Rich Chocolate Cake {Recipe}

This chocolate cake recipe takes a few extra steps and a little more time than using a box mix. But the results are definitely worth it. It is a decadent, rich cake that will have everyone begging you for the recipe.

What You Need:
6 oz. chopped unsweetened chocolate

¾ cup whole milk

1 ½ cups brown sugar

½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature

3 eggs at room temperature

1 ½ tsp. vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

3 ½ Tbsp. cocoa powder

1 ½ tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. baking soda

¾ cup buttermilk + ¼ cup water at room temperature

This recipe makes one 9x13 sheet cake, two 8- or 9-inch round layers, or approximately 24 cupcakes.

Preheat oven to 325F.

Grease cake pan with shortening, line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper, or prepare cupcake pan with paper liners.

In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the chopped chocolate with the milk and ¾ cup of the brown sugar. Stir constantly to prevent the chocolate from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

When all of the chocolate is melted, remove pan from heat and let cool to lukewarm.

In a medium bowl, sift together flour, salt, cocoa powder, baking powder and baking soda. Sift it again, two more times. (This helps to better incorporate the cocoa powder so you don't get any white streaks in the cake. You can see in the photo above how it is not well mixed after one sifting.)

In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and remaining ¾ cup brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.

In a small bowl, beat eggs and vanilla with a fork or wire whisk. Slowly add to the butter mixture. Beat another 1-2 minutes until well-combined.

Add half of the flour mixture to the mixing bowl. Mix at low speed until just combined.

Add the melted chocolate mixture. Mix.
Add the rest of the flour mixture. Mix.

Finally, combine the buttermilk and the water in a measuring cup. Add the buttermilk mixture and mix until just combined. (If you want, you can substitute cooled black coffee for the water.)

Pour batter into prepared pan(s). Bake on center rack of 325F oven for 25-30 minutes (15-20 minutes for the cupcakes) or until toothpick inserted near the center comes out with few crumbs on it.

Immediately place pan on cooling rack. If you do not plan to serve the cake straight from the cake pan, after 10 minutes, invert the cake onto a cooling rack to cool. (If the cake has a large dome, level before inverting or do not cool on its top.)

Top with frosting. I recommend my chocolate ganache icing or cream cheese icing.

Click the Links Below to See:
My Recipe Index
More Chocolate Recipes
More Cake Recipes and Decorating Ideas


Get the latest ideas from Beki Cook's Cake Blog.  
Click Here to Sign Up on the Email List.