Description
A timeless, moist, and rich Classic Chocolate Cake made with cocoa powder and layered with creamy chocolate frosting. This homemade favorite delivers deep chocolate flavor and a tender crumb — perfect for birthdays, holidays, or any sweet celebration.
Ingredients
- 1 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 and 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 and 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk (or milk + 1 tbsp vinegar)
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup hot coffee (or hot water for milder flavor)
- For the Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 3 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup heavy cream (more as needed)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans or line them with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar.
- Add eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla extract. Beat with a hand mixer on medium speed until smooth (about 2 minutes).
- Slowly pour in hot coffee and mix until fully combined. Batter will be thin — that’s normal!
- Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and bake for 30–35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make frosting: Beat butter until creamy. Add powdered sugar, cocoa powder, salt, vanilla, and heavy cream. Beat for 3–4 minutes until light and fluffy, adding more cream as needed for spreading consistency.
- Frost cooled cakes by layering frosting between and on top. Decorate as desired.
Notes
- For extra moistness, brush cake layers with a bit of simple syrup before frosting.
- Use high-quality cocoa powder for deeper flavor.
- Can be baked in a 9×13-inch pan for a single-layer cake (bake 35–40 minutes).
- Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American