Description
This Homemade Chocolate Cake is a rich and moist dessert perfect for any occasion. Made from scratch with simple ingredients like cocoa powder, flour, and sugar, it features a luscious chocolate frosting that complements the tender layers. The cake is easy to prepare and baked to perfection for a classic treat everyone will love.
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 3/4 cup cocoa powder
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup oil
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- 6-8 Tbsp milk
Instructions
- Prepare pans and preheat oven: Line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper and spray with non-stick spray. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined. This helps activate the leavening agents and create a consistent batter.
- Add wet ingredients: Whisk in the milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract into the dry ingredients until the mixture is smooth with no lumps. Then carefully stir in the boiling water, mixing just until smooth. The boiling water helps intensify the chocolate flavor and results in a moist cake.
- Divide and bake: Evenly divide the batter between the two prepared pans. Bake in the preheated oven at 350°F for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool for 10 minutes in the pans before inverting onto cooling racks to cool completely.
- Prepare frosting: While the cakes cool, beat together the softened butter, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt in a bowl until smooth. Gradually add milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, to reach a spreadable consistency ideal for frosting the cake.
- Assemble the cake: Place one cooled cake layer on a cake stand or serving tray. Spread about a cup of frosting evenly on top. Place the second cake layer on top and frost the sides and top of the cake. Serve immediately or cover and let the cake sit overnight to allow flavors to meld.
Notes
- Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for best mixing results.
- For an even more intense chocolate flavor, use Dutch-process cocoa instead of natural cocoa powder.
- Wrap leftover cake tightly in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.
- Adjust the amount of boiling water in the batter for a denser or lighter cake texture.
- You can substitute vegetable oil with melted coconut oil for a subtle tropical flavor.
