What is a secret ingredient for cakes?

Mayonnaise : The Hidden Gem in Cake Recipes This unexpected addition can take your cake recipes to a whole new level. To incorporate mayonnaise into your cake batter, simply add a couple of tablespoons to the mix. The result? A tender and moist cake that will have everyone asking for seconds.

What is the main ingredient that makes a cake moist?

One common ingredient swap that is known to help make cakes remarkably moist is using milk instead of water. Try switching out any water in your recipe for full-fat milk or buttermilk for a moist, decadent texture. Another ingredient that can enhance the moisture of your cake is mayonnaise.

Which 2 ingredients help the cake to rise?

Most cakes will call for a leavening agent like baking powder or baking soda . These create the bubbles you need for the cake to rise. If the flour you use is self-raising, it already has a leavening agent in it. Make sure your butter is room temperature, and beat the butter and sugar together until properly creamed.

What is the most important ingredient in a cake?

Flour is perhaps the most important ingredient in a cake mix, as it creates the basic structure of the entire cake. A major component of flour is gluten, which is a protein that provides a way for the cake to bind to itself.

How do you make a cake look expensive?

Consider using a pedestal stand for added height and drama . Make sure the surface is clean and free of any smudges or crumbs. Additionally, you can adorn the base of the cake with decorative elements such as edible pearls, gold leaf, or sugar flowers to create a visually appealing and luxurious look.

How do you make a cake taste like a bakery cake?

Step 1: Look at the directions on the cake mix. Step 2: Add one more egg (or add 2 if you want it to be very rich). Step 3: Use melted butter instead of oil and double the amount. Step 4: Instead of water, use whole milk.

Why is homemade cake better?

Home made cake are always best. Because they don't contain additional preservatives,stabilizers and chemicals as the cakes in bakery . They are healthier and hygienic.

What makes a cake dense and not fluffy?

There's a big chance your butter and sugar will over-cream , meaning the butter will trap more air than it should. As the batter bakes, that extra air will deflate and leave you with an overly dense cake. It's all science! For best results, cream butter and sugar together for about 1-2 minutes.

How do you make a cake rise and fluffy?

Add a leavening agent to the flour . Most cakes will call for a leavening agent like baking powder or baking soda. These create the bubbles you need for the cake to rise. If the flour you use is self-raising, it already has a leavening agent in it.

How do you bake a cake so it rises evenly?

In order to bake cake evenly, you have to insulate its edges . Preventing the temperature of batter at the edge from increasing quickly allows the cake to rise longer before it sets. A cake whose edges rise at nearly the same rate as its center will remain flat across the top — no dome, perfect for stacking and icing.

Should cake batter sit before baking?

Similarly to using expired leaveners, letting your batter sit for too long before cooking will result in a heavy and dense cake . Fortunately, the solution is simple — be sure to preheat your oven as you mix up your batter, and pop the cake in to cook as soon as possible.

The Best Homemade Chocolate Cake Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe

This is the besthomemade chocolate cakerecipe! Super easy to make and incredibly moist! Thiscakehas a fluffy texture and a perfect chocolate flavor. We’ve been making this recipe for years; it always turns out to be incredibly moist and delicious.

The Best Homemade Chocolate Cake Recipe (1)

This cake has a beautiful chocolate flavor, and its fluffy texture makes it perfect for any occasion. My mother-in-law passed this recipe to me years ago, and I’ve been making it ever since. She initially got this recipe from the back of the Hershey’s Cocoa Powder box, and it’s a classic we always make!

This delightful cake is versatile; it can be made as a sheet or layered round cake. The process is quick and easy—mixing the dry ingredients in one bowl, the wet ingredients in another, and then combining them with a mixer. I use boiling water to help create that tender, moist texture that we all love in a chocolate cake.

Topping the cake with creamyhomemade chocolate frostingmakes every bite a perfect treat. Feel free to experiment with other frostings to fit your preferences. Still, one thing’s for sure—this cake is ideal for all chocolate lovers!

The Best Homemade Chocolate Cake Recipe (2)

IN THIS POST

Why This is The Best Chocolate Cake Recipe

Incredibly moist texture: This cake’s moistness makes every bite enjoyable and leaves you craving more.

Versatile: You can create a sheet cake, layered cake,bundt cake, or evencupcakesusing this recipe.

Rich chocolate flavor: While the taste is indulgent, it isn’t overwhelmingly sweet.

Simple to make: This easy homemade cake recipe is perfect for beginners and experts.

Even without frosting, It’s scrumptious and can be enjoyed as a chocolate snack cake.

Tried and tested: I’ve made this moist chocolate cake recipe multiple times, which always produces excellent results.

The Best Homemade Chocolate Cake Recipe (3)

How To Make Homemade Chocolate Cake

I’m covering everything you need to know to make this cake. The full recipe, measurements, and directions are in the recipe card below.

Baking Supplies

Electric Mixer: Stand mixer or hand-held mixer
Large Bowl
Measuring Cups and Spoons
Silicone Spatula

Shopping List and Ingredient Notes

Here is a list of ingredients you’ll need for this scrumptious chocolate cake, easily found at your local grocery store:

Granulated sugar: White sugar is excellent for sweetening and adding the perfect texture.

All-purpose flour: Provides structure and a light, tender texture. I useKing Arthur Flourfor this recipe. The flour helps provide structure and form to the cake. It also helps give the cake a light, tender texture. Make sure to measure flour your flour when baking correctly. Remember to measure your flour accurately.

Unsweetened cocoaadds an intense, rich chocolate flavor to the cake. Try Ghirardelli Unsweetened Cocoa or Hershey’s Natural Unsweetened Cocoa. You can use unsweetened dark cocoa for an even richer chocolate flavor. The cake will have a deep color as well.

Baking soda and baking powder: These leavening agents help create a moist, fluffy cake with an even texture.

Milk: Contributes to texture and moisture. Both whole milk and 2% work well.

Eggs: Offer structure and stability. Organic eggs are preferable when possible.

Vegetable oil or canola oil: This chocolate cake recipe is made with oil to give the cake extra moistness and a fluffy texture. You can use vegetable or canola oil, as both have a neutral flavor that won’t overpower the other ingredients in the cake.

Vanilla extract: Enhances flavors; use pure vanilla extract for best results.

Boiling water: Helps incorporate cocoa powder and maintain a moist, tender cake.

Recipe Tips

Use whole, organic ingredients when possible. It does make a difference in the flavor and outcome of the cake.

Oil and grease your pans well; use parchment paper for easy removal.

Mix well, but do not over-mix. Keep the mixer on low most of the time, and scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl.

If you want to make a dark chocolate cake, try Hershey’s special dark cocoa powder.

Pair this cake with our creamy chocolate buttercream frosting.

Always remember to useroom-temperature ingredientsfor the best results.

Set the timer for 10 minutes less, as baking time will vary depending on accurate oven temperature and location.

Recipe Variations

I’ve discovered several delightful ways to customize a chocolate cake. For instance, you can:

Create alayered cakeby using two 8-inch round cake pans.
Frost the cake with a delicateSwiss meringue buttercream.
Skip the frosting and drizzlehomemade caramelon top instead.
Opt forchocolate cupcakesrather than a sheet cake.
Toss in somenutsfor an added crunch.
Smother the cake with a richchocolate ganache.
Add chocolate chips to the batter.

The Best Homemade Chocolate Cake Recipe (5)

How to Make Ahead Homemade Chocolate Cake

The best part about making a classic homemade cake is that you can make it beforehand. Bake the cake and let it cool completely. Then, Place the wrap in plastic in an airtight container or a gallon zip-top freezer bag. Freeze the cake for up to 3 months.

When you’re ready to serve the cake, remove it from the freezer and let it thaw in the refrigerator. Once it’s completely thawed, you can frost the cake.

How to Determine if Your Cake is Ready

To figure out if your cake is done, be on the lookout for these cues:

The edges of the cake start to pull away from the pan.
A delightful aroma fills the air.
The top of the cake has a lovely golden hue.
The toothpick test: insert atoothpickinto the cake; if it comes out with crumbs, give it more time to bake.
Gently press the cake’s surface; it should spring back up.

The Best Homemade Chocolate Cake Recipe (6)

Storing and Freezing

Storing chocolate cake is pretty simple. You can store it in the fridge or freeze it.

Storing Leftover Cake: Wrap the chocolate cake leftovers tightly with plastic wrap or store them in an airtight sealed container. Doing this lets the cake maintain moisture and keeps it delicious for days.

Freezer: Wrap the cake in plastic as soon as it cools. Storing the cake in the freezer will help keep the moisture content in, and it’s how professional bakers store their goods as well. It’s best to freeze this cake without frosting.

The cake will thaw quickly, so that’s good news for anyone who wants to consume it from the freezer. The frozen cake also makes an excellent base for icing.

Gluten-Free Option

To create a deliciousgluten-free chocolate cake, I replace the regular flour withGluten-Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour. Although the texture might slightly differ, my cake still turns out good!

The Best Homemade Chocolate Cake Recipe (7)

Cake Pan 101

Sheet Cake Pan– Sheet cakes are baked in a rectangular cake pan ranging in size from 9x13x2 to 10×7. Any of these sizes will work.

Bundt Pans– Also known as tube pans. This is a round pan with a hole in the middle. Some of them have designs, and others are smooth. If you use this pan, butter, and flour, you can’t use parchment paper to help release the cake.

Loaf Pan– A loaf pan is a small rectangular pan used to make ourcoconut cakeandpumpkin bread.If you use a loaf pan for this recipe, you will likely need to make two cakes. It’s often called pound cake when you bake acake in a loafpan. So this would be a buttermilk pound cake recipe.

Round Cake Pans– If you want to make a layer cake, use 2 8×2 round cake pans.

Cocoa Powder vs Extra Dark Cocoa Powder

There are a couple of options to consider when using unsweetened cocoa powder. I recommend going with the classicHershey’s Natural Unsweetened Cocoa Powder.

However, if you’re interested in a more intense chocolate cake—both in flavor and appearance—you might want to chooseHershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder. This will result in a cake that is so dark it’s almost black! It’s perfect for those looking for a darker and richer chocolate experience.

Chocolate Cake Toppings

I enjoy various toppings on chocolate cakes. My favorites include chocolate buttercream frosting, cream cheese frosting, vanilla frosting, whipped Swiss buttercream, and even gingerbread frosting.

Frosting– Top this cake with any frosting you desire. I prefer chocolate buttercream, but you can add cream cheese, vanilla, whippedSwiss buttercream, orgingerbread frosting.

Sprinkles andEdible Flowers– We love using sprinkles for abirthday cakeand edible flowers for a simple gathering. Dried edible flowers work just as well as fresh.

Whipped Cream and Fresh Fruit– If you prefer a light cake, top it with whipped cream, fresh fruit, and berries.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best chocolate cake recipe?

After trying several recipes, I’ve found one that is incredibly easy to make and always results in a tender, moist chocolate cake. You really can’t go wrong with it.

What ingredient makes a cake moist?

Ingredients like eggs, oil, milk, butter, and hot water all give a cake its moist texture. Just use the best quality ingredients and check their freshness before you start baking.

How can I make a light and fluffy cake?

Serving Recommendations

When to Serve a Homemade Chocolate Cake

I find homemade chocolate cake perfect for numerous occasions, especiallybirthdays. Not only that, but you can also enjoy it as an afternoon snack or serve it up at:

Garden parties
Alfresco dining
Graduation celebrations
After-dinner treats
Potluck desserts
Summer BBQs

The Best Homemade Chocolate Cake Recipe (8)

What to Pair with Chocolate Cake

Here are some tasty suggestions to enjoy alongside a scrumptious chocolate cake:

Vanilla Ice Cream: Nothing beats the classic cake and ice cream combination.
Fruit Platter: I always appreciate fresh fruit with my cakes; they balance the flavors nicely.
Crème Fraîche: This soured cream has a velvety texture and pairs wonderfully with berries and chocolate.
Iced Matcha Tea: This creamy yet hydrating beverage is good for you, and matcha complements chocolate beautifully.

More Sheet Cake Ideas

I came across some fantastic sheet cake recipes that are both simple and delicious. Here are a few of my favorites!

Chocolate Zucchini CakeRecipe: Perfect for chocolate lovers and a sneaky way to add veggies.
Neapolitan Sheet Cakereturns the classic vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry combo.
Funfetti Sheet Cake: Adds a colorful twist to your classic sheet cake.
Ice Cream Sundae Sheet Cake: A delightful mixture of cake and ice cream flavors.
Lavender Cake Recipe: A unique and fragrant addition to your sheet cake collection.
Buttermilk Cake Recipe: A moist and tender cake that pairs well with many flavors.
Simple Carrot Cake Recipe: easy to make and so good.

Recipes You’ll Love

If you’re still craving other fantastic dessert options, I’d like to recommend a few more treats you’ll want to try:

How to Make a Birthday Cake: perfect for celebrations
Classic Banana Cake Recipe: a comforting favorite
The Best Crumb Cake: crumbly and delicious
Goat Cheese Cheesecake: a savory twist on a classic
The Best Classic Cheesecake: creamy and satisfying
The Best Monkey Bread Recipe: great for sharing

This is my favorite homemade chocolate cake recipe, and I can’t wait for you to try it. Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below. I promise it’s the only chocolate cake recipe you’ll need!

You can also FOLLOW US on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious recipes, co*cktails, desserts, and parties!