THE BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE RECIPE

The Best Chocolate Cake is combines cocoa and coffee to create a chocolate lover’s dream. The rich buttercream frosting makes it perfect!

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups sugar (400 grams)
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (210 grams)
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (64 grams)
• 2 tablespoons King Arthur Flour Black Cocoa, optional (11 grams)
• 2 teaspoons baking soda (12 grams)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder (4 grams)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt (6 grams)
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk (240 mL)
• 1 cup strong black coffee (I used Green Mountain Coffee’s Vermont Country Blend) (240 mL)
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil (120 mL)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (4 grams)
• Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans or one 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Set aside.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or in a large bowl with an electric mixer, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa(s), baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix on low until dry ingredients are thoroughly combined.
3. Add eggs, buttermilk, coffee, oil and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for about two minutes; the batter will be thin.
4. Pour batter evenly into prepared pans.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes for round pans, 35 to 40 minutes for rectangular pan or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
6. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.
7. Frost as desired. I used a simple and delicious Chocolate Buttercream Frosting from Savory Sweet Life. One batch was perfect for this layered chocolate cake.

NOTES:

The Black Cocoa from King Arthur Flour is optional – it simply provides a great depth of flavor and color to the chocolate cake.

This cake also pairs beautifully with a simple chocolate ganache.

The coffee really brings out the depth of the chocolate (you won’t even taste the coffee at all!), but if you really don’t want to use it, feel free to substitute water.

For an egg substitute, simply add one mashed banana or 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce for each egg.

This recipe will make about 24 to 36 cupcakes. Bake at 350 degrees between 20 and 30 minutes.

You can also make a bundt cake with this recipe. The cake should bake for about 35 to 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

Get tips on high altitude baking.

Recipe Adapted From THE BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE @ mybakingaddiction.com