Decadent Moist Chocolate Cake
A rich, tender, and moist chocolate cake that combines simple pantry ingredients with a touch of coffee to enhance the chocolate flavor. Perfect for any occasion and easy to make in just three steps.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Total Time: 45-50 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ¾ cups (220 g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (75 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
- ½ cup (120 ml) vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup (240 ml) hot brewed coffee
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour your cake pans or line them with parchment paper. Set the pans aside.
- In a large bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk them together until well mixed.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the sugar and eggs until slightly fluffy (about 2 minutes by hand or 1 minute with a mixer). Add the buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth.
- Gradually pour the wet ingredients into the dry, stirring gently with a spatula or mixer on low speed. Avoid overmixing.
- Slowly pour in the hot brewed coffee and stir gently until smooth.
- Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Tap the pans lightly on the counter to release air bubbles.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, starting to check at 28 minutes by inserting a toothpick into the center. It should come out with a few moist crumbs but no wet batter.
- Remove the pans from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edges and invert the cakes onto the rack to cool completely.
Notes
Use hot brewed coffee to enhance the chocolate flavor without making the cake taste like coffee. Avoid overmixing the batter to keep the cake tender. Room temperature eggs help trap air for a lighter texture. For gluten-free or dairy-free versions, substitute ingredients as suggested. Test doneness early to avoid overbaking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12th of c
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Protein: 4
Keywords: chocolate cake, moist chocolate cake, easy chocolate cake, decadent cake, chocolate dessert, coffee chocolate cake, birthday cake