350º. Grease and flour two 9 inch cake pans. Using the bottom of the pan as a guide, trace lightly and cut out rounds to go into the cake pan. Again, butter and flour the parchment, too.
- Combine all ingredients except flour and buttermilk in the bowl of a standing mixer. Stir until combined.
- In three phases, alternate between adding the flour and the buttermilk, scraping down the side of the bowl as you mix. Once completely combined, divide batter between the two cake pans. Bake for 55 minutes, or until a toothpick or cake tester comes out clean.
- Allow cakes to cool slightly in their pans, about 20 minutes. I like placing them on a cooling rack so the bottom of the pan can get airflow, too. Run a knife around the perimeter of each pan and invert the cakes on the cooling rack to completely cool. Meanwhile, prepare your frosting of choice!
For the dark chocolate frosting:
- Combine cocoa powder and boiling water until cocoa has dissolved
- In the bowl of a standing mixer, combine butter, sugar, and salt until pale and fluffy. Add the melted and cooled chocolate, beating until combined. Add the cocoa mixture, mixing completely to combine.
- Use frosting at room temperature. If you have leftovers (this recipe makes a lot of frosting!), it stores nicely in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
One thought on “The Ultimate Chocolate Cake!”