Velvety Chocolate Cake Recipe

Magical Chocolate Cake Recipe That Sparks Pure Joy

Decadent layers of rich chocolate melt together in this irresistible enchanted chocolate cake recipe that promises pure dessert magic.

Silky smooth chocolate embraces every bite with incredible depth and intensity.

Each slice tells a story of indulgence and sweet comfort.

Bakers seeking a showstopping dessert will fall in love with this simple yet extraordinary creation.

Dark cocoa and carefully balanced ingredients combine to create a cake that feels like a delicious secret.

The aroma alone will have everyone gathered around, eager for a taste.

Get ready to become the star baker with this unforgettable chocolate masterpiece.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Calories: 300 kcal

Servings: 13

Enchanted Chocolate Cake Ingredient Lineup

For Dry Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Provides sturdy structure and soft texture for the cake's delicate crumb.
  • Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and helps create a tender, golden-brown cake surface.
  • Cocoa Powder: Delivers rich, deep chocolate flavor and gorgeous dark color.
  • Baking Powder: Ensures light, fluffy rise and soft cake texture.
  • Baking Soda: Helps cake achieve perfect height and balanced texture.
  • Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.
For Wet Ingredients:
  • Milk: Adds moisture and helps create smooth cake batter.
  • Vegetable Oil: Keeps cake incredibly moist and tender.
  • Eggs: Bind ingredients together and provide rich, creamy consistency.
  • Vanilla Extract: Introduces warm, aromatic depth to chocolate flavor.
  • Boiling Water: Helps activate cocoa and creates supremely moist cake texture.
  • Instant Coffee: Optional flavor booster that intensifies chocolate taste.
For Ganache:
  • Heavy Cream: Creates silky, luxurious chocolate coating.
  • Dark Chocolate: Provides intense, decadent chocolate flavor and glossy finish.

What You’ll Need for Magical Cake Baking

  • Large mixing bowl: Essential for combining dry and wet ingredients smoothly.
  • Electric mixer or whisk: Perfect for beating ingredients to a smooth consistency.
  • Two 9-inch round cake pans: Needed for baking cake layers evenly.
  • Saucepan: Used for heating cream and creating ganache.
  • Toothpick: Helps check cake doneness by testing center.
  • Wire cooling rack: Allows cakes to cool completely and evenly.
  • Measuring cups and spoons: Critical for accurate ingredient amounts.
  • Spatula: Helps pour and spread batter and ganache.

Bake Your Enchanted Chocolate Cake Easily

  • Oven Preparation

Warm the oven and prepare cake pans for a delightful chocolate adventure.

  • Dry Ingredient Harmony

Blend flour, sugar, cocoa, and other powdery friends in a spacious mixing bowl.

  • Liquid Magic

Pour milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla into the dry mixture, creating a smooth chocolate symphony.

  • Secret Water Whisper

Gently stir in boiling water and optional coffee, transforming the batter into a silky dream.

  • Baking Enchantment

Pour batter into pans and let the oven work its transformative magic until the cake is perfectly done.

  • Cooling Ritual

Allow cake layers to rest and cool, embracing their newfound deliciousness.

  • Ganache Elegance

Warm cream, kiss it with chocolate, and create a luxurious chocolatey cascade for your cake.

  • Final Flourish

Drape the glossy ganache over the cake, letting it flow like a delectable waterfall.

Flavor Additions to Take This Cake Over the Top

  • Add a splash of coffee or espresso to intensify the chocolate's rich flavor and create an extra moist cake texture that melts in your mouth.
  • Create a stunning presentation by slicing each cake layer horizontally to add additional filling like raspberry preserves, chocolate mousse, or salted caramel between the layers.
  • Experiment with different chocolate varieties like milk, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate in the ganache to match your personal taste preferences and create unique flavor profiles.
  • Keep the cake fresh by storing it in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days, or refrigerate for up to a week. Always bring to room temperature before serving to maximize flavor and texture.

Present Enchanted Cake That Looks Dreamy

  • Chocolate Dream Companions: Fresh raspberries scattered around the cake edges create a stunning color contrast and add bright, tangy flavor.
  • Decadent Coffee Pairing: Serve thick slices alongside a steaming espresso or rich cappuccino to enhance the cake's deep chocolate notes.
  • Luxurious Garnish Options: Sprinkle toasted almond slivers or delicate chocolate shavings on top for added texture and gourmet sophistication.
  • Creamy Complement: A dollop of vanilla bean whipped cream beside each slice provides a smooth, cool counterpoint to the rich chocolate intensity.

Tips for Storing Chocolate Cake That Lasts

  • Delightful Refrigeration Strategy: Store your chocolate cake in an airtight container within the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Cover the cake loosely with plastic wrap to maintain moisture and prevent absorbing other food odors.
  • Freezing Magic Technique: Wrap individual cake slices or entire layers in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze for a maximum of 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving to keep the cake's incredible texture.
  • Room Temperature Sweet Spot: Keep unfrosted cake layers at room temperature for 1-2 days. Place them on a cake stand with a protective dome or cover with a clean kitchen towel to prevent drying out.
  • Ganache Care Wisdom: If not serving immediately, store ganache-covered cake in a cool environment. Refrigeration can cause the chocolate coating to become firm, so let it sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before enjoying for the most luxurious, silky texture.
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Velvety Chocolate Cake Recipe

Velvety Chocolate Cake Recipe


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4.6 from 26 reviews

  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 13 1x

Description

Rich layers of our enchanted chocolate cake promise a magical dessert experience from France. Delicate chocolate sponge, silky ganache, and elegant garnishes invite you to savor each exquisite bite.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups (240 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups (400 grams) granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup (75 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tbsps (15 grams) instant coffee (optional)
  • 2 tsps (10 grams) baking powder
  • 1 ½ tsps (7.5 grams) baking soda
  • 1 tsp (6 grams) salt
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk
  • ½ cup (120 ml) vegetable oil
  • 2 tsps (10 ml) vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240 ml) boiling water
  • 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
  • 8 oz (226 grams) dark chocolate, finely chopped

Instructions

  1. Oven Preparation: Position rack centrally and preheat to 350°F. Thoroughly coat cake molds with cooking spray and cocoa powder, ensuring complete coverage.
  2. Dry Ingredients Fusion: Blend all dry components in a large mixing bowl, whisking vigorously to eliminate potential clusters and create a homogeneous mixture.
  3. Liquid Integration: Merge milk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract into dry ingredients. Employ electric mixer at medium speed, transforming mixture into a smooth, luscious batter with consistent texture.
  4. Moisture Enhancement: Delicately incorporate boiling water and instant coffee, gently folding to create an ultra-fluid consistency that guarantees a supremely moist cake result.
  5. Baking Process: Distribute batter evenly between prepared pans, maintaining balanced coverage. Slide into preheated oven and bake for 32-36 minutes until a wooden pick inserted centrally emerges clean.
  6. Cooling and Resting: Allow cakes to settle in molds for 10 minutes, facilitating initial stabilization. Carefully transfer to wire rack, permitting complete temperature reduction.
  7. Ganache Creation: Heat heavy cream in saucepan until subtle bubbles emerge around edges. Remove from heat and introduce finely chopped dark chocolate, stirring until achieving a glossy, seamless chocolate mixture.
  8. Finishing Touch: Once ganache slightly thickens, elegantly cascade over cake layers, allowing decadent drips to create an artful, sophisticated presentation.

Notes

  • Cocoa Powder Coating: Dust cake molds thoroughly to prevent sticking and add subtle chocolate flavor to the cake’s exterior.
  • Batter Blending Technique: Mix at medium speed to incorporate air without overmixing, ensuring a light and tender cake texture.
  • Moisture Magic: Adding boiling water and instant coffee intensifies chocolate flavor and creates an incredibly moist cake crumb.
  • Ganache Perfection: Let chocolate mixture rest briefly before stirring to achieve a smooth, glossy finish without burning or separating.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 13
  • Calories: 300
  • Sugar: 31 g
  • Sodium: 250 mg
  • Fat: 16 g
  • Saturated Fat: 9 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 39 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 4 g
  • Cholesterol: 35 mg
Sophie Martin

Sophie Martin

Co-Founder & Content Creator

Expertise

  • Nutrition and Healthy Eating
  • Creating Balanced Recipes
  • Meal Planning
  • Food Safety
  • Teaching About Nutrition

Education

Stellenbosch University, South Africa

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition
  • Focus: Studying how food affects health, learning about balanced diets, and understanding the nutritional needs of different people.

South African Chefs Academy, Cape Town

  • Program: Professional Culinary Arts Diploma
  • Focus: Practical cooking skills, focusing on healthy meal preparation and understanding various cooking methods.

Sophie Martin is the nutrition brain and feel-good foodie at Good Tasting Meals. With a degree in Human Nutrition from Stellenbosch University and chef training from the South African Chefs Academy, Sophie brings balance to the table, literally. She loves creating meals that are easy to make, great to eat, and good for your body too.

Her recipes are made for everyday living, with a little flair and a lot of heart. Sophie’s not here to count calories, she’s here to show you how fresh, simple food can fit into your life, taste amazing, and still be nourishing.

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