Description
Every baker needs a go-to chocolate cake recipe, and this one is it. It’s incredibly moist, deeply chocolatey, and surprisingly easy to make. The secret ingredient is a cup of boiling water, which "blooms" the cocoa powder, intensifying its flavor and creating a wonderfully tender crumb. Paired with a rich, fudgy chocolate frosting, this cake is a showstopper for birthdays, celebrations, or any time a serious chocolate craving hits. It’s a reliable recipe that delivers consistent results, making it perfect for bakers of all skill levels. You can dress it up with different fillings or keep it classic—either way, it’s a dessert that’s sure to be a hit. The batter for this cake will be very thin and liquidy, which might seem unusual, but trust the process! This high moisture content is what makes the final cake so soft and moist. This recipe is also very forgiving; it’s a one-bowl cake batter (for the cake part), which means less cleanup. The frosting is a classic American buttercream, which is simple to make and deliciously rich. The key to a great frosting is to beat the butter until it’s very light and fluffy before adding the sugar. This incorporates air and makes the frosting smooth and easy to spread.
A Taste of History
While chocolate has been consumed for centuries, the chocolate cake as we know it is a relatively modern invention. The first recipes began to appear in the late 19th century, after Conrad Van Houten invented a method for extracting cocoa butter from cacao, creating a powdered cocoa that was easier to incorporate into batters. The first "German Chocolate Cake" was not German at all; it was named after an American baker named Samuel German, who developed a dark baking chocolate for the Baker's Chocolate Company.
Prep Time
25 minutes
Cook Time
35 minutes
Total Time
1 hour
Ingredients & Nutrition
New Feature: We're excited to introduce our nutrition calculator! Please treat these values as an estimate, as they are auto-calculated. For specific dietary needs, consulting a professional is always recommended.
Equipment
Instructions
0 of 9 steps completed

Reviews & Photos
Login to leave a review and share your experience!

