Perfect Chocolate Cake (Printable)
A rich, moist chocolate cake with silky frosting — ideal for celebrations and chocolate cravings.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 cups granulated sugar
03 - 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
04 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
05 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
06 - 1 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
07 - 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
08 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil
09 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
10 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
11 - 1 cup boiling water
→ Chocolate Frosting
12 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
13 - 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
14 - 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
15 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
16 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
17 - 1/4 cup whole milk, plus more if needed
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans, lining bottoms with parchment paper.
02 - Sift together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
03 - Add milk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla to dry ingredients. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes until fully incorporated.
04 - Reduce mixer to low speed. Gradually add boiling water while mixing until batter is smooth and thin.
05 - Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
06 - Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes. Turn out onto wire rack and cool completely before frosting.
07 - Beat softened butter in a large bowl until creamy. Add powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and salt. Mix on low speed until combined.
08 - Beat in vanilla and milk. Increase speed and whip for 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Adjust with additional milk if needed for spreadable consistency.
09 - Place first cake layer on serving plate. Spread frosting evenly over top. Position second layer and frost top and sides completely. Decorate as desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The boiling water trick creates the most incredibly moist crumb you will ever taste
- This frosting stays perfectly creamy for days, making it ideal for make ahead celebrations
02 -
- The batter will look worryingly thin after adding the boiling water but this is normal and necessary
- Completely cooling the cake layers before frosting is non negotiable or your frosting will melt
03 -
- Use a kitchen scale to measure your flour for the most consistent results every time
- Let your eggs and butter come to room temperature before starting for better emulsification