Hey Lykkers, who doesn't love a rich, moist chocolate cake that's easy to make and sure to impress?
If you're craving a classic chocolate cake, look no further!
The Ultimate Chocolate Cake Ingredients
Let's start by gathering everything we need for this amazing cake. Here's what we'll be using:
• 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
• 2 cups (396g) sugar
• 3/4 cup (63g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons (8g) baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons (9g) baking soda
• 1 teaspoon (2.8g) kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon (2.3g) espresso powder (optional but gives the cake a deeper flavor)
• 1 cup (227g) milk (you can also use almond or coconut milk for dairy-free options)
• 1/2 cup (99g) vegetable oil (or canola oil, or even melted coconut oil)
• 2 large eggs (100g)
• 2 teaspoons (9.4g) vanilla extract
• 1 cup (227g) boiling water
How to Make the Best Chocolate Cake
Now, let's get baking! This recipe is super simple, and we're going to walk through every step to make sure it turns out perfect.
1. Prepare Your Cake Pans: Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans. You can also use baking spray or homemade chocolate pan release if you have it.
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl (or the bowl of your stand mixer), add the flour, sugar, and cocoa powder.
3. Add Wet Ingredients: To the dry mixture, add the milk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix everything together on medium speed until fully incorporated.
4. Add the Boiling Water: The batter will be thin after you add the boiling water, but that's exactly what you want! Slowly pour the boiling water into the batter and mix until it's smooth. Don't worry; the thin batter ensures a moist cake!
5. Bake the Cake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Bake for about 30 to 35 minutes. To check if it's done, insert a toothpick or cake tester into the center. If it comes out clean, the cake is ready.
6. Cool and Frost: Let the cakes cool in the pans for about 10 minutes before removing them to cool completely. Once they've cooled, it's time to frost!
Making the Perfect Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
While your cake is cooling, let's get the frosting ready. A rich chocolate buttercream is the perfect complement to this moist cake. Here's what you need:
• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
Tips for the Perfect Chocolate Cake
• Use Room Temperature Ingredients: For the best results, make sure your eggs and milk are at room temperature before mixing them into the batter. This ensures a smooth and even batter.
• Boiling Water Makes a Difference: Don't skip the boiling water! It might seem odd, but this step helps create a super moist cake.
• Frost When Cool: Make sure the cakes are completely cool before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting off the cake.
Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and Egg-Free Options
If you need to make this cake gluten-free, dairy-free, or egg-free, it's no problem! Here are some simple swaps you can make:
• Gluten-Free: Use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend in place of the regular flour.
• Dairy-Free: Swap out the milk for almond or coconut milk, and use dairy-free margarine or coconut oil in the frosting.
• Egg-Free: Replace the eggs with a flax-seed mixture or an egg re-placer to make this cake suitable for those with egg allergies.
This ultimate chocolate cake is perfect for any occasion, and we bet it will become your new go-to recipe. Whether you're baking for a party, a family dinner, or just because you have a chocolate craving, this cake is sure to hit the spot!
