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Ultra-Moist Chocolate Cake: The Foolproof Recipe

Close-up of a rich, dark slice of moist chocolate cake topped with glossy chocolate ganache.
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This is the ultimate moist chocolate cake recipe. It uses simple ingredients and techniques to give you a rich, tender crumb every time you bake.

Ingredients

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  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup hot strong brewed coffee

Instructions

  1. Prepare your oven and pans. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans or line the bottoms with parchment paper circles.
  2. Combine dry ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until fully combined. This is your first step to a tender crumb.
  3. Mix wet ingredients. Add the eggs, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for two minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  4. Add the hot liquid. Carefully pour the hot coffee into the batter and mix on low speed until just combined. The batter will be very thin; this is correct for an ultra-moist cake.
  5. Divide and bake. Pour the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  6. Cool the layers. Let the cakes cool in the pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Then, carefully invert the cakes onto the wire rack to cool completely before frosting.

Notes

  • Using hot coffee deepens the chocolate flavor without making the cake taste like coffee. This is one of the ultimate chocolate cake secrets.
  • Buttermilk reacts with the baking soda to give you a tender crumb. If you do not have buttermilk, mix 1 cup of regular milk with 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice and let it sit for 5 minutes.
  • For a fudgy dessert texture, consider using a simple chocolate ganache frosting instead of a traditional buttercream.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kitchenslang.com/moist-chocolate-cake-foolproof-rich-bake/