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close up shot of piece of chocolate cake with a bite taken out

Homemade Chocolate Cake Recipe

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This is hands down the best Homemade Chocolate Cake Recipe ever! Moist, rich, chocolate cake is topped with a luscious chocolate buttercream icing and will have you swooning. If you're a chocolate lover, look no further for your new favorite cake!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 32 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 40 minutes
Servings 12 slices
Calories 445
Author Ashlyn Edwards | Belle of the Kitchen

Ingredients

Cake:

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk *see notes
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup hot water

Chocolate Buttercream Icing:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick) softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup milk

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13x9 inch baking pan with cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix well.
  • Add in vanilla, eggs, buttermilk, and vegetable oil mixing until smooth. Pour in hot water and mix well. Batter will be very thin.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 32-36 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
  • While cake is cooling, prepare frosting. Combine softened butter, powedered sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and milk in a large bowl and beat over medium speed with an electric mixer until frosting is nice and creamy. Add more milk or powdered sugar until desired consistency is reached.
  • Spread frosting evenly over top of the completely cooled cake. Slice and enjoy! Cake can be kept at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Notes

*Homemade buttermilk is really simple and quick to make if you don't have any on hand. All you need is plain white vinegar and regular milk, preferably whole or 2%. Simply add 1 Tablespoon of white vinegar to a liquid measuring cup and add enough milk to reach the 1 cup line. Stir, then allow the mixture to sit undisturbed for 5 minutes before adding to the recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 445kcal | Carbohydrates: 84g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 317mg | Potassium: 173mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 64g | Vitamin A: 317IU | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 2mg