Best Chocolate Cake Recipe
This is truly the best chocolate cake recipe you'll ever make. Never dry, super easy to make, and so delicious!
Servings: 12
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups hot water
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon espresso powder, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (see note). For round pans, spray pans with nonstick cooking spray, then line bottoms with parchment paper. Spray 9 x 13-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl.3 cups all-purpose flour, 2 cups sugar, ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt
- Combine water, oil, vinegar, vanilla, and espresso powder (if using) in a large measuring cup.2 cups hot water, ¾ cup vegetable oil, 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar, 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon espresso powder, optional
- Add to the dry ingredients and whisk just until combined -- a few lumps are okay.
- Divide batter between prepared round pans, or pour batter into 9 x 13-inch pan.
- Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 28 minutes for round pans, or 32 to 35 minutes for 9 x 13 pan.
- Cool on wire rack. When completely cooled, frost.
- For layer cake: Cool cakes on a wire rack for 15 minutes, then invert onto the rack, removing pans. Leave cakes upside down (this flattens domed cakes) to cool completely.
Video
Notes
- Baking tip: It’s really important to get the cake into a preheated oven as quickly as possible once the dry ingredients are mixed with the wet ingredients. You’ll see the batter begin to bubble immediately as the vinegar and baking soda react. This is what leavens the cake.
- Frosting suggestions: Frost the cake with chocolate buttercream frosting, cream cheese frosting, peanut butter frosting, or top it with a generous spoonful of whipped cream or ice cream.
Nutrition
Serving: 1square | Calories: 381kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Sodium: 389mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 33g
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