Chocolate Chocolate Cake
This Chocolate Chocolate Cake is a classic! This rich, moist cake is topped with a creamy chocolate frosting for a sweet treat that’s sure to put you in a good mood!
Sometimes you just need a good ole slice of chocolate cake. Know what I mean? After all, chocolate cake solves everything, right? By extension, that means that Chocolate Chocolate Cake really solves everything! As in, you should just walk around with a slice of this cake in your pocket. Nothing will get you down knowing that you have that treat waiting on you. (Well, unless you realize the difficulty in removing said cake from your pocket…)
This cake is about as classic as they come. As food bloggers, sometimes we get caught up in making crazy substitutions in recipes. Like a cake with mayo instead of oil. Or brownies with tofu, avocado and black beans. Now I have no problem with these recipes! I’ve come across some pretty unique ideas in the food blogosphere. And as foodies, playing with new recipes and unique ideas is fun. (I count you as a foodie because you wouldn’t be reading this blog if you didn’t like food!) But sometimes you just need a classic. And that’s where this Chocolate Chocolate Cake comes in!
Growing up, my Mom had a moist chocolate cake recipe that was an absolute go-to. She always kept the ingredients in the pantry, and that cake could be ready in no time flat. Got invited over to the neighbor’s house for dinner? Bring a chocolate cake! Needed to thank either my teachers or my sister’s teachers? Bring a chocolate cake! (Sometimes she’d bake it in muffin tins for easy eating…same recipe, just baked in miniature-form instead.) I loved that cake…and I still do.
But that cake started with a box cake mix as it’s base. Now I have no problem with boxed mixes. They save a ton of time. But I’ve really gotten into baking from scratch. I see it as a challenge. It’s similar to recreating recipes from restaurants. I like deconstructing recipes and figuring out how to make them myself.
And that’s what I did with this cake. I wanted a tasty chocolate cake with a moist crumb. It needed to be rich, but not so rich that you could only eat one bite. My first attempt at this cake was way too rich. Good cake, but I could only eat one bite before going into a chocolate coma. So I hit the kitchen again and reduced the chocolate. (This may be the first time I’ve actually advocated for less chocolate…) And I’ve got to say that this cake might be the best chocolate cake I’ve ever tasted!
The next challenge was the frosting. My sister is the Frosting Queen, so I turned to her for advice. She was kind enough to share her go-to chocolate buttercream frosting with me…and it didn’t disappoint. In fact, it made me quite happy!
How to Store Leftover Chocolate Cake
Leftover slices of this cake should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days or refrigerated for up to a week. To freeze this cake, I recommend slicing it and then wrapping each slice individually with plastic wrap. Place the wrapped slices in a ziploc freezer bag and store for up to 6 months.
Together, this layer cake + frosting is a magical combination. Chocolate + chocolate = happiness! So if you’re feeling down, just grab a slice of this Chocolate Chocolate Cake. I promise it’ll put you in a better mood! Enjoy, my friends!
Did you make this cake at home? Leave a comment! Or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog).
Looking for more tasty chocolate desserts? Check out these other favorites:
Chocolate Cream Pie
Chocolate-Stuffed Peanut Butter Cookies
Baked Chocolate Peanut Butter Donuts
Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake
Chocolate Ombre Cake
Chocolate Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1½ cups boiling water
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1¾ cups granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ Tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- 3 large egg yolks
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- ¾ cup sour cream
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
For the Frosting
- 8 oz. unsalted butter room temperature
- 3½-4 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ Tbsp vanilla extract
- 3 Tbsp milk or heavy cream
- 10 oz. milk chocolate chopped (note: not chocolate chips!)
For Decorating
- {Optional} Chocolate curls
Instructions
For the Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Grease or spray (3) 9” round baking pans. Line the bottom of each pan with parchment paper.
- Using a medium bowl, whisk together cocoa powder and boiling water until smooth; set aside.
- Using a large bowl, add flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt; whisk until well combined.
- Add eggs, egg yolks, vegetable oil, sour cream and vanilla to the bowl with the dry ingredients; whisk until well combined.
- Finally, add the cocoa powder and hot water mixture to the bowl in several additions, whisking well between each addition.
- Divide batter evenly into baking pans; tap pans lightly on countertop to release any air bubbles.
- Bake at 350°F for 25-27 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean.
- Let cakes cool in pan for 15 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack until completely cool. (Note: Remove parchment paper from bottom of cakes when transferring them to the cooling rack.)
For the Frosting
- Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter on medium speed until light and fluffy (~3 minutes).
- Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition.
- Add cocoa powder, salt, vanilla extract and milk; mix on low speed until well combined.
- Using a double boiler or microwave, melt chocolate. Pour melted chocolate into frosting. Beat on medium speed for 3-4 minutes, or until well combined. (Note: If you desire a looser frosting, add an additional tablespoon of milk. For a thicker frosting, add an additional ¼ cup of powdered sugar.)
To Frost Cake
- Place one layer of cake on large platter. Spread ~¾ cup of frosting on top. Place the second layer on top and spread another ~¾ cup of frosting on top. Place the third layer on top and use remaining frosting on top and sides of the cake.
- {Optional} Garnish top of cake with chocolate curls.
What’s better than chocolate cake? Chocolate chocolate cake, of course 😉 I have to agree with ya! Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in unique and different ways of making things, but sometimes you just need a good ol’ classic and it’s classic for good reason, right? Timeless, I say. I love that your sister is the frosting queen. And lucky you that she shared her recipe with you 🙂 You may just have to send her some cake! Chocolate cake, or chocolate chocolate cake, is good any time of the day and this is just the thing to make Monday and little brighter…it’s snowing here today and this would be perfect right now 🙂
I couldn’t agree more, Dawn! Chocolate on top of chocolate for the win…especially for Valentine’s Day. (Hmmm…I wonder why V-Day is always associated with chocolate. That’s something to ponder another time!) Yup, it’s sleeting/freezing rain here today, and on top of that I have the nastiest of nasty colds. This definitely calls for a slice of chocolate chocolate cake, right? 🙂 Thanks, my friend!
Looks like a feast for the eyes… I need a slice too !!
Thank you so much, Sharmila! I’ll save you a slice…but you better hurry!! 🙂
DUUUUDE!!! You won’t believe what has been running around in my head ALL WEEK!!! None other than CHOCOLATE CAKE!!! And then today, I see this!
Chocolate cake DOES solve everything! It’s been a pretty crazy busy week on my end and all week I was nursing a little yearning for chocolate cake – when the yearning didn’t go away over the weekend, I succumbed and made a mini chocolate layer cake – of course, mine was a flourless one {had to balance of the decadent frosting 😉 – besides am a fan of all those crazy butter/oil/sugar substitutions out there} But, if I lived up there I would have just stopped by your place and grabbed me a slice of this! Wow! And am loving how light that frosting looks – am thinking that’s the heavy cream?! Simply decadent!
Happy Monday friend – hope y’all enjoyed the game last night!
Say what!? Chocolate cake has been running around in your head all week? Well then you clearly need to give in and eat a slice…if you can catch it! (Hah…) You do come up with some of the most amazing substitutions…seriously! I bet your flourless version got a 2-thumbs up from Lil Shashi, right? 🙂 Yeah, I’m thinking the cream (I actually used whole milk) contributed to the frosting texture. This one was amazing…we actually made it twice in like a week to take it over for a friend’s birthday party. But I did stash a couple slices away in the freezer for weeks like this…I’ve got a pretty nasty cold, and I think chocolate is the cure-all, right?
Hi David: This looks like an excellent cake, and thank you for sharing the recipe. I’m wondering, though, why one cannot use milk chocolate chips for the frosting? The mini chips are ideal for melting in a double boiler, and since they are small, it saves from chopping the bigger chunks.
Hey Brian! That’s actually a great question, and I’ve been down that road before myself. Here’s what I discovered: chocolate chips are actually not designed to melt as smoothly as ‘regular’ chocolate. Sure, they will absolutely melt in a double-boiler, but the consistency was never as smooth as I wanted it to be. Several years ago, I took several baking courses at our local community college for fun…and I asked my instructor that very question. So there ya go! Chocolate chips will absolutely work, but the frosting will be smoother if you use baker’s chocolate instead. I do hope you enjoy this cake…it’s a darn good recipe!!
Carrying a pieces of chocolate cake in your pocket would be quite interesting! I’m think a little container might be a better bet! This cake looks super moist and oh so delicious!
Hey, I’m not ashamed to carry around pieces of chocolate cake in my pocket! I mean it might be a mess, but at least you have chocolate cake, right? 🙂 This cake is totally a keeper, Kathy…one of my favorites! Thanks!!
David, this cake looks magical! And I can’t emphasize more how much I love chocolate. This needs to happen…and how I wish we could be neighbors because neighbors share chocolate cake 🙂
You are totally right, Linda! Neighbors do indeed share chocolate cake. Come to think of it, I saw a house for sale around the corner…wanna take a look? 😉 This chocolate cake is super tasty, and I’ll save you a slice!
Yes! This is beautiful and looks so perfectly moist. Pinning this for future chocolate cake needs. Well done!!
Hey there, Cassidy! Thank you so much for the kind words! There is almost always a time for future chocolate cake needs, right? *ahem* Valentine’s Day *ahem* This recipe is one of my favorites, and we actually made the cake twice within about a week and half. (For a friend’s birthday party…not for us to eat 2 cakes in 2 weeks!) 🙂
I haven’t made a lot of layer cakes in my life, but through some experiments I’ve came to the conclusion that: a) using boiling water and b) oil instead of butter make the best cake batter, moist and airy. And I clearly see the great results, David! Rich, moist, and chocolate, with a delicious frosting (Because let’s be honest here – frosting is the best part of any cake). However, I’m not sure there’s such a thing as a chocolate coma so more, more chocolate please!
Yes! You are definitely on to something there, Ben. I do prefer oil for moist cakes…and sour cream is another one of my secret cake weapons. This cake is pretty much the classic of classics…chocolate on top of chocolate, and it tastes amazing! You and Laura would get along well as she calls cake a vessel for frosting. 🙂
absolutely we all need that classic recipe! this looks like the perfect chocolate cake David! yum!
Thanks so much, Manali! This recipe really is one of my favorites…it’s my go-to whenever I need chocolate cake! 🙂
I’ve never had a chocolate cake that I didn’t love, and I know this one will not disappoint. Chocolate defiantly solves everything in my house, David. EVERY-THING lol. I’m over the food substation in baking, I don’t mind using Zoodles (zucchini noodles) instead of pasta, I’ve made some amazing cauliflower rice but I’m not substituting flaxseed for eggs, no thank you. I love butter in my bake goods and that’s not a crime. This cake makes my mouth water 🙂 I hope you enjoyed the Super Bowl David
You know, that’s a really good point, Mary! I mean it’s chocolate cake. It’s gonna be good, right? This recipe seriously is a keeper though…it’s the one I pull out whenever I need a chocolate cake. You know, for like Valentine’s Day…and birthdays…and days ending in -y. 🙂 Oh, and as far as the Super Bowl, believe it or not but we missed the crazy comeback. I’ve got a nasty, nasty cold, so we turned in after halftime assuming the game was over. Little did we know! But I did catch the highlights online the next morning. I can’t believe football is over ’til next Fall now!
David, that is a stunningly gorgeous cake..drool worthy and incredible.!
Why thank you very much, Rahul! This is seriously a keeper recipe, and it’s my go-to whenever I need chocolate cake. 🙂
I would be in a permanent better mood if I had this chocolate cake! How cool is it that you can consult with your sister for frosting advice!
My sister really is the frosting queen…she actually wrote a book on frostings. Haha! So yeah, she’s my secret weapon when I need a good frosting. This chocolate cake is sure to put you in a better mood. It’s seriously a keeper of a recipe, Rachelle! 🙂
Chocolate is my #1 all-time favorite dessert, so I am drooling over here! If there’s one thing that I go for on a dessert menu most, it’s chocolate cake… sometimes a classic is just the best!
I couldn’t agree more, Nicole! Sometimes you just need to splurge on a classic chocolate cake…and this is the recipe for that! It seriously is my go-to whenever I need a chocolate cake. 🙂 Thanks!!
When I first saw this, I was like…did Dave accidentally write chocolate twice but man, you’ve outdone yourself! Everyone needs a classic chocolate cake and this looks insane. Although I bet the frosting made out of barbecue sauce would have been better.
Yes! Everyone does indeed need a classic chocolate cake recipe. This is my go-to recipe whenever we need a chocolate cake for a birthday or a holiday or just because we made it to Friday. Although now I’m intrigued about the BBQ sauce frosting. I’ll have to hit the kitchen and play around with that idea a bit. 🙂
I think we need to work on this chocolate-cake-in-your-pocket thing and find a way to get it to work, because it’d come in real handy. I love hot-water chocolate cakes. For people who were raised on box cakes, it’s a familiar texture, which is nice. But making it from scratch can’t be beat. (Actually, it can and should be beat … beaten … with beaters. You know what I mean.)
You know, you’re right. Chocolate-cake-in-pocket would be a great seller…but I anticipate some problems in the development stages. I dunno though. I’d gladly volunteer to test this product out if it meant I got chocolate cake! You with me?
David I have been craving chocolate cake for somedays but I am too lazy to make it myself!! Thanks for the inspiration, I might finally get out of the couch and make this 😉 This looks so good!!
You totally need to make a chocolate cake then, Ami! Trust me…you’ll be very, very happy that you did. 🙂 Thanks!!
Now that is a beautiful slice of chocolate cake. I agree with you about not wanting a cake that is overly rich…yours sounds just right.
This recipe is definitely a keeper, Karen! It’s my go-to whenever I need a good chocolate cake…and let’s be honest, when do you NOT need a good chocolate cake recipe? 🙂 Thanks!!
3 layers of chocolate goodness. This Chocolate cake, a glass of milk and my latest binge of BILLIONAIRE would do just fine tonight. 🙂
Oh yeah! That sounds like my kind of night right there, Kevin. But Billionaire, eh? I haven’t heard of that one yet. I just googled it…sounds interesting! I’ll have to add it to the lineup here. 🙂 Thanks!
Love that you stuck with a classic chocolate cake! I will never say no to a slice like this 🙂 In fact, I totally want it for breakfast right now 😉
Hey there, Bianca! I say if you want chocolate cake for breakfast, then you get chocolate cake for breakfast! This recipe is seriously a keeper…it’s my go-to whenever I need a good chocolate cake. 🙂
I really just wanna shove my face into those creamy layers!
Hahaha! Thanks, GiGi…but you might end up with frosting on your nose. 😉