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Homemade Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting - Creations by Kara

Homemade Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting

This one-bowl chocolate cake recipe creates a deeply chocolatey, moist cake that's perfect for celebrations or everyday treats. The simple method ensures tender texture while the espresso powder enhances the chocolate flavor. It comes with a creamy chocolate buttercream frosting that spreads beautifully over cooled cake layers.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon espresso powder
  • 1 cup milk (regular, buttermilk, or dairy-free alternatives)
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1 cup unsalted butter (softened, for frosting)
  • 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar (for frosting)
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder (for frosting)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (for frosting)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (for frosting)
  • 1/4 cup milk or heavy cream (for frosting)

Equipment

  • mixing bowl
  • whisk
  • 9-inch cake pans
  • electric mixer
  • wire rack

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare two 9-inch cake pans by spraying with baking spray, buttering and flouring, or using chocolate pan release
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and espresso powder
  3. Add milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract to dry ingredients and mix until just combined
  4. Slowly pour in boiling water while mixing continuously until batter becomes thin and smooth
  5. Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes until toothpick comes out clean
  6. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely
  7. For frosting: beat butter until creamy, gradually add powdered sugar and cocoa powder
  8. Add salt and vanilla to frosting, then slowly pour in milk while mixing
  9. Beat frosting on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, then frost cooled cake layers

Notes

Use room temperature eggs for better batter incorporation. Don't overmix the batter - mix until just combined. Allow cakes to cool completely before frosting. For gluten-free version, use gluten-free flour blend. For dairy-free, use almond or coconut milk.