The most amazing, ONE BOWL, BEST Fudgy Chocolate Cake is so rich and decadent, with the perfect balance of fluffy and fudgy!
Finished with an amazing ganache, this Best Fudgy Chocolate Cake is coming at you in true chocolate form!
Chocolate Cake
A good chocolate cake recipe is so hard to come by, just like a good brownie recipe. There are always high hopes and promises of what you’re looking for, but the delivery can be opposite and sometimes less than what you’re craving.
While I’ve tried so many chocolate cakes over the years, and failed following so many different recipes, it was time to take matters into my own hands and come up with the best chocolate cake we’ve ever had. That’s a HUGE call to make, I know. As a result…this one takes the cake.
Chocolate Cake RECIPE
Just the same as these Best Fudgy Cocoa Brownies, I wanted FUDGY, but being a cake, I wanted FLUFFY — and MOST OF ALL I wanted uncomplicated steps. No melted butter combined with an abundance of chocolate; melted on the stove in a pot, then a dry mix combined in one bowl and a wet mix combined in another bowl, and a headache plus 2 pain killers and a bottle of vino later…..a cake is born.
This one is different. One bowl. No beaters or kitchen aids and zero sifters or pans. Just a humble bowl and a wooden spoon. No pain killers or wine needed.
This fudgy chocolate cake took many MANY batches to perfect the right balance of flour, oil, cocoa powder and baking powder.
Finally I did it. Look at THAT! ⬇ SUPER fudgy and MOIST! We almost loved this fudgy chocolate cake as much as (or the same as) those brownies. I said, almost.
GANACHE
The most perfect ganache using ONLY a small saucepan to make it. No separate bowls or metal bowls, or whatever. So uncomplicated, you won’t believe it until you try it. It’s a matter of heating cream > adding in the chocolate chips > waiting for it to melt > stir > done. Even the laziest person could pull this cake off.
Me, being the laziest person.
I know this is an all out decadent recipe, BUT this cake uses only half the amount of oil usually found in chocolate cakes, less flour, no butter, while keeping a maximum rich chocolate flavour. Also, a sugar substitute can be used such as a natural granulated sweetener that measures 1:1 with sugar to reduce calorie count.
HOW TO MAKE A CHOCOLATE CAKE
The easiest, MOST amazing, and BEST chocolate cake, using simple ingredients and little time and effort to pull together. The batter is watery when you first mix it together, but it’s meant to be that way. That’s where the fudge-like texture comes in!
Some Tips:
- I use a dark, unsweetened cocoa powder for maximum chocolate richness. You can use Hershey’s Unsweetened Cocoa powder if you wish. Remember: the darker the cocoa powder, the richer and darker the cake.
- Do not substitute the oil for melted butter.
- You can use full fat milk, reduced fat milk, 2% or skim.
- The coffee in this recipe CAN NOT be tasted, but allows a rich chocolate taste to shine right through.
- Please try not to over bake it as that will dry out this cake. Check it after 30 minutes with a toothpick inserted into the centre. If too much batter sticks to the toothpick, continue baking for another 10 minutes and check again. Our cake baked at exactly 45 minutes, and the toothpick was a little dirty when it came out. THIS is the result you will be looking for if you’re wanting a moist texture.
- Make the chocolate ganache as soon as the cake comes out of the oven. It will be ready and firm enough to spread by the time the cake has cooled down completely.
WATCH US MAKE The Best Chocolate Cake RIGHT HERE
Best Fudgy Chocolate Cake
An ORIGINAL Cafe Delites RECIPE!
Ingredients
CHOCOLATE CAKE:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose or plain flour, (7.4 oz. | 210 g)
- 1 1/2 cups white granulated sugar, (11.1 oz. | 315 g) -- or a natural granulated baking sweetener measuring 1:1 with sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, (1.7 oz. | 50 g)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, (2.5 g)
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil, (80 ml)
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract, (20 ml)
- 3/4 cup milk, (190 ml)
- 3/4 cup boiling water mixed with 2 teaspoons instant coffee powder (190 ml)
CHOCOLATE GANACHE:
- 1 cup heavy cream or thickened cream, (250 ml)
- 8 oz. semi sweet or dark chocolate chips, (250 grams)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease an 8-inch round cake pan (or 9-inch) with non stick cooking oil spraying. Line base with parchment paper. *SEE NOTES*
CHOCOLATE CAKE:
- Combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Whisk thoroughly to combine well.
- Add oil, egg, vanilla and milk to the flour mixture and beat well to combine, about 30 seconds. Pour in the boiling water (with the coffee), and mix until glossy. (Cake batter is thin in consistency.)
- Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan. Bake for about 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of the chocolate cake comes out semi-clean with small amount of cake (not runny batter) on it due to the fudgy texture.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool for 20 minutes. Transfer cake from the pan to a wire rack and cool completely before frosting.
CHOCOLATE GANACHE:
- Pour the cream into a small saucepan and heat over low heat for a few minutes. Watch that it doesn't boil or simmer it. Once the cream is hot, turn stove off and take the saucepan off the heat.
- Add in the chocolate chips; cover saucepan with a lid and let sit for a good 5 minutes to soften and melt the chocolate.
- Uncover, and stir slowly first, with a spatula or wooden spoon, gradually mixing faster until ganache is smooth, creamy and glossy. Refrigerate for one hour or hour and a half until thick enough to spread (similar consistency to Nutella).
- Spread evenly over the cake.
Black Betty says
There’s no reason for this cake to be this good!!! My diabetic husband wanted a dense fudgy chocolate cake. He was in mourning so I went on and made it. OMG, it is soooo good. I baked it in two round pans so I could ice it like a layer cake. Absolute chocolaty goodness,
Ingrid says
This recipe is soo good. Thank you. I made the cake for my granddaughters birthday because she requested chocolate cake and it was a major succes. Now I wonder if I would substitute the cacao powder for more flour and replace de coffee for more milk if it would turn out as a vanilla cake as good and moist as the chocolate one. Any advice on this is welcome before I waste good ingredients.
Deb says
Love this recipe. Made cupcakes, and baked for 25 minutes. I did reduce the sugar though, as I found it a bit sweet.
Now I just need to find vanilla cake and caramel cake recipes that are just as easy. Any recommendations? 😁
Sadia says
This recipe was really easy to follow and if followed step by step turned out exactly how it should and tasted incredible. I put it in the 8inch tin and used thread to cut it in the middle I made a white chocolate cream cheese frosting and added it to the cake in the centre and melted milk chocolate drops and poured some over slightly sprinkled with icing sugar to turn this into a restaurant worthy dessert. I got a good 8 fat slices which were cut quite generously. Thanks for sharing was absolutely delicious.
Tati says
I tried and I loved how it turned out! Delicious!
Candice says
Yes yes yes to this recipe. I have nothing major to contribute except that this will now be my go-to chocolate cake, something I have been on the hunt for for a while. Super simple, everything is probably already in your pantry. The only recommendation I have is to eat it the day after. Mine came out almost dry the first day but boy did it come into its own the next day. It was a world of difference. Or maybe that’s what everyone does anyway and I have no patience! . It’s decadently chocolatey and so satisfying.
I didn’t make the icing, just the cake.
Aika says
I made this cake and it was excellent! I cut down the sugar to just a cup because I found the ganache I made was already too sweet. I added some nuts to the frosting in the middle and it was a hit! People thought I bought the cake. You know the cake from Matilda? This is it. Willy Wonka would love this cake.
Sarah says
Best Fudgy Chocolate Cake! Very aptly named. My only criticism is that the recipe states it serves 16. 16 what?! 16 not very hungry ants! Beautiful cake, very easy to make and turned out perfectly. Thankyou x
Jennie says
Hi just made this cake, I split the mix and it only took about 15 mins to cook, still waiting to taste but smells delicious
Jef says
Tried baking a cake for the first time and it was amazing! Your recipe is super easy, thanks !
Supreena says
I used this recipe to make 2 cakes for an 8 number cake and it turned out amazing! So moist and tasty, and it was a huge success. Thanks for a clear recipe and easy to follow instructions.