Perfect Moist Chocolate Cake
⭐ Ingredients (One 9×13 cake or two 9-inch rounds)
Dry Ingredients
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2 cups all-purpose flour
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2 cups granulated sugar
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¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
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2 teaspoons baking powder
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1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
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1 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
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2 large eggs
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1 cup buttermilk
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½ cup vegetable oil
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2 teaspoons vanilla extract
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1 cup hot coffee or hot water (enhances chocolate flavor)
🍫 Chocolate Frosting
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½ cup softened butter
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⅓ cup cocoa powder
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3 cups powdered sugar
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¼ cup milk (more if needed)
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
🔪 Instructions
1. Preheat
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
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Grease and flour your pans or line with parchment.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together:
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flour
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sugar
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cocoa
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baking powder
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baking soda
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salt
3. Add Wet Ingredients
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Add eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla.
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Mix until smooth.
4. Add Hot Coffee
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Slowly pour in hot coffee (or water) while mixing on low.
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Batter will be thin—this is correct and makes it super moist.
5. Bake
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Pour into prepared pans.
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Bake 30–35 minutes for rounds or 35–40 minutes for 9×13 pan.
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Cake is done when a toothpick comes out clean.
6. Make the Frosting
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Beat butter until creamy.
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Add cocoa powder and mix.
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Add powdered sugar and milk alternately.
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Beat until fluffy; add vanilla.
7. Frost the Cake
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Let cake cool completely before frosting.
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Spread frosting generously over the top (and sides if layered).
✨ Tips for the Best Chocolate Cake
✔ Use buttermilk
Adds acidity and tenderness.
✔ Add hot coffee
Boosts chocolate flavor without tasting like coffee.
✔ Don’t over-bake
Chocolate cakes dry out quickly—check early.
✔ For extra richness
Replace ½ cup flour with ½ cup melted chocolate.
🔄 Variations
Chocolate Ganache Cake
Top with warm ganache instead of frosting.
Chocolate Fudge Cake
Add ½ cup sour cream to the batter.
Chocolate Orange Cake
Add 2 tablespoons orange zest + use hot orange juice instead of coffee.
Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake
Use a reliable 1:1 GF flour blend.
🧊 Storage
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Room temperature: 2–3 days
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Fridge: 5–6 days (covered)
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Freezer: 3 months (wrapped tightly)