Chocolate cake is a delicious dessert made primarily from chocolate, which gives it its rich and indulgent flavor. It’s a popular choice for birthdays, celebrations, and just about any occasion where people want to enjoy a sweet treat. Here’s a basic recipe for a chocolate cake:
Ingredients:
- 1 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 and 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
For the Chocolate Frosting:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add the eggs, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Mix well until the batter is smooth.
- Stir in the boiling water slowly. The batter will be thin, but this is normal.
- Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans.
- Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
- Remove the cakes from the oven and allow them to cool in the pans for about 10 minutes. Then, remove them from the pans and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
- While the cakes are cooling, prepare the chocolate frosting. In a saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Stir in the cocoa powder until well combined.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Mix until the frosting is smooth and creamy.
- Once the cakes are completely cool, spread a layer of frosting on top of one cake layer. Place the second cake layer on top and frost the top and sides of the entire cake.
- You can decorate the cake with additional chocolate chips, chocolate shavings, or other toppings of your choice if desired.
- Slice and enjoy your homemade chocolate cake!
This is a classic chocolate cake recipe, but there are countless variations and ways to customize it to your liking. You can also add fillings like chocolate ganache, fruit preserves, or flavored whipped cream between the cake layers for extra flavor and texture.
