Simple Chocolate Cake (9×13 Pan)

This recipe is just the much-requested 9×13 model of my well-known chocolate cake. This cake has gotten rave opinions for its wealthy, decadent chocolate taste, and boy is it simple to make. Now, you will get all of that attempted and true, scrumptious chocolatey goodness in a easy 9×13 pan, and high it off with a decadent chocolate fudge frosting.

Attempt my unique, three-layer Most Amazing Chocolate Cake or the cupcake version!

This chocolate cake is the type of simple, no-fuss dessert that saves birthdays, random Tuesdays, and late-night cravings alike. This recipe requires a trusty 9×3 pan—no fancy layers or stacking shenanigans. Due to buttermilk and vegetable oil, it stays shockingly moist with a wealthy, deep chocolate taste that makes boxed mixes look downright unhappy. And that do-it-yourself buttercream? Mushy, fluffy, and candy sufficient to make you lick the spatula when nobody’s watching.

Ingredient Notes

• All-Function Flour: Persist with all-purpose for this one for one of the best texture. Cake flour doesn’t maintain up nicely.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: We suggest Hershey’s cocoa powder because it’s broadly out there. You can even use higher-quality choices like Ghirardelli or these from specialty chocolatiers, although they could be costlier.
• Baking Soda & Powder: Verify the expiration date to make sure correct leavening.
• Granulated Sugar: Persist with commonplace granulated sugar for finest outcomes.
• Buttermilk: Provides moisture and a slight tang to stability the sweetness.
• Eggs: Room-temperature eggs make for a fluffier cake. To heat eggs shortly, submerge them in a bowl of heat water for five minutes.
• Vegetable Oil: Offers important moisture for the softest cake texture.
• Vanilla Extract: Use a full tablespoon to deliver out the daring vanilla taste. Go for pure vanilla extract if potential for one of the best outcomes.

Forms of Cocoa Powder

Unsweetened cocoa powder, particularly Hershey’s model, was used on this cake recipe as it’s the most generally out there. You can even use higher-quality cocoa powders reminiscent of Ghirardelli or these from specialty chocolatier outlets, however they are often costly. It’s endorsed to keep away from utilizing cheap retailer manufacturers as they have a tendency to not produce one of the best outcomes.

Dutch-process cocoa powder is a kind of cocoa that has been handled with an alkali to neutralize its acidity. It has a milder taste and darker shade than pure cocoa powder, and can also be simpler to dissolve in liquids. When utilizing dutch-process cocoa powder instead of unsweetened cocoa powder in a recipe, it is very important think about that it might behave otherwise because of its decrease acidity. Nonetheless, on this recipe, dutch-process cocoa can be utilized with out making another modifications.

*For the dark-colored frosting in these images, Hershey’s Particular Darkish Unsweetened Cocoa Powder was used.

Why Vegetable Oil?

Some of the regularly requested questions I get is why the cake makes use of vegetable oil as a substitute of butter. When you actually can use butter instead of vegetable oil in the identical quantity, you’ll find yourself with a drier chocolate cake. It has to do with the way in which that the fats clings to the cocoa powder.

Should you don’t need to use vegetable oil, use one other neutral-flavored oil as an alternative somewhat than butter. Avocado oil, canola oil, or grapeseed oil are all choices.

Frosting Choices

I’ve included a decadent chocolate fudge frosting with this recipe, however you may all the time change issues up and use another choice.

Chocolate Ganache: Solely 2 components—chocolate and heavy cream. It’s typically used as icing or as a filling. Some cooks even use it as a dipping sauce paired with fruit like strawberries. You’ll additionally see it on donuts and cupcakes. It’s wealthy, thick, and candy.

Browned Butter Frosting: Slightly nuttiness with a toasted caramel-like taste is what makes this frosting a stand-out.

Cream Cheese Frosting: This frosting is creamy, thick, and has a slight tang. Merely add cocoa powder for a chocolate model.

Pistachio Buttercream Frosting: This frosting has a easy, buttery consistency with a slight crunch from the blended pistachio nuts. This frosting pairs so nicely with chocolate cake. Suppose Dubai chocolate bar—the mix can’t be beat.