Go Back
+ servings
A rich and moist chocolate cake design with chocolate ganache drip and frosting swirls.

Simple Chocolate Cake

This recipe makes a basic, moist chocolate cake. It is suitable for layering or serving as a simple sheet cake.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 12 people
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

Dry Ingredients
  • 2 cups All-purpose flour
  • 2 cups Granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup Unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 tsp Baking soda
  • 1 tsp Baking powder
  • 1 tsp Salt
Wet Ingredients
  • 1 cup Buttermilk Room temperature
  • 1/2 cup Vegetable oil
  • 2 large Eggs Room temperature
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract
  • 1 cup Hot water or coffee Boiling

Equipment

  • Two 9-inch round cake pans
  • Mixing bowls
  • Electric mixer

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Add the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for two minutes.
  4. Carefully stir in the hot water or coffee by hand until the batter is smooth. The batter will be thin.
  5. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans.
  6. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  7. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 5gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 300mgFiber: 3gSugar: 38g

Notes

For a richer flavor, use hot coffee instead of hot water. You can use this recipe for a 9x13 inch pan; adjust the baking time as needed.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!