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Laughing Spatula / Recipe Index / Cake Recipes / The Best Chocolate Cake!

The Best Chocolate Cake!

By Kathi & Rachel

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One bowl – Ten Minutes is all it takes to make The Best Chocolate Cake!  Once you make this you will never go back to a box mix!    It’s just simple ingredients the way cake should be but when combined…wow!  Just wow!  The frosting takes two minutes and is made IN THE MICROWAVE!  Not kidding!

Best Chocolate Cake

The frosting is ganache  and that is just a fancy word for melted chocolate and cream.  Dont’ be scared…run to the ganache.  If you make this once you will make it hundred times and put it on everything!

This recipe calls for coffee.  You can not taste the coffee, it simply enhances the flavor of the chocolate.  Save a cup of  your morning brew or even a cup of instant will do just fine.

NOTE: If you can’t tolerate coffee or you can’t get your hands on any, simply swap out an equal amount of water.  It would be better than not having any cake at all today :).

 So lets get this party started!  Because when you have cake…it’s always a party!

Whip up the easy cake batter and bake it up!  No fancy instructions here.  Follow the along in the recipe card.  Pour it into the cake pan and done!

You can see my cake is perfect in its imperfection.

This is real life cooking here!

my imperfect perfect chocolate cake

Now we are going to make the ganache and fill that big old cake crevice with chocolate!  Cake repair coming up!

We make our ganache in the microwave in TWO MINUTES!  No kidding!

What kind of chocolate should I use in my ganache?

  • You can use regular old semi-sweet chocolate chips or go darker with a 60-65% cacao dark chocolate chip or chunk which is what I used for this recipe.  We have had great results with both.
  • PRO TIP:  Ganache is an equal blend of cream to chocolate.  If you ever need more or less this  is a good rule of thumb. 1 to 1 ratio.  A bit of butter at the end adds a nice sheen to it.
add cream to warm chocolate chips to make ganache
Warm the chocolate chips in the microwave for one minute. Pour the cream over and allow to stand for about two minutes to soften.
mixing chocolate chocolate and cream
After the chocolate and cream have sat for a few minutes whip with a wire whisk. It takes a minute or two to come together but then magic! It will thicken in the refrigerator before pouring on the cake

Let the ganache cool in the refrigerator for about 20-30 minutes stirring occasionally while it thickens.  Then spread onto the cooled cake.

Once your cake is cool…pour on the ganache!  How easy is that!

pour ganache over easy chocolate cake

Put the entire cake into the fridge for about 30 minutes, slice and serve!

How should I store this Best Chocolate Cake?

  • Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days…but it will never last that long!

We love good easy cake around here.  A few of the most popular recipes are:

Fresh Key Lime Cake 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Old Fashioned Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting

To cake and the joy it brings!

Clink!

Kathi

 

 Â What do you think about this recipe?Have questions?Comment below!Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, and connect with us on Instagram and  tag your @Laughingspatula recipes with #laughingspatula,while you’re at it…We love to see your pics! 

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Best Chocolate Cake

The Best Chocolate Cake!

Delicious and easy to make one bowl choclate cake with two minute frosting that is made in the microwave!
4.50 from 14 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
cooling time: 1 hour hour
Total Time: 1 hour hour 45 minutes minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Author: Kathi & Rachel

Ingredients

Ingredients for 9 x 13 cake

  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups white granulated sugar
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla
  • 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 cup brewed coffee cooled
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Recipe for Ganache Frosting

  • 2 cups semi sweet Chocolate chips
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 tablespoon butter

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Spray a 9 x 13 pan with non stick cooking spray
  • In large mixing bowl combine egg, sugar, sour cream, vegetable oil and vanilla until well blended.
  • Add cocoa powder and coffee. Mix until no lumps are evident.
  • Add flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
  • Mix until just combined.
  • Pour into prepared pan.
  • Bake for about 30-35 minutes. Insert toothpick into center if clean when removed cake is done.
  • Let cake cool completely before frosting.
  • For Ganache Frosting
  • Pour chocolate chips in large microwave save bowl and microwave for one minute until just soft.
  • In another microwave safe bowl heat cream until it just begins to boil. About 2 minutes. Pour over chocolate chips and let sit for 2-3 minutes.
  • Using a wire whisk, mix well. It takes a bit of stirring to get it to come together. Once combined add vanilla and butter and whisk until combined.
  • Cool in refridgerator for 20-30 minutes stirring occasionally until thickned. Pour and spread onto cake. Refridgerate cake until ganache is set. Slice and serve.
  • Store in refridgerator for up to 4 or 5 days.

 

 

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Filed Under: Cake Recipes, Desserts, Holidays, One Pot

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Comments

  1. Susie Owen says

    April 30, 2020 at 10:22 am

    CONGRATULATIONS ON Little Spatula!

    Reply
    • Kathi & Rachel says

      April 30, 2020 at 2:16 pm

      Thank you how sweet!

      Reply
  2. Jessica says

    April 27, 2020 at 9:45 pm

    5 stars
    My daughter and I made this cake today for my dad’s 80th birthday. It was so easy and turned out absolutely delicious! Everyone raved about it. Thank you so much! We will definitely save this as our go-to chocolate cake recipe. 🙂

    Reply
    • Kathi & Rachel says

      April 28, 2020 at 6:54 am

      Hi Jessica – Thank you so much, we are thrilled you loved it so much and Happiest of Birthdays to your 80 year old Pops! Cheers!

      Reply
  3. Holli East says

    January 23, 2018 at 7:11 pm

    Hi my mom has a similar recipe that uses buttermilk instead of sour cream. Just wondering if you had tried it with buttermilk.

    Reply
    • Kathi @ LaughingSpatula.com says

      January 24, 2018 at 4:08 pm

      Hi Holli – probably wouldn’t work in this recipe. Would make the batter runny. Sounds yummy though!

      Reply
  4. Ayesha says

    November 15, 2017 at 11:19 pm

    Hi! I wanted to know if the cake is going to taste a little on bitter side with the addition of coffee? I’m making this for kids, I want to make sure that they don’t taste any coffee flavor in it.

    Reply
    • Kathi @ LaughingSpatula.com says

      November 15, 2017 at 11:35 pm

      Hi Ayesha! – no coffee taste at all! All it does is intensify the chocolate flavor. Taste a lot like the dense kinda chocolate cake we had as kids! (or I had has a kid…depends how old you are LOL!).

      Reply
  5. Stella says

    November 3, 2017 at 5:40 am

    5 stars
    How long will it last/keep? Should I keep it in the fridge if I make it two days in advance of the celebration?

    Reply
    • Kathi @ LaughingSpatula.com says

      November 3, 2017 at 3:05 pm

      Hi Stella – this has a pretty good shelf life. Probably 4-5 days. I store mine in the fridge because I like it cold and it cuts better.

      Reply
  6. John Buren says

    October 15, 2017 at 12:14 am

    5 stars
    Just made this delicious chocolate cake and had it for supper. WOW! Just like my Grandmother’s German Chocolate Cake . Wasn’t dry at all and soooooo chocolaty. Will be our “go to” chocolate cake from now on.

    Reply
  7. Kathryn says

    April 21, 2017 at 12:28 am

    Would you be able to please tell me approximately how high this rises? I need to make a layer cake this size, and wondering if one cake can be cut horizontally in half or if I’ll need two. I see you spoke about doubling the recipe further up; so maybe that would work however my pan is only 5cm high (2 inches) – wonder if that would be high enough? Thanks for your help.

    Reply
    • Kathi @ LaughingSpatula.com says

      April 21, 2017 at 2:30 pm

      Hi Kathryn – 2 inches is the standard height of most cake pans and will work fine. Inside the recipe card there is a recipe for an 8 x 8 or a 9 x 13. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  8. Myra says

    August 3, 2016 at 6:54 am

    Is the sugar mentioned in the ingredients powdered sugar?

    Reply
    • Kathi Kirk says

      August 3, 2016 at 1:33 pm

      White granulated sugar. Sorry, I need to be more clear on that! I updated the recipe.

      Reply
      • Myra says

        August 4, 2016 at 5:21 am

        Thank you! I’m making this today for my husband’s birthday 😀 Will let you know how it turns out!

        Reply
        • Kathi Kirk says

          August 4, 2016 at 5:25 pm

          I hope you love it as much as we do!

          Reply
          • Myra says

            August 5, 2016 at 4:37 pm

            Everyone loved it! So moist and chocolatey! Definitely going to make it again 🙂

          • Kathi Kirk says

            August 6, 2016 at 2:19 pm

            Yay! I am so glad, it’s my favorite cake!

  9. pat Charrey says

    June 3, 2016 at 1:24 am

    Hi, hi I’m looking forward to making this for when my sister’s visit at the weekend.

    Reply
    • Kathi Kirk says

      June 3, 2016 at 2:35 pm

      Hi Pat! I don’t think you will be disappointed. Just be sure to use pretty good cocoa and chocolate. Hersheys will do but stay away from off brands. Have fun and hope she loves your cake!

      Reply
  10. Nancy Gilsdorf says

    November 15, 2015 at 3:30 pm

    5 stars
    I love this cake! My house smells amazing when it is baking. The hardest part of this cake is waiting for it to cool to frost it. My husband wants to take a piece right away.

    Reply
    • Kathi Kirk says

      November 15, 2015 at 3:55 pm

      Hi Nancy! This cake is amazing! I want to make it for everyone I love! Did you end up doubling the recipe?

      Reply
      • Nancy Gilsdorf says

        November 15, 2015 at 4:59 pm

        I have not doubled it yet. I was thinking of baking it 40 min when I do. I’m making the frosting now for the 8×8. The hubby was able to hold off a piece while it cooled!

        Reply
        • Kathi Kirk says

          November 15, 2015 at 7:20 pm

          I think this cake would be hard to over bake, it is so moist. I am making it for a big party so will need a couple 9 x 13 pans. Holy chocolate! Lets share if one of us doubles the recipe…I got a feeling it will work just fine!

          Reply
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