Description
This Ultimate Chocolate Cake is a rich, moist layer cake that delivers a deep chocolate flavor and tender crumb. It’s simple enough for everyday baking yet elegant enough for special occasions.
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups all‑purpose flour
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C). Grease and flour two 9‑inch round cake pans.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, and sugar until evenly combined.
- In another bowl, cream the softened butter until smooth. Gradually beat in the sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Alternate adding the flour mixture and the milk to the butter‑egg mixture: begin and end with the dry ingredients, mixing gently until just combined.
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Bake for 30–35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with moist crumbs.
- Let the cakes cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, then turn them out onto wire racks to cool completely before frosting.
Notes
- For deeper chocolate flavour, replace a portion of the milk with hot brewed coffee (it won’t make the cake taste like coffee) — this is a known trick to enhance cocoa flavour. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
- Use room‑temperature eggs and mix gently to avoid over‑mixing, which can cause a dense or uneven crumb. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
- Measure flour carefully (preferably by weight) rather than scooping from the bag, to avoid a dry cake. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
- You can substitute buttermilk for milk for added tenderness and a slight tang in flavour.
- If making ahead, the cooled cake layers can be wrapped and stored for a day before frosting.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30–35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (12 slices total)
- Calories: ≈ 340
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
