Chocolate Cake is undoubtedly a classic and timeless dessert that everyone still craves.
Imagine relishing a slice of moist, chocolatey, and heavenly cake made from scratch. It’s the perfect cake to bake to make every celebration special!
You can easily bake Chocolate Cake any time. I especially suggest making it for desserts, weekends, and occasions. Chocolates have never tasted this delicious!
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It’s truly the perfect cake to serve for kids and adults. Make it a fun bonding experience for you and your family, from baking to eating bit of the Chocolate Cake!
How to Make Chocolate Cake
After you try this Chocolate Cake recipe, you will always choose to bake your own cake at home. With simple cake ingredients, you can make the best cake recipe yet!
If you have a sweet tooth, then you need to bake this easy, quick, and fun Chocolate Cake recipe.
Ingredients
Here’s a list of everything you will need to make Chocolate Cake at home.
Cocoa powder
When baking Chocolate Cake, you can’t forget about cocoa powder. It’s the primary ingredient that gives the cake its chocolate flavor.
Cocoa powder is not the same as chocolate because chocolate is actually the finished product with a milky and creamy quality. Since it’s already in powder form, it’s easy to mix into the cake batter.
There are two kinds of cocoa powder: Dutch and natural cocoa powder. Natural cocoa tends to have a stronger flavor, while Dutch cocoa is milder in taste.
According to The Spruce Eats, you can use cocoa powder for baking cakes, making ice cream, or preparing chocolate drinks. I personally use cocoa powder for Dark Chocolate and Chocolate Almond Drink!
Plain flour
You can’t make a cake without plain flour. It helps with the cake’s form and structure. The flour allows the cake to rise as it bakes light, airy, and moist crumbs.
It’s one of the main ingredients for almost any baking recipe. In fact, you can also use it to bake bread, cupcakes, cookies, biscuits, pizza, and more!
I also suggest using plain flour for the following recipes:
Baking powder and bicarbonate of soda
Get the perfect cake texture and form inside out by adding baking powder and bicarbonate of soda to your cake batter. These are powerful leavening agents that will allow the cake to rise.
When used properly, it will make the cake light and fluffy. Along with baking powder, bicarbonate soda is also an excellent leavening ingredient for pastry recipes.
It is a tried and tested ingredient I often use for Banana Bread, Fried Fish Fillet, and Nigerian Coconut Egg Rolls!
Caster sugar
Your cake recipes will surely taste better with caster sugar. Once it dissolves into the cake, it will add a sweet taste, smooth texture, and caramelized goodness.
The Sugar Association also mentioned that sugar can make baked recipes moist and soft. It goes well with salt and vanilla extract to intensify the flavor of the cake.
Eggs
You need to add eggs to your cake recipes because of how they can improve the flavor and texture. Aside from the added flavor, it also binds the dry ingredients for the cake’s shape.
It can also change the texture of the cake sponge and the crumbs. If you don’t want eggs in your chocolate cake, then I suggest using egg substitutes such as ripe bananas, yogurt, or oats and water.
Milk
Activate your leavening agents with milk in the cake batter. It certainly adds moisture, color, and flavor to the recipe. The cake will be lighter, softer, and creamier.
It creates an impression that the cake is so tender that it almost feels like it’s melting in your mouth. Aside from fresh or evaporated milk, I also like using Almond Milk or Chocolate Almond Milk as alternatives.
Sunflower oil
You might be surprised to know that sunflower oil is not just for deep frying but for baking too! According to Epicurious, it’s better to bake cakes with oil than butter.
While it won’t make the cake tastier, the oil will make your cakes lighter and moister. In this recipe, we will use both butter and oil for the best quality yet.
Butter
Tenderize the cake with fats like butter. It also makes the cake rich and moist for an amazing texture. In fact, the butter can also add a creamy and decadent quality to the cake.
Once it melts into the cake, you will love how soft and tender the cake will be. Now, your butter will never go to waste!
Water
Hot water is added to melt all of the ingredients together to avoid clumps in the cake. It will make it easier for you to mix the batter for a well-flavored and textured cake.
The chocolate cake requires basic baking ingredients, but the most important part lies in how you actually make it. With these ingredients, I can guarantee you a no-fail chocolate cake!
Directions
Get ready to bake and taste the best Chocolate Cake recipe!
- Use a scale or measuring cups and spoons to make measurements.
- Grease all of the edges of the pan with butter.
- Coat it with plain flour and rotate it around the flour to coat the sides of the baking pan as well.
- Then, preheat the oven to 170°C for 15 minutes.
- Using a fine-mesh strainer, sieve plain flour, caster sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and bicarbonate of soda.
- Add the eggs, whole milk, sunflower oil, and vanilla extract.
- Whisk them together to combine.
- While whisking, add hot water to dissolve the dry ingredients.
- Pour the batter into the cake pan.
- Bake the cake at 350° C for 35 to 40 minutes or until done.
Decorate the Chocolate Cake
- Carefully remove the cake pan from the oven.
- Then, use a small palette knife to level the cake, creating a flat cake surface.
- Place the cake board on top of the cake and turn it over.
- Spread your chocolate frosting evenly on top of the cake and along its side.
- Then, use an icing scraper to smoothen the cake.
- Use a piping bag to design the cake with more chocolate frosting.
- Set it in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Finally, you can relish this delicious Chocolate Cake!
Now, give yourself a pat on the back because you just made an Irresistibly Delicious Chocolate Cake! You will certainly make everyone happy with this dessert!
Tips
How to Make Better Chocolate Cake
- One of the simplest ways to improve your chocolate cake is to buy quality ingredients, especially cocoa powder.
- Go for darker cocoa powder for a richer flavor.
- Grease your baking pan with butter or oil.
- Measure all of the ingredients, especially the flour and sugar.
- Don’t skip the milk!
- Add salt to enhance the combined flavors of the ingredients.
- Use eggs and milk at room temperature.
- Avoid opening the oven door to let the cake bake properly.
How to Store Basic Cake Ingredients
- Cocoa powder, bicarbonate of soda, plain flour, salt, and sugar are best stored in containers in cool and dark places.
- Meanwhile, baking soda is best stored in its original packaging.
- Store the milk in the fridge or in a sealed container or glass bottle.
Ingredient Substitutes
- Cocoa powder is vegan and gluten-free, but if you don’t have it in your pantry, you can use cooking chocolate, hot chocolate mix, or melted chocolate chips as substitutes.
- Plain flour is suggested because it is accessible and suitable for baked goods.
- However, you can still substitute it with other kinds of flour, such as cake, almond, and whole wheat flour.
- You can also use self-rising flour infused with the leavening agent.
- Aside from caster sugar, you can also use powdered sugar, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and even coconut sugar as a sweetener.
- If you don’t have bicarbonate of soda, you can add a bit more baking soda for leavening.
- As for the whole milk, it is gluten-free, but it is not vegan-friendly.
- You can use vegan-friendly substitutes like almond milk, chocolate almond milk, or soy milk.
Chocolate Cake Variations
For a vegan version of Chocolate Cake, it’s best to use unsweetened almond milk and granulated sugar to substitute for whole milk and caster sugar. I also suggest using egg substitutes for more vegan options.
On the other hand, for a gluten-free chocolate cake recipe, go for gluten-free ingredients. For instance, you can buy gluten-free all-purpose flour, baking soda, vanilla extract, dairy-free milk, and unsweetened cocoa powder as alternative ingredients.
In case of lactose intolerance, use either cashew milk, chocolate almond milk, almond milk, or coconut milk. Also, buy or make your own lactose-free chocolate pudding to decorate and coat the cake.
For the chocolate, I suggest using dark chocolate as a healthy option. However, you can also use other kinds of chocolates, such as milk chocolate.
Tea Recipes
No-Oven Chocolate Cake
You can still make Chocolate Cake even without an oven!
- Use your steamer to boil water.
- Place the aluminum foil-covered baking pan in the middle.
- Cover the steamer with a lid.
- Let the cake cook for up to 45 minutes over medium-low heat.
Use the cake tester or a toothpick to check for doneness before taking it out of the steamer.
Recommended Tools
- Hand mixer: You can mix the ingredients by hand, but you can also use a hand mixer for faster mixing.
- Mixing bowl: Combine the ingredients in a mixing bowl.
- Balloon whisk: Use this to mix the ingredients together
- Sieve: Make sure to sift your dry ingredients using a sieve.
- Measuring cups and spoons: In baking, measurements matter, so use measuring cups and spoons!
- Kitchen scale: This can be an alternative tool for measuring cups and spoons.
- Spatula: Use a spatula to mix and distribute the ingredients.
- Cake tin: You definitely need a cake pan to form and bake the cake in the oven.
- Cooling wire rack: After baking the cake, you need to let it rest on a cooling rack before frosting and decorating.
- Palette knife: Use this knife to level the cake’s surface.
- Cake board: Place the cake on a cake board for presentation and decorating purposes.
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How to Serve Chocolate Cake
Chocolate cake is commonly served as a dessert, but it can also be enjoyed for breakfast and even as a snack. It is usually decorated with chocolate ganache or frosted with piped decorations.
You may also include different kinds of fruits as toppings. Strawberries are popular choices for Chocolate Cake toppings. Alternatively, arrange various kinds of chocolates on top or along the sides of the cake to add sweetness and design.
According to a study by researchers at Tel Aviv University, cake, and other desserts can safely be eaten for breakfast.
The study concluded that mornings could be a good time to eat cake because metabolism is faster, and you can burn carbs throughout the day.
For beverages to go with your yummy Chocolate Cake, make sure to consider the following:
Storage Tips
To store cakes, some of the options you can use as containers are airtight plastic cake containers, tin cans, glass domes, cake servers, or cake slice plastic containers.
- At room temperature: For unfrosted chocolate cakes, you can wrap the cake in cling film for 5 days at room temperature. On the other hand, if it has already been frosted, refrigerate it within two days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is chocolate cake healthy?
Contrary to popular belief that chocolate cake has harmful effects, it actually has lots of health benefits when eaten in moderation. It contains sugar and protein to fuel you with energy throughout the day.
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
The chocolate cake also contains nutrients and minerals, and to add to its nutritional value, you can include fruits as toppings. It also contains polyphones to regulate hormone levels and stress levels. Chocolate cakes can be mood changers! They make excellent comfort food too.
Moreover, the components of chocolate can improve brain function and enhance cognition, especially if fresh fruit toppings are added. And overall, chocolate cake is truly satisfying to consume!
How to make chocolate cake at home recipe?
Making chocolate at home is easy! Just prepare the cake batter as instructed in this recipe. Then, bake it in the oven to get a moist, tasty, and soft cake!
What is chocolate cake called?
Chocolate cake is also called “fudge cake” because of how chocolatey it can be from the inside out. Once you add ganache or chocolate filling inside, it’ll become more fudgy and tender.
What makes cake fluffy and rise?
The secret to fluffy cakes is leavening agents! In this recipe, we will use baking powder and bicarbonate of soda to give the cake a great rise for a light and airy cake.
Moist Chocolate Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1¾ cup plain flour
- 1⅓ cup caster sugar
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- 1½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
- ¾ cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- ½ sunflower oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup hot water
- butter (for the cake tin/pan)
Instructions
Bake the cake
- Use a scale or measuring cups and spoons to make measurements.
- Grease all of the edges of the pan with butter.
- Coat it with plain flour and rotate it around the flour to coat the sides of the baking pan as well.
- Then, preheat the oven to 170°C for 15 minutes.
- Using a fine-mesh strainer, sieve plain flour, caster sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and bicarbonate of soda.
- Add the eggs, whole milk, sunflower oil, and vanilla extract.
- Whisk them together to combine.
- While whisking, add hot water to dissolve the dry ingredients.
- Pour the batter into the cake pan.
- Bake the cake at 350° C for 35 to 40 minutes or until done.
Decorate the cake
- Carefully remove the cake pan from the oven.
- Then, use a small palette knife to level the cake, creating a flat cake surface.
- Place the cake board on top of the cake and turn it over.
- Spread your chocolate frosting evenly on top of the cake and along its side.
- Then, use an icing scraper to smoothen the cake.
- Use a piping bag to design the cake with more chocolate frosting.
- Set it in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Finally, you can relish this delicious Chocolate Cake!
Video
Notes
- To store, use airtight cake containers or plastic containers.
- Wrap the cake in cling film or aluminum foil to preserve moisture.
- Don’t overmix the cake batter for the best results.
- Filtering the dry ingredients will help get rid of any clumps in the cake batter.
- When pouring the batter into the cake pan, keep in mind that you need to consider the space needed for when the cake will start to rise.
- To check if the cake is thoroughly cooked, use a cake tester or a toothpick and insert it in the middle of the cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is baked well.
- Adding the appropriate amount of sugar can already make the cake moist.
- Too much baking powder can cause it to leaven quickly while too little can make the cake flat.
Nutrition
