This is the best, the chocolatiest chocolate cake ever. The cake is moist, packed with intense chocolate flavour then frosted with the most incredible dark chocolate fudge frosting. If you ever want to win the hearts of the chocolate lovers in your life, this chocolate cake with chocolate fudge frosting is the way to do it.
Hey you guys! Welcome to November or, as we like to call it at home, the month diets die are thrown out the window forgotten are put on hold.
There’s Thanksgiving (Canadian Thanksgiving was in October so our diets died a month early), Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and all the parties and get-togethers in between.
Phew! That’s a lot. We can’t serve the same thing over and over, can we? Where’s the fun in that?
So starting today it will all be about celebration cakes that you can proudly serve at these delightful gatherings, and goodies that you can make and give out as gifts. This chocolate cake with chocolate fudge frosting is just the delicious beginning. Let’s go!
The holidays
Oh how I love the holidays. Christmas season in the Philippines starts in September (I kid you not) when the weather turns a tad cooler and you start hearing Christmas carols played on the radio.
A lot of people say nothing compares to Christmas there and I tend to agree (and not just because I’m biased!). It’s really the most wonderful time of the year! Streets and homes are lit and decorated, carols are sung everywhere, everybody is just always in a jolly mood.
Christmas here, slightly less intense but I try to make the most of it. Our decorations are up (don’t judge me). And we already play Christmas songs. It brightens up my mood instantly (except when “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” plays then I get teary so we skip that).
Chocolate cake with chocolate fudge frosting
We also love throwing parties, around the holidays especially. Have you ever been to a Filipino party? There is a real danger of dying from overeating there’s so much food!
Since I learned to bake, by default we almost always serve a cake that I baked. And this chocolate cake is one of my favourite things to make and eat. It’s been tried and tested by our guests and they love it too!
Team Chocolate?
It’s incredibly moist and chocolatey; I adapted the recipe from Hershey’s so I already knew going in that it would be fantastic (I mean, it’s Hershey’s!). I did make it even more chocolatey. If you follow my blog, you now that if I’m having chocolate, I want it to be chocolate, like these:
- Black Bottom Cupcakes
- Chocolate Ricotta Muffins
- Mexican Chocolate Pudding
- Chewy Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Anyway, so back to this cake. I then paired it with dark chocolate fudge frosting – oh my word this chocolate cake makes me question my loyalties to Team Lemon! It’s that good.
So if you’re already planning your menu for that next party, add this in. It’s a great way to end the meal and your guests will adore you all the more for it!
Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Fudge Frosting
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Cake:
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup coffee, hot
For the Dark Chocolate Fudge Frosting:
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar, sifted
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted (for the frosting, I used Dutch processed cocoa)
- 1/3 cup coffee, hot
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 15 ounces dark chocolate, chopped, melted and slightly cooled
Instructions
For the Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour 3 8-inch round baking pans and set aside (for good measure I also line the bottom with parchment paper but you don't have to).
- Using the bowl of your stand mixer (or a large bowl if you're using a handheld electric mixer), sift 2 cups sugar, 1 3/4 cups flour, 3/4 cup cocoa powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda and 1 teaspoon salt.
- Add 2 eggs, 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup oil and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Beat on low-medium speed until well incorporated (about 2 minutes). Add 1 cup coffee and stir until combined. The batter will be thin.
- Transfer the batter into your prepared pans and bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out with minimal crumbs.
- Cool in the pans for 10 minutes then on a wire rack to cool completely.
For the Dark Chocolate Fudge Frosting:
- Using a handheld electric mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter on medium speed until light and creamy (about 5 minutes using a stand mixer), scraping the bottom and sides of your bowl as you go.
- Switch to low speed and add 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa powder, 1/3 cup coffee, 1/4 cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1/8 teaspoon salt until combined (about a minute). Switch to medium speed and beat for another 2 minutes.
- Add the melted chocolate and beat until smooth (about a minute).
Assembly:
- Trim the tops of your cakes if they are uneven using a serrated knife or a cake leveller.
- Take one and place on a platter or cake turntable, smooth side down (trimmed side up). Evenly cover the top with frosting. Repeat with the 2nd and 3rd layers. For your 3rd layer, remember to place it smooth side up (trimmed side down) so that you'll have an even top.
- Finish the cake by also covering the sides of your cake with frosting. To help even out the frosting on top and the sides, use a bench scraper and gently scrape away excess frosting.
- Decorate as desired.
(Cake recipe adapted from Hershey’s and frosting recipe adapted from Sweetapolita).
Happy baking!
Did you make chocolate cake with chocolate fudge frosting? Tell me about it in the comments section below. Do you already play Christmas carols too? I’d love to hear all about it.
Check back in on Thursday – I have a fantastic cheesecake recipe, this time for all you lemon lovers!
In the meantime, here are more cake recipes that will blow the socks off your guests:
- London Fog Cake with Earl Grey Buttercream
- Rainbow Cake
- Funfetti Cake
- Lemon Curd Layer Cake with Lemon Buttercream
And let’s get social! Find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, Google+ and Flipboard.
Or subscribe so you don’t miss a recipe. I promise I don’t spam (I hate spam too).
Do you want to improve your food photography, monetize your blog or start your very own food blog? Check out my Blogging Resources.
Jo Ann Casey
Thursday 5th of July 2018
Can this glorious chocolate cake be baked in a Bundt pan? If so temperature and time please. Busy now checking out your other recipes!
Jolina
Sunday 15th of July 2018
Hi Jo Ann! I haven't personally tried but here's a great article I found: https://www.cooksillustrated.com/how_tos/8746-converting-layer-cakes-to-bundt Hope it helps!
Kimberly @ Berly's Kitchen
Tuesday 27th of December 2016
This cake looks pretty amazing! I'm craving chocolate today and would LOVE to have a slice of this. I'd even settle for a spoon of the fudge frosting. Yum!! Pinned for later.
Jolina
Tuesday 27th of December 2016
Fudge frosting on a spoon is a perfectly good alternative lol. Thanks Kimberly! Appreciate the pin too :)
Lucy @ Globe Scoffers recipes
Tuesday 15th of November 2016
This is just the perfect chocolate cake. It looks delicious!
Celebrate Your Story Link Party ~ #52
Monday 14th of November 2016
[…] And because I can’t resist a beautiful cake. Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Fudge Frosting. […]
Celebrate Your Story! #52 - Celebrate & Decorate
Monday 14th of November 2016
[…] They would look wonderful on a mantel for the holidays!Sandra’s first feature this week is Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting from The Unlikely Baker. Okay, that is it, I am done, I have to go bake a cake and pour myself a […]