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    Home » Recipes » Desserts » Best Easy Chocolate Fudge Cake

    Best Easy Chocolate Fudge Cake

    Published: Jul 10, 2021 · Modified: Sep 27, 2021 by Sherri · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

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    2 layer chocolate fudge cake with a big triangle slice cut out

    Make this rich, moist, and easy Chocolate Fudge Cake layered with homemade chocolate buttercream in under 1 hour!

    I don’t abide by the rule of only baking a cake on special occasions, although this is the only requested birthday cake in my house. When the mood strikes for a quick and easy chocolate cake for dessert on any given night, this chocolate fudge cake or my oreo cookie poke cake are my staples. My entire family loves a good chocolate cake, so I get no arguments, especially with a scoop of ice cream on the side!

    a white cake stand with a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting with a large piece cut out

    The Best Chocolate Cake Recipe

    This amazing chocolate fudge cake is truly one of my favorites. It’s moist, it’s melt in your mouth, and when frosted with chocolate buttercream or any other chocolate frosting, it transforms into the ultimate chocolaty bite. The best part is, aside from the absolute deliciousness of it all, is that it is so darn easy to make.

    There’s something about a strictly chocolate cake that feels so decadent, a little rebellious, and dare I say a little sexy! As much as I could have a slice of it any night of the week, it really is perfect for special occasions. It’s made with your classic cake ingredients, but for a chocolate cake from scratch, you want to use good quality chocolate. It really makes the difference between a homemade cake and just your ordinary store-bought cake. There is sour cream in this recipe which helps to create a rich, moist texture that rivals any professionally made cake!

    a chocolate frosted cake on a white cake stand with a triangle piece cut out but still on the stand

    Why We Love This Recipe

    • A quick and easy recipe for something that looks like it took you all day.
    • Chocolate upon chocolate is a chocolate lover’s dream.
    • Simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.
    • Decadent without being fussy.
    • Can be decorated with frosting, sprinkles, fresh fruit, or enjoyed plain.
    • A great beginner’s recipe for those new to baking cakes from scratch.
    Ingredients for chocolate fudge cake in bowls on a white marble counter

    Ingredients/shopping list

    • Unsweetened chocolate – Pick out good quality chocolate bars. I like to use Ghiradelli. If you would rather use unsweetened cocoa powder, you can.
    • Dry ingredients – All-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, brown sugar.
    • Wet ingredients – Butter, eggs, vanilla, boiling water.
    • Sour cream – The fat from the sour cream helps to create a moist, rich, and tender cake texture.

    How to Make this Recipe

    Who says a cake is only for special occasions? Make this cake any night of the week in just a few simple steps!

    Step 1: Combine flour, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl and set aside.

    several bowls with flour, melted chocolate, butter being blended and eggs being added to mixer bowl

    Step 2: Beat the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer until soft and fluffy. (You can also use a separate bowl with an electric mixer.)

    Add brown sugar, and eggs to the butter and beat on high for 5 minutes. Then, beat in the vanilla extract and melted chocolate.

    round silver cake pans with flour and parchment paper in then

    Step 3: Add in the dry ingredients alternating with a spoonful at a time of the sour cream, beating on low. Then, add boiling hot water and stir to completely combine until smooth and thin.

    chocolate cake batter being poured into a round silver baking pan

    Step 4: Pour into prepared pans and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling.

    chocolate cake batter in two round baking pans uncooked and cooked

    Once the cake is cooled completely, frost with this easy homemade chocolate buttercream frosting.

    chocolate frosting being spread onto a chocolate layer cake

    Variations/Substitutions

    Version 1: For a gluten-free version swap all-purpose for Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour.

    Version 2: Some people like to add hot espresso instead of water to get a mocha flavor to their cake.

    3. Add a cup of quality semi-sweet chocolate chips to the batter making it a double chocolate fudge cake in seconds!

    a slice of chocolate cake with chocolate frosting on a white plate with the whole cake on a cake stand in the background

    Tips

    • To line pans with parchment paper, place the pan on parchment paper and with a pencil, draw a line around the pan, and then cut out with scissors.
    • Pour the one cup of boiling water into the same measuring cup/bowl that you melted the chocolate in and stir to get all the remaining chocolate out.
    • Bake in a bundt pan if preferred.
    • Weigh your flour for precision to ensure the cake doesn’t turn out too dense

    FAQ’s

    How to Store?

    Freshly baked cake can last the first day at room temperature, covered on the counter. After that, it’s best to keep it in the fridge for up to a week.

    Why do you use sour cream in baking?

    The fat in the sour cream is what helps to create moisture and richness. A little tang to counterbalance the sweet is also part of its magic.

    Other Recipes

    Buckeye Bars

    Saltine Cracker Toffee

    Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

    Famous Chocolate Wafer Cake

    If you like this recipe, please leave us a comment and rate the recipe below. You can also find us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram!

    chocolate cake on a white can stand with a large section but out

    Chocolate Fudge Cake

    Make this rich, moist, and easy Chocolate Fudge Cake layered with homemade chocolate buttercream in under 1 hour!
    5 from 2 votes
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    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 391kcal
    Author: Sherri Hagymas

    Ingredients

    • 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate
    • 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour
    • 2 teaspoons baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup butter 1 stick
    • 2 ¼ cup packed brown sugar
    • 3 large eggs room temperature
    • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
    • 1 cup sour cream
    • 1 cup boiling water

    Instructions

    • Melt chocolate in a microwave safe measuring cup or other glass dish at 20-30 intervals. Stop intervals once chocolate is almost melted and stir until smooth. Set aside to cool for at least 5-10 minutes.
    • Preheat oven to 350 degree F and grease and flour two 8 or 9 inch round cake pans and line with parchment paper.
    • Mix the flour, baking soda and salt together and set aside.
    • Beat butter until soft.
    • Add brown sugar and eggs and beat with an electric mixer at a high speed for 5 minutes.
    • Beat in the vanilla extract and melted chocolate.
    • Alternate adding in dry ingredients with spoonful of the cup of sour cream, beating continually on low speed or stirring with a spoon.
    • Then stir in boiling water and stir to blended in completely and smooth. (Batter will be thin)
    • Pour evenly into the two greased pans.
    • Bake for 40 minutes (8 inch pans) or 35 minutes (9 inch pans) or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
    • Cool in pans for 10 minutes then remove and and turn onto wire racks to cool completely.

    Notes

    Frost with this homemade chocolate buttercream frosting
    Use a quality chocolate bar like Ghiradelli
    Use cake flour or gluten free one-to-one flour like Bob’s Red Mill if desired.
    Best if flour is weighed to insure that it is not too dense
    Full fat sour cream is best.
    Helpful tips:
    To line pans with parchment paper, place the pan on parchment paper and with a pencil, draw a line around the pan and then cut out with scissors.
    Pour the one cup of boiling water into the same measuring cup/bowl that you melted the chocolate in and stir to get all the remaining chocolate out.
    Bake in a bundt pan if preferred

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1slice | Calories: 391kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 392mg | Potassium: 200mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 367IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @ToSimplyInspire or tag #ToSimplyInspire!

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    Filed Under: Desserts, Recipes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Karen L. Hilliard

      August 11, 2021 at 1:16 pm

      5 stars
      Wow that was good, but I’m torn between chocolate buttercream icing and the chocolate buttercream!

      Reply

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    Hi there! I’m Sherri I love creating a variety of easy recipes that anyone can make and enjoy! From healthy to comforting, I hope you find something that inspires you!.

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