Easy Chocolate Cake (No Frosting Needed!)
Some desserts are elaborate and over-the-top… and then there are the simple, unexpected ones that surprise you with how truly good they are.
That’s this chocolate cake.
Dan made this chocolate cake for Ally a couple of years ago, and ever since, it’s become one of our go-to family desserts. It’s rich, tender, and unbelievably good without any icing or frosting at all. We usually serve it warm, and it’s perfect on its own, though a few toppings never hurt.
Recently, Ally was heading to a dinner party and asked Dan if he’d make “his” cake for her to bring. Instead of baking it as one tall cake, he split the batter between two 8-inch pans so she could take one and we could keep one at home. Highly recommend this move.
Below is the recipe exactly how we make it, simple, quick, and always a hit.
Dan’s Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 cup buttermilk room temperature
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 1/2 cup hot coffee
Instructions
- 1. Mix the dry ingredients
- Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
- 2. Mix the wet ingredients
- In a larger bowl, whisk together the sugar and oil. Add the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk in the vinegar, then the hot coffee.
- 3. Combine
- Slowly fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. The batter won’t be completely smooth, and that’s perfectly fine.
- 4. Bake
- Divide the batter evenly between two 8-inch round pans.
- Bake at 365°F for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- (Keep an eye on it, every oven bakes differently.)
my baking favorites:
To Serve
This cake is amazing on its own, but if you want to dress it up:
- Drizzle with caramel sauce
- Sprinkle with Heath toffee chunks
- Dust with powdered sugar
- Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream
Warm, cozy, simple, and so good.
in case you want frosting!
I hope this easy chocolate cake becomes one of those recipes you reach for again and again. It’s the kind of cake you can whip up on a cozy fall afternoon, serve warm on a winter night, or bring to any celebration year-round. It’s simple, reliable, and completely delicious just as it is, no frosting required. But if you do want to dress it up a little, I put together a free guide with three frosting recipes every baker should have above. All perfect for this cake!
Whether you’re baking for your family, a gathering, or just because you need a chocolate moment (we all do), I hope this recipe brings a little comfort and joy to your kitchen. Enjoy every bite!
If you make this cake, let me know how you like it!
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