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Ultra Moist, Fudgy Chocolate Cake with Simple Ganache Frosting

Close-up of a slice of moist chocolate cake layered with dark chocolate frosting.
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This recipe delivers an ultra moist, fudgy chocolate cake with a tender crumb. It uses simple ingredients and hot water to maximize moisture, topped with an easy, glossy ganache frosting. This is a foolproof, from-scratch chocolate cake perfect for any celebration.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 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 brewed coffee (or hot water)
  • For the Ganache: 1 cup heavy cream, 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Add the eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for two minutes.
  4. Carefully pour the hot coffee (or hot water) into the batter and mix on low speed until just combined. The batter will be thin.
  5. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans.
  6. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  7. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  8. To make the ganache, place the chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl. Heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan until it just begins to simmer.
  9. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate chips. Let it sit undisturbed for 5 minutes.
  10. Whisk the mixture gently until smooth and glossy. Let the ganache cool and thicken slightly, about 20 minutes, before spreading over the cooled cake layers.
  11. Assemble the cake by placing one layer on a serving plate, spreading a layer of ganache, topping with the second layer, and covering the top and sides with the remaining ganache.

Notes

  • Using hot coffee deepens the chocolate flavor without making the cake taste like coffee. This is a key step for a rich cocoa cake.
  • Buttermilk reacts with the baking soda to give this cake its tender crumb and moist texture.
  • For a fudgy chocolate cake texture, allow the ganache to set slightly longer before frosting.
  • This recipe makes a perfect chocolate layer cake suitable for celebrations.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cutcooktaste.com/moist-chocolate-cake-recipe/