Rich Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
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1 ¾ cups (220 g) all-purpose flour
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2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
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¾ cup (75 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
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2 tsp baking powder
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1 ½ tsp baking soda
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1 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients:
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1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
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½ cup (120 ml) vegetable oil
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2 large eggs
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2 tsp vanilla extract
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1 cup (240 ml) hot coffee (enhances chocolate flavor)
Chocolate Ganache Frosting (optional, but decadent):
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8 oz (225 g) semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
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¾ cup (180 ml) heavy cream
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2 tbsp unsalted butter
Instructions
1. Preheat Oven & Prepare Pans
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
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Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans, or line with parchment paper.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients
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In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar.
3. Combine Wet Ingredients
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In another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla.
4. Combine Wet & Dry
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Gradually add wet mixture to dry ingredients, mixing until smooth.
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Stir in hot coffee slowly; batter will be thin — this is correct and keeps the cake moist.
5. Bake
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Divide batter evenly between prepared pans.
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Bake 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
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Let cakes cool 10 minutes in pans, then remove and cool completely on a wire rack.
6. Make Chocolate Ganache (Optional)
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Heat cream until just simmering, pour over chopped chocolate, let sit 2–3 minutes.
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Stir until smooth, then stir in butter for shine.
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Let ganache cool slightly to thicken before spreading over cake.
7. Assemble & Serve
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Spread ganache (or frosting of choice) over the first layer, place second layer on top, and cover the cake.
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Garnish with chocolate shavings, berries, or a dusting of cocoa.
💡 Tips for Extra Richness
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Use espresso instead of coffee for an even deeper chocolate flavor.
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Replace some oil with melted dark chocolate for ultra-fudgy texture.
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For a moist cake, wrap layers in plastic wrap and let them sit overnight before frosting—flavors meld beautifully.
If you want, I can also give a one-bowl, ultra-fudgy chocolate cake recipe that’s ridiculously rich and almost like a chocolate lava cake in texture. Do you want me to do that?
