The Stay At Home Chef’s recipe for The Most Amazing Chocolate Cake has been tried and loved by tens of thousands of people worldwide, all of whom agree that it is the most amazing chocolate cake ever. In fact, it has gained the nickname “The Matilda Cake” because it looks just like the decadent cake eaten by Bruce Bogtrotter in the movie Matilda.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- One Bowl – The batter is made in just one bowl, so no combining wet and dry ingredients separately.
- Rich Chocolate Flavor – This cake is rich and fudgy, making it a true indulgence for any chocolate cake lover.
- It’s Moist! – One of the key measures of a chocolate cake is whether or not it is moist. This one checks every box!
- Every Option – Not only is this cake the best, we’ve given you every option we can for various pan sizes, frosting options, and subtitutions.
Are you ready for the most heavenly chocolate cake you’ve ever tasted? After years of testing, we have finally perfected the ultimate chocolate cake recipe. This rich, fudgy chocolate cake will melt in your mouth with every bite. Its fluffy, moist crumb is coated in a thick layer of decadent chocolate frosting, making it a true indulgence for chocolate lovers. And the best part? It’s so easy to make, with just one bowl for the batter.
Indulge in the ultimate chocolate experience with The Most Amazing Chocolate Cake. Moist, rich, and made in a single bowl, this chocolate cake has received thousands of rave reviews. Satisfy your chocolate cravings with the chocolate cake of your dreams.
Substitutions
Buttermilk is a liquid that is left over after churning butter. It is an important ingredient in this recipe due to the way it interacts with other ingredients. Buttermilk can be easily substituted with a mixture of milk and vinegar or lemon juice, or with almond or soy milk and white vinegar. You can also find more in-depth information on how to make a buttermilk substitute in this post.
Yes, you can make this recipe dairy-free. Simply add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar to almond or soy milk, let it stand for 5 minutes, and use the mixture in place of the buttermilk. You can also use a dairy-free frosting option for the frosting.
Yes, you can easily adapt this recipe to be gluten-free by using a “Cup for Cup” gluten-free flour blend in the same amounts as the regular flour called for in the recipe.
There are several options that work well as egg substitutes in this recipe:
1/4 cup of plain yogurt per egg
1 tablespoon vinegar+ 1 teaspoon baking powder whisked together per egg
1/4 cup mashed banana per egg
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce per egg
Adapting the Recipe for Different Sizes and Shapes of Cakes
This chocolate cake recipe yields approximately 9 cups of batter total, or 3 cups for each of the 9-inch layers. Here are some popular pan sizes and the approximate amount of batter needed for each individual pan:
- 9×2-inch round pan: 3 cups batter
- 8×2-inch round pan: 2 1/4 cups batter
- 13×18-inch sheet cake pan: 6 cups batter
- 9×13-inch pan: 6 cups batter
- 12 standard cupcakes: 3 cups batter
- 10-12 cup bundt cake pan: 8 cups batter
As a general rule, cake pans should be filled 2/3rds of the way full for cake baking, unless otherwise specified in the recipe.
It’s always a good idea to check for doneness by inserting a toothpick or cake tester into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached, the cake is likely done. You can also gently press the center of the cake with your finger – if it springs back, it is probably ready to be removed from the oven.
Keep in mind that these are just general guidelines and the actual baking time may vary depending on factors such as your oven’s temperature accuracy, the type of pan you are using, and the altitude at which you are baking. It’s always a good idea to keep an eye on your cake as it bakes and to make any necessary adjustments to the baking time as needed.
Types of Cocoa Powder
Cocoa powder is an important ingredient in many baked goods and can affect the flavor and texture of the final product. It is important to use the type of cocoa powder specified in a recipe, as using the wrong type can alter the balance of flavors and sweetness. There are several types of cocoa powder available, each with its own distinct flavor and properties.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, specifically Hershey’s brand, was used in this cake recipe as it is the most widely available to readers. You can also use higher-quality cocoa powders such as Ghiradelli or those from specialty chocolatier shops, but they can be expensive. It is recommended to avoid using inexpensive store brands as they tend to not produce the best results.
- For the dark-colored frosting in these photos, Hershey’s Special Dark Unsweetened Cocoa Powder was used.
- Dutch-process cocoa powder is a type of cocoa that has been treated with an alkali to neutralize its acidity. It has a milder flavor and darker color than natural cocoa powder, and is also easier to dissolve in liquids. When using dutch-process cocoa powder in place of unsweetened cocoa powder in a recipe, it is important to consider that it may behave differently due to its lower acidity. However, in this recipe, dutch-process cocoa can be used without making any other modifications.
Frosting Options
Watch the video below where Rachel will walk you through every step of this recipe. Sometimes it helps to have a visual, and we’ve always got you covered with our cooking show. You can find the complete collection of recipes on YouTube, Facebook Watch, or our Facebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes.
Very moist!
Has anyone adjusted this recipe for high altitude baking? I’m at 4,500 ft. Thanks!
4500 ft does not require adjustments.
What is all purpose flour and could I substitute it with self raising flour ? this is what we normally use for cakes in the uk.
You’ll need plain flour which is the same thing as all-purpose. This recipe is not designed for self rising flour.
I can’t get the recipe to change to metric. Every time I click the link it just reloads the same page but doesn’t change from the cups measurements.
I made this cake today and turned out to be so soft and moist, i did not had a stuff for frosting at that time,
i was really craving for chocolate cake baked it with out frosting and i am glad i found your recipe
It tasted so much yummy even with out frosting 🙂
Just made this tonite! I halved the recipe. I only had 1 egg and needed 2… I used the vinegar/bp substitute. I didn’t have buttermilk, so did the lemon/milk trick (had only skim)+ added 1Tb sour cream. I also did that coffee addition. I wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out due to the substituted ingredients. Once i sample it, WOW. So moist, rich and chocolate-y! YUM! Now my go-to choc recipe! Thx!
Wish i could attatch my pictures here because the cake turned out beautifully! So moist and choclatley ? i followed it perfectly besides the frosting because i didnt have enough cream cheese. Thanks for the recipe!
I have followed the recipe as well and the cake turned out so nice! I have been searching for a good chocolate recipe and it looks like I just found it. Thank you.
Is the water in this recipe necessary if u use liquid buttermilk
Yes. The recipe calls for buttermilk which is a liquid and water in addition to the buttermilk.
I have never made a layer cake in my life but decided to try this one for my husbands birthday. It was very easy and smelled so very good baking. The frosting was also a breeze to make. Like one of the other reviewers, I only used 3 cups of powdered sugar and the full 1/4 cup of milk. I also used the dark cocoa for the frosting. It was perfect. We have not cut it yet but it looks delicious and the layers appear to be light. Can’t wait for tonight.
Can you use cake flour in place of AP flour?
We don’t recommend using cake flour in this recipe as it makes the cake unstable.
Oooops! I used cake flour before reading comments. I looked up substitution for AP flour. We’ll see what happens. Just testing right now. Will try AP to see the difference.