This recipe yields a moist, rich, and deeply chocolatey cake perfect for any occasion. It’s a timeless classic that’s sure to please everyone.
Ingredients:
- For the Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (good quality)
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup hot brewed coffee
- For the Frosting (Chocolate Buttercream):
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup milk or heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Prepare the Pans:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. You can also line the bottoms with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Combine Dry Ingredients:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Combine Wet Ingredients:
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract.
- Combine Wet and Dry:
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix on low speed with an electric mixer until just combined.
- Carefully pour in the hot coffee and mix until the batter is smooth. The batter will be thin.
- Bake the Cakes:
- Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then invert them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare the Frosting:
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and salt, mixing on low speed until combined.
- Add the milk or heavy cream and vanilla extract, and beat on medium-high speed until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Frost the Cake:
- Once the cakes are completely cooled, place one layer on a serving plate.
- Spread a layer of frosting over the top.
- Place the second cake layer on top and frost the entire cake.
- Decorate as desired.
- Serve:
- Slice and serve your delicious classic chocolate cake!
Tips and Variations:
- For an extra moist cake, you can brush the cooled cake layers with a simple syrup before frosting.
- You can use different types of frosting, such as cream cheese frosting or ganache.
- Add chocolate chips to the batter for even more chocolate flavor.
- Add a teaspoon of instant espresso powder to the dry ingredients to deepen the chocolate flavor.
- For a deeper dark chocolate flavor, use dark cocoa powder.
- For a mocha flavor, add instant espresso powder to the frosting.