Description
This Classic Chocolate Cake Recipe is a moist, rich, and deeply chocolatey dessert with a creamy vanilla custard center and silky ganache topping. Perfect for birthdays, holidays, or just when you’re craving something sweet and timeless. Easy to make with basic pantry staples and guaranteed to impress.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk (or buttermilk)
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
For the Vanilla Cream Filling:
- 1 cup milk
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
For the Chocolate Ganache:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 8 oz semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 9-inch cake pans with parchment.
- Make the Cake Batter: In one bowl, whisk flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In another, mix eggs, sugar, milk, oil, and vanilla. Combine both, then stir in boiling water. Batter will be thin.
- Bake the Cakes: Divide into pans and bake for 30–35 minutes. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
- Prepare the Cream Filling: Heat milk. In a bowl, mix sugar, cornstarch, and yolk. Slowly combine with milk, return to pan, cook until thick, then stir in vanilla and butter. Cool completely.
- Make the Ganache: Heat cream to a simmer and pour over chocolate. Let sit 2 minutes, then stir until smooth. Cool slightly to thicken.
- Assemble: Place one cake layer on a plate. Spread cream filling over it. Top with second cake layer. Pour ganache over top and let drip down sides.
Notes
Let the cake cool completely before adding filling or ganache. For clean slices, chill the cake for 20 minutes before cutting. You can substitute buttermilk for milk for a richer taste.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/10th of cake)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 55mg