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The Best Chocolate Cake Recipe Ever

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This Best Chocolate Cake Recipe Ever is a one-bowl wonder that delivers a rich, moist, and deeply chocolatey dessert. Easy to make with minimal cleanup, it's perfect for every occasion. With simple ingredients and a decadent chocolate buttercream frosting, it's the go-to cake for novice bakers and pros alike. Get ready to indulge in a deep chocolate flavor, a soft and tender crumb, and a crowd-pleasing cake that's highly adaptable for gluten-free, dairy-free, or egg-free diets.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups sugar

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon espresso powder

1 cup milk (or buttermilk, almond, or coconut milk)

1/2 cup vegetable oil (or canola or melted coconut oil)

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup boiling water

Optional:

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350º F (175º C). Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans or use non-stick spray for easy removal.

  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and espresso powder.

  3. Add Wet Ingredients: Add the milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Mix until everything is well combined.

  4. Add Boiling Water: Slowly mix in the boiling water. The batter will be thin, but that's perfectly fine.

  5. Bake: Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

  6. Cool: Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Then, transfer them to wire racks to cool completely.

  7. Frost: Once the cakes are fully cooled, frost with your favorite chocolate buttercream frosting, if desired.

Notes

  • Gluten-Free Option: Substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.

  • Dairy-Free Option: Use almond or coconut milk in place of regular milk.

  • Egg-Free Option: Replace the eggs with 2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce or a commercial egg replacer.

  • Oil Alternatives: You can use melted butter or coconut oil for a different flavor profile.