Description
A rich and moist homemade chocolate cake that’s perfect for birthdays and special occasions. Made with a combination of cocoa powder, boiling water, and coffee for an enhanced chocolate flavor, this easy-to-make dessert yields tender layers that pair wonderfully with your favorite frosting.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 cup hot brewed coffee (or additional boiling water for a milder flavor)
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pans. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans or line them with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix dry ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until thoroughly combined.
- Add wet ingredients and blend. Add the eggs, whole milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry mixture. Beat on medium speed until the batter is smooth and well combined.
- Incorporate boiling water and coffee. Carefully stir in the boiling water and hot brewed coffee; the batter will be thin, but this step ensures a moist, rich texture and enhanced chocolate flavor.
- Divide batter and bake. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
- Cool the cakes. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then invert them onto wire racks to cool completely before frosting.
- Frost and serve. Once completely cooled, frost the cakes with your favorite chocolate frosting, such as chocolate ganache, cream cheese frosting, or peanut butter frosting for added flavor.
Notes
- For extra richness, substitute whole milk with buttermilk.
- This cake pairs well with chocolate ganache, cream cheese frosting, or peanut butter frosting.
- Using hot brewed coffee enhances the chocolate flavor but can be replaced with equal amounts of boiling water for a milder taste.
