The most amazing, ONE BOWL, 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
Ingredients
CHOCOLATE CAKE:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose or plain flour
- 1 ½ cups white granulated sugar or a natural granulated baking sweetener measuring 1:1 with sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract (20 ml)
- ¾ cup milk (190 ml)
- 2 teaspoons instant coffee mixed with ¾ cup (190 ml) Boiling water
CHOCOLATE GANACHE:
- 1 cup heavy cream or thickened cream
- 8 oz semi sweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips
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.
Kay says
I love this cake! I made it last Christmas twice and I received lots of compliments! I can’t wait to make this again over Christmas! Thankyou 🙂
Nanajee Travels says
“Wow, this sounds like a chocolate lover’s dream! 🍫🎂 One bowl, fudgy, fluffy, and topped with a luscious ganache—this cake is pure decadence. Can’t wait to try it and indulge in that perfect chocolatey goodness! 😍🍰”
J says
Can you make this cake in advance and freeze and frost it later?
Cecilia says
Looks delicious and I will be making this for my nephews birthday this weekend. Just wanted to clarify the coffee part of it? Not really sure what it’s asking for there? Please help! 🙂
Tom Mozgala says
Hi Cecilia,
Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We have fixed up the post.
In the recipe for the Best Fudgy Chocolate Cake, the “coffee part” refers to the 2 teaspoons of instant coffee powder that you need to mix with boiling water. This mixture will help enhance the chocolate flavor of the cake without making it taste like coffee.
Here’s how to prepare that part:
Boil some water.
Measure out 2 teaspoons of instant coffee powder and place it in a cup or small bowl.
Pour ¾ cup (190 ml) of boiling water over the instant coffee powder and stir until it dissolves completely.
You will then pour this coffee mixture into the cake batter along with the other wet ingredients. It should be added after combining the dry and wet ingredients, just before pouring the batter into the cake pan.
If you prefer not to use coffee, you can skip it, but it is recommended to enhance the overall chocolate flavor. Enjoy baking for your nephew’s birthday!
Nanajee Travels says
Wow, this ONE BOWL Fudgy Chocolate Cake really takes indulgence to a whole new level! From the first slice, you can tell it’s something special—rich, decadent, and bursting with deep chocolate flavor. The texture is the perfect blend of fluffy and fudgy, making it irresistible. And let’s not forget the ganache—smooth, glossy, and just the right amount of sweetness to complement the rich cake. It’s like the ultimate chocolate lover’s dream come true. Whether you’re making it for a special occasion or just because you deserve a treat, this cake is sure to impress and satisfy any sweet tooth!
angie says
This recipe had the ingredients in what gram however it is deleted. Can you please put it back. I do this recipe for 3 years, it worked each time, until today because of this
Georgia Knowles says
Hello, if you select Metric on the tab bellow the ingredients list to convert the measurements, you will find the grams for each ingredient. Hope this helps!
Angie says
Works, thank you so much !
Dave Bradley says
This cake is fantastic. I have thought two young students to make this and they can now make it by themselves. Enjoyed by everyone.
Joy E says
Hi Karina,
Thank you so much for this recipe. I have made it 3 times and the results are consistent. What use is a chocolate cake if its not fudgy? Your recipe hits the fudgy spot every time. My kids love it and everyone who has this chocolate cake give rave reviews. It never stays more than a day in my house.
Appreciate your diligent effort to share this recipe with the world.
K says
did you put in 2 teaspoons of the coffee or did you do 190 mls. unsure of what the ingredient list is asking for.
JB says
I would have enjoyed it more if my spring form pan did not come apart as I was lifting the cake from the oven. Think I’ll stick to a regular cake pan from now on. The pieces of cake that didn’t end up on the floor definitely had a fudge consistency.
muhammadayyan says
Hi, this is an amazing fudgy chocolate cake . loved this recipe. I received many compliments on making this cake.