310 responses

  1. Ashley McEachron
    April 21, 2026

    5 stars
    What about swapping the water for dark black coffee??

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      April 23, 2026

      I’ve had several readers try that with great results!

      Reply

      • Ashley
        April 25, 2026

        5 stars
        Okay great! Thanks!

        Reply

  2. Kristin
    April 2, 2026

    5 stars
    This is a go to recipe for me and everyone always loves it. Does it matter what milk you use? I have 2% or half n half. Is whole milk best?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      April 20, 2026

      I usually use 2% milk because it’s what I have on hand, but any milk should work just fine!

      Reply

  3. Michelle
    March 14, 2026

    5 stars
    Made this exactly but with 1.25 cups of sugar instead. It was perfect and still plenty sweet for my family. I don’t think it tasted “watered down” at all! So fluffy, light and moist

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      March 26, 2026

      Glad to know that it still worked with a little less sugar. Thanks for sharing your adaptation! 🙂

      Reply

  4. April
    February 13, 2026

    This is my go to chocolate cake! I’ve made this multiple times and never had any issues with it. Sometimes I even half the recipe to make a smaller cake and it still works out perfectly. I am currently making it for my dad‘s birthday this weekend, butI am trying something a little different this time instead of doing frosting all over the cake. I’m doing a crumb coat and then putting a chocolate mirror glaze on top!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      March 9, 2026

      I’ve never tried a chocolate mirror glaze – I bet it will be gorgeous!

      Reply

  5. Madelyn
    February 11, 2026

    Best chocolate cake recipe! I’m a home baker and wasn’t satisfied with my previous recipe (found it in my great grandmas recipe binder clipped from an old magazine lol) so I tried this one and WOW! So yummy and have received so many compliments!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      March 9, 2026

      Yay! I’m so glad you found a new favorite – and that it’s winning you compliments. 😋

      Reply

  6. Emily Maca’Bhiocair
    February 6, 2026

    1/2 cup of butter in the frosting. HAS to be a type o

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      February 9, 2026

      No, it’s not a typo. But feel free to add more or less to your liking.

      Reply

  7. Mel
    December 26, 2025

    So my cake pans are packed away and off-site from my house, I got the genius idea to try to bake this cake in 1 cheesecake pan- it definitely exploded and dropped down to the pan I, thankfully, placed below. Even the pieces that I definitely ate from the drip pan were AMAZING. This cake is so moist and fluffy and flavorful, this is gonna be the new standard of chocolate cake in my house. I subbed a cup of espresso for the water and it’s just excellent! Thank you so much! This will be a forever recipe for me.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      January 19, 2026

      I’m so glad that you loved it even though you didn’t have the right cake pans. I’m even more glad that you place a pan underneath so you didn’t have to deal with an oven mess! I hope you’ll make it again when you have your cake pans. It will be even better! 🙂

      Reply

  8. Erin
    December 18, 2025

    5 stars
    This is my favorite chocolate cake recipe ever; it’s always a hit!

    Can the same recipe be used to make cupcakes?

    Reply

    • Erin
      December 19, 2025

      I apologize. I saw the note about cupcakes after I wrote this.

      Reply

      • Kara Cook
        December 22, 2025

        No worries! Glad you saw the notes. Hopefully your cupcakes turned out splendidly!

        Reply

  9. Pam
    November 12, 2025

    Hi Kara
    Can you use a 9×13 pan instead of round pans

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      November 13, 2025

      It makes a very full 9×13″ pan, so if your pan has extra tall sides, it will work. If not, it will overflow in the oven. If you aren’t sure, I suggest baking 1/2-3/4 cup of the batter in a small loaf or glass bowl so you don’t have as much batter in the cake pan.

      Reply

      • Caitlin
        March 2, 2026

        How long would you bake it in a 9×13 pan?

        Reply

      • Kara Cook
        March 9, 2026

        Usually 35-40 minutes. I have one 9×13″ pan that works great, but it almost overflowed in another one. I’d put a cookie sheet on the rack beneath it just in case.

        Reply

  10. Lisa
    August 30, 2025

    Cake is really good and moist; however, I think there is too much liquid. It’s very thin. Whether it’s cake or cupcakes, it completely sinks in the middle. Thinking about cutting the water in half or completely out. Maybe I’ll have better luck that way.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      September 11, 2025

      You can try of course, but when I was experimenting and used less liquid, it didn’t turn out as moist. Let me know how it works out for you. 🙂

      Reply

  11. Ali
    July 12, 2025

    Looking forward to trying this recipe! I have 8 inch round pans. Will those work and just be a little taller or will they overflow? Not sure how much they will rise.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      July 22, 2025

      I haven’t tried it in 8″ pans, but there’s nothing worse than cake batter spilling all over your oven, so to be on the safe side, I’d take out about a cup of batter and bake it in a large ramekin so the pans don’t overflow.

      Reply

  12. Holly
    May 6, 2025

    I’m making a 5 hour trip this weekend for a celebration and I wanted to make this cake but make it ahead of time. I would make it on Thursday night, drive up on Friday, and serve it Saturday. If I freeze the cake the night before my trip, will it be ok wrapped up and put in a cooler for the ride and then put in the fridge until I serve it the next day? I wouldn’t frost it until the serving day. Can the frosting be made ahead of time as well? I don’t really have the option to make the cake or frosting once I’m there, I’ll only just be able to assemble it. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      May 19, 2025

      That should work just fine! You can make the frosting ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator. Just let it come to room temperature before trying to spread it on the cake.

      Reply

  13. Ashley
    April 6, 2025

    Do you need to adjust anything when baking at high altitude? I am at 6,000 feet.

    Reply

    • KHansen
      April 10, 2025

      I always use this resource to adjust my recipes, especially when baking. I’ve baked at up to 12,000ft above sea level using this fact sheet:

      https://extension.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/High-Altitude-PDFv3.pdf

      Reply

    • Kara Cook
      April 14, 2025

      I actually live at a high altitude as well, and I bake it as is. It sometimes sinks a bit in the middle, but I flip it upside down to frost it, so it doesn’t make much of a difference. But you can try using only 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder, and decreasing the sugar by 2 tablespoons.

      Reply

  14. MaryAnn
    February 1, 2025

    Absolutely the best chocolate cake!!! Do you have a recipe for a yellow cake? I will not buy another box cake mix! Thank you for this delicious recipe 😋

    Reply

  15. riley michelle
    January 8, 2025

    hi! probably a silly question, but if i wanted to make a 3 tier cake, can i just multiply this recipe by 1.5? seems like it would make sense in theory, but i know baking can be a delicate science!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      January 17, 2025

      I haven’t tried that, but I think that should work. If you do try it, let me know how it turns out!

      Reply

  16. Kristen
    December 21, 2024

    Hello! If I wanted to add protein powder, how could I do this?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      January 1, 2025

      I have never added protein powder to a baked good, so I have no idea, sorry. 🙁

      Reply

  17. Jessica
    November 3, 2024

    This was a great recipe. I needed something last minute and it did the trick. I was surprised how moist and fluffy the cake was, I used 4 eggs because the eggs I had were from my backyard bantam (small chickens) so they were like half the size of normal eggs. One note is that I didn’t expect the batter to be as “loose” or liquidy as it was…but really the cake was perfect! I did not use the frosting recipe.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      November 4, 2024

      So glad you loved it! It is a really thin batter, so it does throw people off the first time they make it. But it really does make the best cake!

      Reply

  18. Melissa devillier
    October 26, 2024

    Looks good

    Reply

  19. Amckinsey
    September 22, 2024

    If this batter was going into mini cake tins how long would you cook it?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      September 30, 2024

      Mini cake tins are all different sizes, so I don’t know, sorry. I’d turn on the oven light and check them when they start to look done.

      Reply

  20. Andrea Davis
    July 28, 2024

    Okay I’m needing help. I just made this for the first time. Due to the batter being so runny my cake ended up being slanted cos my stove is not level. I rent and I don’t know how to level it. Any ideas on how to level it while in the oven?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      August 19, 2024

      I’ve never dealt with an oven that wasn’t level, but my best guess would be to fold up some aluminum foil and place it under the side of the pan that is low. If that doesn’t work, you can just cut the cake to level it after baking. Then you get to eat the scraps!

      Reply

  21. Shelby
    July 17, 2024

    Hello!! I’m planning to make this recipe as cupcake, do you still recommend putting in the freezer?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      July 22, 2024

      It does make them more moist to freeze them while they are warm, but it is a pain wrapping all of them individually, so you can definitely skip that step. 🙂

      Reply

  22. Courtney
    June 21, 2024

    I loved this recipe! I was also skeptical about the boiling water and the runny texture but turned out awesome! Also I added about a 1/4 tap of cinnamon. I don’t why but you couldn’t taste it.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      July 1, 2024

      Glad that you kept going even though you were skeptical, it really is a great cake! Adding cinnamon to chocolate can add a tasty flavor. If you like it, you could try more!

      Reply

  23. Mindy
    June 6, 2024

    Has anyone baked it BEFORE adding the water? Looks like it would make an amazing brownie batter to me!!

    Reply

  24. Mindy
    June 6, 2024

    Have you ever added mini chocolate chips to the batter?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      July 1, 2024

      I haven’t, but the batter is so thin that I think they might just sink to the bottom. You could definitely try it and let us know how it turns out. 🙂

      Reply

  25. Irene
    May 11, 2024

    I was wondering. I was planning on making the frosting ahead of time. Can I let it sit in a covered container on the counter until I’m ready to frost the cake? Or should I put the frosting in the fridge?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      May 13, 2024

      Yes, you can let the frosting sit at room temperature for several hours or even overnight. But if your kitchen is warm and it starts to melt, you will want to put it in the refrigerator. Let it soften up at room temp before you frost the cake. Hope you love the cake! 🙂

      Reply

  26. Olivia D’Angelo
    April 26, 2024

    Hi I just made this cake (it’s Friday) we won’t be eating it until Sunday. Should I keep it in the freezer until Sunday morning?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      May 8, 2024

      You can keep the wrapped cake in the freezer for a few weeks. I wouldn’t freeze the assembled cake. 🙂

      Reply

  27. linda Rounds logan
    March 16, 2024

    Now i get it to take…lol,,,I make pound cakes…Will I have a good result there too?

    Reply

  28. Sandy
    March 13, 2024

    Does the finished cake need to be refrigerated?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      March 19, 2024

      I never refrigerate mine because it stays softer at room temperature.

      Reply

  29. Wendy
    February 18, 2024

    This is the best scratch chocolate cake I’ve made! I make birthday cakes for my family and this is the favorite. Everyone wants this, even the kids! The one thing I did change is the boiling water. I used a boiling cup of coffee instead. The cake is so moist.
    Thank you for sharing this recipe! Love it!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      February 20, 2024

      So glad it’s been such a hit at your house! I have had other readers use hot coffee instead. Happy to hear it’s a great substitution!

      Reply

  30. Connie
    February 4, 2024

    I was scared when I added the boiling water looked like chocolate syrup,But it baked up great!Love the easy recipe ❤️

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      February 20, 2024

      It does seem like the batter is too thin, but it does bake up beautifully. Glad it was a hit!

      Reply

  31. Irma
    January 28, 2024

    I got the desire for a homemade chocolate cake and found this recipe. It was very easy to make and that included the frosting. The batter gets thin when you add the boiling water but don’t worry. The cake was very moist and yummy. This will be my go to homemade chocolate cake.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      February 20, 2024

      So happy to hear it, and thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and leave a comment! 🙂

      Reply

  32. CallieAnn
    January 24, 2024

    Hello, I want to make this for my son’s birthday. Can I use a 9in round cake pan that is 1.5in deep? Thank you.

    Reply

  33. Kimb
    January 21, 2024

    Wow! This is the best chocolate cake! I have made it several times now and it’s always a winner! Thank you!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      January 22, 2024

      I am so happy to hear that! I hope it will be a loved recipe at your house for years to come! 🙂

      Reply

  34. Kate
    January 13, 2024

    I made this for my mom’s birthday and it turned out AMAZING! I highly recommend using this! Delicious in every way

    Reply

  35. Elizabeth
    December 31, 2023

    So the first time I made it, it was a fail. I don’t know why I thought a 9 in pan is the same as a 6in pan. Needless to say the cake ended up on the bottom of the oven. My sweet husband helped me clean it up and told me to try again. I then halfed the recipe and baked for 23 min at 350. Could have probably gone for 25 min but I was afraid it was going to burn. It’s cooling in the freezer now but the bits that were stuck in the pan tasted so good! Super excited to finish making it!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      January 5, 2024

      Oh dang, cake batter leaking over is so frustrating! So glad you adapted it and gave it another try. Hope you thoroughly enjoy it! (And hooray for awesome husbands!)

      Reply

  36. Cristal Ramos-Encinas
    December 25, 2023

    Made this in pinch and blown away how delicious it was!!!! Will be my go to recipe for chocolate cake!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      January 5, 2024

      Yay- I’m so happy to hear that you love it!

      Reply

  37. Michelle
    December 10, 2023

    I made it and frosted it with chocolate whipped cream frosting. Also baked it in convection oven. The family loved it! Definately will make it again. Thanks for sharing

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      December 18, 2023

      I bet it was delicious with the chocolate whipped cream frosting. I need to try that!

      Reply

  38. Lindsay Gomez
    December 4, 2023

    Hi, would I be freezing this for how many hours before frosting it and serving it? I’ve never seen this and I am confused.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      December 18, 2023

      I usually freeze it overnight, but just a few hours is enough if your freezer is quite cold. And of course you can skip the freezing. The cake will still be delicious, just not quite as moist. 🙂

      Reply

  39. Sydney
    December 1, 2023

    My batter turned out verrry watery and i’m not sure if i should put it in the oven. is this normal??

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      December 18, 2023

      Yes, this is a very thin batter. Hopefully you proceeded with the recipe and had great results!

      Reply

  40. Yuliana
    November 28, 2023

    Could I use milk instead of water?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      December 18, 2023

      I haven’t tried it with boiling milk, but it should be fine.

      Reply

  41. Ashley
    November 8, 2023

    Hello!! I am wanting to make this cake tonight and frost it tomorrow. Should I put it in the fridge or freezer? Thank you!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      November 18, 2023

      Even if I’m making it a day ahead, I still wrap it with the plastic wrap and freeze it like I described in the post. Keeps it more moist than storing it in the fridge.

      Reply

  42. Lindsey
    November 5, 2023

    I loved this cake. My husband is a chocoholic. He said this was the best cake he’s had in a long time. My family loved this. I’m definitely making this again 🤤😋

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      November 7, 2023

      So happy to hear it made your chocoholic husband happy. I sure do love it!

      Reply

  43. Rae
    October 20, 2023

    This is my go to chocolate cake. I’ve been asked so many times to make it for friends birthday. However INSTEAD of using 1 cup boiling water I use 1 Cup hot STRONG coffee instead and bake the cake the night before I need it. The strong hot coffee helps activate the chocolate and gives it a richer stronger chocolate flavor. You don’t taste the coffee at all. Doing it the night before after it cools I tightly wrap it in plastic and keep it in the fridge and frost it the next day. This also helps to enhance the flavor. Also bring the eggs and milk to room temperature before you make it.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      October 23, 2023

      I don’t drink coffee, but I have heard that it can boost chocolate flavor in baked goods. Thanks for sharing the tips! I’m so glad this cake has become a regular at your house! 🙂

      Reply

  44. Monica Candelaria
    August 21, 2023

    This is my go to chocolate cake recipe. I made it for my cousins daughter party and there was barely any left and I also made it for both my daughters birthdays as well. It was a specific request.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      August 28, 2023

      Yay, that makes me so happy! Glad that my cake recipe has become part of your family memories! 🙂

      Reply

  45. Virginia
    August 5, 2023

    Wow! I’ve made this cake 3 times and it is pure perfection every time! So easy to mix because everything goes into the same bowl. The cake turns out so soft and fluffy, moist and quite delicious! The only thing I changed was I made a cream cheese (soft cream cheese, butter, vanilla and powdered sugar) frosting instead and added some fresh, sliced strawberries to some of the frosting for the middle of the cake. Just delicious! Thank you kindly for sharing such a great cake recipe!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      August 11, 2023

      I am so glad it’s become a staple at your house Virginia! And topping it with cream cheese frosting and berries sounds AMAZING, I definitely need to try that!

      Reply

  46. Carey Moroney
    July 18, 2023

    Could this be made as a whole cake in a baking dish size if doubled

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      August 11, 2023

      You would definitely not want to double it. As the recipe is written, it makes for a very full 9×13″ pan, so it may overflow in your oven.

      Reply

  47. Ashlee
    July 12, 2023

    Could I make cupcakes using this recipe?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      July 18, 2023

      Yes, you can, and the directions are in the post. In case you can’t see them -should make about 24 cupcakes, bake for 18-22 minutes.

      Reply

  48. Jess
    July 1, 2023

    Instead of two 9” cake pans could I use one 9” springform pan? And like cut the cake in half?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      July 18, 2023

      I haven’t tried it, but I don’t’ recommend baking it in a springform. I worry that it would overflow and make a mess. Also, it would take a lot longer to bake, so the outside might get dried out while the middle is still raw. You’d need to lover the oven temperature to help offset that.

      Reply

  49. Keelyn
    May 20, 2023

    Wondering what kind of cocoa powder (brand)

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      May 22, 2023

      I just use regular Hershey’s cocoa powder, but I think you could use any brand that you love!

      Reply

  50. Lisa Chaika
    May 6, 2023

    Hi Kara I just made your cake recipe I never made a homemade cake before. I’m used to making cheese cakes. I hope that it turns out the way it’s supposed to. When I made the frosting I put 1 once of bakers chocolate in the recipe. I will have my daughter take a picture of the cake and you share it. Thanks again Lisa Chaika

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      May 8, 2023

      I love a good cheesecake as well Lisa! Hope you love this cake like we do. I bet adding the bakers chocolate makes the frosting even more decadent – yum!

      Reply

    • Megan
      March 9, 2024

      I’m wondering if I can substitute the milk for a dairy-free milk, oat milk maybe? Thank you!

      Reply

      • Kara Cook
        March 19, 2024

        I’ve never tried that, but if you’ve had success doing that with other cake recipes, it’s definitely worth a try.

        Reply

  51. Amy R
    April 2, 2023

    Can I substitute butter for oil?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      April 3, 2023

      You can, but the cake won’t be as moist. I tried it and switched back to oil. 🙂

      Reply

  52. Patricia
    March 31, 2023

    Hi! I’m wondering if I want to use this recipe for 6in pans, how should I adjust the baking time? 🙂

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      April 3, 2023

      I haven’t tried it, but it should work fine with 4 of the 6″ pans. I’d start checking them 5-10 minutes earlier just to make sure they don’t over bake.

      Reply

  53. Meredith
    March 17, 2023

    My daughter and I made this tonight and the cakes fell apart when I went to flip them. It was still very tasty and my daughter is now making cake pops with it but darn…we’ll try again next time because it is very tasty!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      March 20, 2023

      Oh dang, that’s frustrating! But hooray for cake pops – they are so yummy!

      Reply

  54. Suzi Wolfe
    February 25, 2023

    I absolutely love this recipe. It’s my go to when I do cupcakes and have used it for cakes as well. It is so yummy. I have a question. I’m gonna make a sheet cake 12x18x3. And was wondering if 2 batches would be enough or would I need more. If I remember correctly 1 batch makes quite a bit usually get 30 cupcakes out of it.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      February 28, 2023

      Two batches would probably be too much for a sheet cake pan, it might overflow. I would just use one batch. The cake will be thinner, so it will bake faster. Maybe 25-30 minutes, but I’d check it at 20 minutes. Good luck!

      Reply

  55. Carol P
    February 21, 2023

    Love Love Love this recipe! Do you have a vanilla or yellow cake ? Or one you like ? I can’t seem to find one! Thanks

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      February 28, 2023

      Unfortunately, I am still on the hunt. I still haven’t found a from scratch yellow cake that we love. I won’t give up until I find one!

      Reply

  56. Sarah Anderson
    February 21, 2023

    I have an answer to a question that’s been asked alot! Yes you can do this in a 9×13 pan. My dish is 2 1/2″ tall. No over spill! I did it for 35 minutes another 5. Mostly the toothpick came out clean so I did another 2 minutes.

    This cake had quickly become a favorite around here. My husband told me he wouldnt get mad it I made it everyday.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      February 28, 2023

      Thanks so much Sarah! I’m sure so many readers will appreciate your tip! 🙂

      Reply

  57. Audrey
    February 14, 2023

    Not sure what I did wrong…the batter was very runny and the cake never did rise. I guess I will just try again another time.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      February 15, 2023

      It is a very runny batter, but if your cake didn’t rise it might be that your baking powder is expired. Hopefully it will work next time!

      Reply

      • Brenda
        July 1, 2023

        Mine is in the oven cooking now. I am glad you said the batter is runny, I thought I did something wrong! Fingers crossed, 20 more minutes!

        Reply

      • Kara Cook
        July 18, 2023

        Yes, the batter is pretty thin. Hope you loved the cake! 🙂

        Reply

  58. Monica Harper
    February 7, 2023

    Can I use a round bunt pan? What would the temp and time be if so?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      February 15, 2023

      I haven’t tried baking it in a bundt pan, but I think it would work if you have a large 12 cup pan. I think it would need to bake for at least 45 minutes at 350, but I’m not sure on the time.

      Reply

  59. Sandra Cadena
    February 2, 2023

    Love it. I just made it for my nephew’s birthday and everybody like it.

    Very easy and to make.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      February 6, 2023

      I’m always happy to hear that one of my recipes is used for a family celebration. Hope your nephew had a wonderful birthday! 🙂

      Reply

  60. Hartini
    January 29, 2023

    I am searching for the chocolate cake recipes… will try this recipe soon… looks easy to get the ingredients… tq for the sharing

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      January 30, 2023

      I do love that all the ingredients are basic and easy to find. . . and of course I love that it tastes amazing! 🙂

      Reply

  61. Paige
    January 2, 2023

    Okay WOW! Tastes like box cake but no junk! Will make this for my kiddos birthdays from now on!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      January 17, 2023

      Happy to hear it will be a staple at your house. You can’t beat a homemade cake for birthday celebrations! 🙂

      Reply

  62. Joy Kidd
    November 5, 2022

    My granddaughter made this cake last night for her son’s 8th birthday. It was a hit with everyone. It was so moist and chocolatey and totally delicious. I just asked her for the recipe so I can make it too.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      November 14, 2022

      Glad it made a special day even more delicious! Hopefully it will be a family favorite for years to come! 🙂

      Reply

  63. Inisha
    October 14, 2022

    This recipe is amazing! I’ve never been a great baker, but my girls have really been liking the idea of a tiered cake. This recipe and how to have been so helpful! I’ve already made it for many birthdays and this year we tried it gluten-free! Thanks again for sharing!
    Also, I tagged your site in my recent blog post about ways to save on birthdays.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      October 25, 2022

      Great to hear that it worked as a gluten free cake as well! Glad that you were able to make your girls happy. 🙂

      Reply

  64. Nicole
    September 8, 2022

    Made this cake for hubby’s birthday and can hardly wait to eat it! I must be heavy-handed on frosting, though, because I ended up needing to make another half of the recipe to finish covering the cake. Had enough left then to do a pretty edge on the base of it!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      September 16, 2022

      I bet it looked beautiful with the decorative edge!

      Reply

  65. amber brandsrud
    July 25, 2022

    For over a year my family and I have been testing different recipes for cakes. This recipe was our winner!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      September 3, 2022

      Yay – that makes me so happy!!!

      Reply

  66. Heather Smith
    July 14, 2022

    OMG! This is the best chocolate cake recipe I’ve ever used! It is delicious & so easy I’ll never use anything else. My husband’s b/d was Monday & it was gone on Tuesday & it was just the 2 of us. The only thing I did different was use heavy whipping cream instead of milk bc I didn’t have any milk. Thank you so very much for sharing this recipe with us I’m still amazed how easy it was! Thank you thank you thank you!!🥰

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      September 3, 2022

      Yay, so glad you loved it. I bet the heavy cream made it even more decadent!

      Reply

  67. Sherry Citron
    May 25, 2022

    This recipe was so easy and delicious I couldn’t stop licking the batter (no double dipping:). I probably will never buy the boxed stuff again! I love the fact that I can make it a few days ahead of time for my daughter’s birthday party and freeze it-thanks for that tip in addition to the recipe. She asked for my cream cheese frosting so combined with this moist chocolate cake I think it will be a hit at her 10th bday party.
    Thank-you again.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      May 30, 2022

      Haha, glad you loved the batter! I bet it will be amazing with cream cheese frosting, I love that stuff on just about anything. Happy birthday to your daughter!

      Reply

  68. Crystal
    March 9, 2022

    How soon before my event to I need to thaw it and frost it?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      March 22, 2022

      Totally depends on the temperature of your room, but I would do it at least three hours ahead of time.

      Reply

  69. Stephanie Fuchs
    December 17, 2021

    I love the taste of this cake but mine keeps dropping in the middle. Any suggestions on why that happens?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      January 4, 2022

      It can be tricky to figure out why cakes sink. Sometimes I’ll have a recipe I’ve made dozens of times that will just sink, and it’s so frustrating! Make sure your baking powder and soda are fresh, and don’t open the oven door before the cake is done. The cool air can cause cake to fall. If neither of those work, I usually try adding a tablespoon or two of additional flour. And of course if all else fails, I just cut the cake till it’s level and eat the extra pieces. 🙂

      Reply

  70. Jayme Silvestri
    November 20, 2021

    what a great post! i’ll have to check out that heath bar cake recipe, i’ve been looking for a good one. i am all about making a whole bunch of dumplings, freezing them, and then steaming or panfrying them whenever i need just one or a few. they usually don’t last very long though 🙂

    Reply

  71. Alicia
    October 19, 2021

    Hi love this recipe
    can it be half to make cupcakes?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      November 17, 2021

      Yes, if you cut it in half it will make about a dozen cupcakes. They will only need to bake for 18-22 minutes.

      Reply

      • Lynn Ware
        November 5, 2022

        Frozen cupcakes in the hot summer are delicious! I make the whole batter up and wrap then freeze in ziplocks.

        Reply

      • Kara Cook
        November 14, 2022

        I love that idea Lynn!

        Reply

  72. Gwen
    September 10, 2021

    Can I freeze a carrot cake before frosting?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      October 19, 2021

      Yes, you should be able to freeze just about any cake before you add the frosting. Just wrap it really well so it doesn’t get freezer burn.

      Reply

  73. Amy Longpre
    August 22, 2021

    Super simple yummy cake. I was out of vanilla and it still turned out great! Everyone loved it.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      August 24, 2021

      Glad to hear that it was still tasty without the vanilla! 🙂

      Reply

  74. Carla
    June 21, 2021

    My dad asked for a super chocolatey cake with passionfruit. I made this one and paired it with a Swiss meringue buttercream, we absolutely loved it. I subbed the milk for lite canned coconut milk since I can’t have milk, the texture was amazing. My only issue was that is sank in the middle so I had to level it a bit. Wasn’t too bad but it’s been a recurring problem I have with chocolate cakes. Hope someone can help me figure it out.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      July 9, 2021

      Oh my goodness, your variation sounds amazing! If your cakes are falling in the middle, you could try adding a tablespoon of extra flour to the batter. Sometimes that works for me.

      Reply

  75. Jen
    June 18, 2021

    Hi, does the cake need to be refrigerated after frosting it, or can it be left out?
    It’s baking right now 🙂

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      July 9, 2021

      I keep mine at room temperature because it stays softer, but if you have a really warm kitchen, you could refrigerate it. I’d let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before serving it.

      Reply

  76. Shanna
    June 16, 2021

    Do I need to spray the parchment paper and sides of the pan if it is a nonstick pan? I can’t wait to try this recipe for my son’s birthday cake this weekend!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      July 9, 2021

      When I am making layer cakes, I always use parchment paper and non stick cooking spray. I’d rather be safe than sorry. Nothing is worse than having a cake stick to the pan. I’ve learned my lesson the hard way. 😉

      Reply

  77. Stacy
    June 7, 2021

    Can I make this cake the day before an event and keep in the fridge? Or would it be better to leave it out on the counter? I love the freezer idea but have no room in the freezer lol

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      July 9, 2021

      I usually just leave mine at room temperature. Unless your kitchen is quite warm, you should be just fine.

      Reply

  78. Sarah Luedeman
    May 10, 2021

    I’m getting ready to make this cake and frosting.

    Reply

  79. Neenu
    May 2, 2021

    Hi Kara,
    I have tried this recipe 3 times now and it’s always a big hit! Can you tell me if it’s possible to create a boozy version of this cake? I’d love to make it for my husband’s birthday, so do tell me if its ok to add maybe 60ml whiskey to the cake mix, or perhaps 1/2 cup kahlua into the frosting?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      June 7, 2021

      I think you could replace some of the milk or boiling water with whiskey, but keep the total liquid amount the same. For the frosting, you could use 6-8 tablespoons of kalua in place of the milk. If you use 1/2 cup, you would end up with a very runny icing.

      Reply

  80. Shari
    April 23, 2021

    Can I make this in a 9’13 pan?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      June 7, 2021

      It might be too much batter for a 9×13″ pan. You could try it, but I’d put your pan on a cookie sheet in case it overflows.

      Reply

  81. Mickie
    April 22, 2021

    This tastes was INCTEDIBLE! Mine took 45 minutes in the oven as when I checked at 35′ it was still very runny. I only share in case people have the same issue! Every oven is different 🙂
    However, where I am now I can’t get Hershey’s cocoa powder. Do you think I can use regular cAcAo powder (not cocoa)? Do I use the same measurements?

    Reply

  82. Lori
    March 28, 2021

    I used 1 cup of hot coffee instead of just hot water and I also add a pinch of fresh grated nutmeg to all my chocolate cakes. Just adds a little something. I put that *** on everything 😉

    Reply

  83. Lauren
    March 25, 2021

    Have you used cake flour in this recipe? If so, did you make any adjustments?

    Reply

  84. Laura
    March 23, 2021

    Hello Kara,

    I am going to try this recipe for my grandsons birthday cake. He was asking for a chocolate cream filling do you have a recipe for something like that? Thought I could put it in between the layers instead of frosting? Also I found a cake release mix from a bakery web site once that works awesome for pans. My cakes NEVER stick when I use this. Wanted to share it with you and thought your fans might like it too!
    1cup Crisco
    1 cup flour
    1 cup oil (I use canola oil)but any would work I believe.
    mix well and paint the cake pans bottom and sides. This is a lot so if you don’t make cakes often just reduce amounts. just keep it equal parts of each ingredient.

    Reply

  85. Susan
    March 11, 2021

    This recipe is by far the best cake I have ever tasted. The freezing in the plastic wrap is the best thing ever. Gives me time to make the cake ahead of time and then just frost and go. Taking it to a girls group bday party. I love to top it with berries. This time it will be raspberries. Thank you

    Reply

    • ludwig vav beethoven
      March 19, 2021

      did
      it taste good

      Reply

    • Kara Cook
      March 20, 2021

      I also love being able to make it ahead of time and freeze it. It sounds amazing topped with raspberries!

      Reply

  86. Debbie
    March 9, 2021

    I made this for my son’s birthday last week. He always wants a chocolate chocolate cake. This recipe did not disappoint!! It is extremely moist and chocolately. The butter cream frosting is so good!!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      March 20, 2021

      Hope he had a wonderful birthday, and I’m so glad you loved the cake!

      Reply

  87. Taylor
    March 8, 2021

    I don’t have plastic wrap or parchment. Just wax paper. Do you have any ideas on what I should do? Will it still turn out the same? And does a spring form pan work too?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      March 20, 2021

      If you don’t have parchment paper, just make sure you grease your pans with shortening and flour. I haven’t tried it in a springform pan, but the batter is very thin, so I wouldn’t try it in mine, I’d be afraid of leaks.

      Reply

  88. Kristi
    March 4, 2021

    Has anyone made cupcakes with this recipe? Any tips, should I use liners or not?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      March 20, 2021

      I always use liners when I make cupcakes.

      Reply

  89. Carmen Banks
    February 18, 2021

    So I made this cake today. I’m 60 and this was the first cake from scratch that I’ve ever made. My husband LOVED it. I do think I may have overcooked it just a bit. To me it was just a tad dry, but my husband said it wasn’t. I also thought the icing was a bit too thick and that I should have added another tablespoon or two of milk. But again, my husband loved it and said it was perfect. This recipe is a keeper for me!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply

  90. Zelly
    February 15, 2021

    I made these yesterday for my husband and son for Valentine’s Day and oh my! They are decadent, and foolproof. I added a little more cocoa powder, and 5 teaspoons of instant espresso powder to the batter. Also espresso powder, a sprinkling of cinnamon and extra Dutch processed cocoa powder to the frosting. They are amazing! Thank you so much for the recipe!!! It was so simple!!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      February 19, 2021

      So glad it was such a hit at your house! Thanks for sharing your adaptations, sounds delish!

      Reply

  91. Vicki
    February 1, 2021

    I have been looking for a chocolate cake recipe for years that I really liked and have had no luck until trying this recipe. I will never look again for a chocolate cake recipe because this one is the best by far. The moistness, the texture, the flavor and the ease of making this surpasses all the others! I can’t wait to make it again!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      February 6, 2021

      I am so happy to hear it Vicki! It took me years to find what I thought was the perfect chocolate cake, so I’m glad you agree. 🙂

      Reply

  92. Amanda
    January 29, 2021

    I was wanting to freeze my cake overnight and frost the cake in the morning for our birthday party around six? Will my frosting start to fall from the moisture of the cake thawing?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      February 6, 2021

      Mine has always been fine, so I don’t think you should have any problems with the frosting falling. The hardest part about frosting it totally frozen is that the frosting starts to harden because the cake is so cold, so you have to work really quickly. 🙂

      Reply

  93. Karen
    January 19, 2021

    Hi there, I’ve tried the recipe two times and both have been a failure, the mixture just explodes and spills from the molds all over the oven. I. did it exactly as the recipe says and it just won’t turn out, and also when pulled out of the oven the mixture tastes kinda weird. I don’t know what to do! I was hoping to have the cake for my mom’s birthday 🙁
    I hope you can advise me because I really want this cake to turn out well.

    Reply

    • Dawn morris
      February 1, 2021

      Hi! I did the same thing did you mix wet and dry separate? Just read directions for fourth time even my 16 year old did and see you mix the wet into the dry from the get go. Don’t mix separate and then combine.

      Reply

      • Kara Cook
        February 6, 2021

        You can mix the wet ingredients separately if you want, but I just dump mine directly into the dry ingredients. One less dish to wash. 🙂

        Reply

    • Kara Cook
      February 6, 2021

      So sorry it hasn’t worked for you. Without being there, it is hard for me to troubleshoot. It could be that any of your ingredients aren’t as fresh as they should be, it could be that you measure differently than I do, it could be that your pans are the incorrect size. As for the taste,it could just be that you have different taste in chocolate cake. Just because most people love it doesn’t mean everyone will, and that’s ok.

      Reply

  94. Brandy
    January 16, 2021

    I made this cake during quarantine and everyone loved it!!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      February 6, 2021

      A little chocolate is a great way to make any quarantine day a little bit better! 🙂

      Reply

  95. Xio Herrera
    January 11, 2021

    Absolutely incredible! And so easy! The flavor is so good and the so moist. I made the cake and cupcakes for my son’s birthday… Everyone loved it. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe❤️

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      February 6, 2021

      So glad you used the recipe to make your son’s birthday more tasty! Glad that they were a hit as both cupcakes and cake. 🙂

      Reply

  96. Marie Baker
    December 21, 2020

    This is all time favorite recipe! I was wondering if I could use it for a yule log? I would use the left over batter to either make a smaller cake or another log. What do you think??

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      December 29, 2020

      I’ve never made a yule log, but it’s definitely worth a try with this recipe since it’s so tasty. 🙂

      Reply

      • Dawn morris
        February 1, 2021

        Mines in oven spilling all over like other review ugh

        Reply

      • Kara Cook
        February 6, 2021

        Dang, that is a big bummer! Did you use two 9″ pans, or a smaller size?

        Reply

      • Dawn morris
        February 1, 2021

        Mines in oven spilling all over right now like other review ugh what did i do wrong? When do you mix dry and wet ingredients?

        Reply

      • Kara Cook
        February 6, 2021

        Did you use 9″ cake pans, or a smaller size? I’m not sure why it would spill over in two 9″ pans. Bummer. 🙁 I just add the wet ingredients directly to the dry ingredients, but you can whisk them together in another bowl first if you prefer.

        Reply

  97. Sandra Foss
    December 14, 2020

    The cake turned out perfect. I did use 1 cup hot coffee instead of water. Brings out the chocolate. Thank you for sharing. 😁

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      December 29, 2020

      Thanks for sharing the tip Sandra!

      Reply

  98. Jennifer Galea
    December 9, 2020

    Best chocolate cake ever! Thank you for sharing Kara. As I’m trying to reduce sugar in my diet, I’ve put only one cup. It was not sweet but just right for me and did not effect the texture. I shared the cake with colleagues and they loved it!

    Reply

  99. Jane
    December 3, 2020

    This looks amazing, thank you! Kara! I’d like to make it in cupcakes (which I see someone else has tried successfully) but wondered do you still freeze them? And does freezing work with cupcake cases? Thank you 🙂 x

    Reply

  100. Lili
    November 22, 2020

    Hi! Can use buttermilk instead of regular milk?
    Thanks

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      November 22, 2020

      I haven’t tried it with buttermilk, but you can of course try it if you’d like to. Let me know if it turns out. 🙂

      Reply

  101. Lili
    November 22, 2020

    Hello! Can I use buttermilk instead of regular milk? Thanks

    Reply

  102. Melissa Parrella
    November 14, 2020

    My husbands birthday was last week and he requested a chocolate cake… ugggghhh is what I thought to myself when he uttered those words. I don’t like making chocolate cake because it usually comes out dry and it’s so much work. I settled on your recipe and Oh. My. Gosh. Thank you, it was so easy and he has been raving about it ever since and wants me to make it again, it did not disappoint!

    Reply

  103. Michelle
    November 1, 2020

    I just made this cake yesterday! It is in the freezer right now and I’m ready to take it out. Do I let it thaw in the plastic wrap or do I unwrap it first?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      November 12, 2020

      I either frost mine frozen, or let it thaw still wrapped up. You don’t want it to lose all that moisture by letting it sit out in the air.

      Reply

  104. Aylin Yunsan
    October 10, 2020

    It was a total hit! Everybody love it in my family! And the frosting taste amazing! This is by far best homemade chocolate cake

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      October 18, 2020

      So happy to hear it Aylin! Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and leave a comment. 🙂

      Reply

  105. Nae
    October 10, 2020

    This is now my go to recipe for chocolate cake! I love how delicious it turns out. I love it with caramel sauce in between the layers and covered in chocolate ganache instead of the frosting as I only had the ingredients for ganache on hand, when I made it the first time!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      October 18, 2020

      Caramel in the middle sounds amazing!!

      Reply

  106. Emily
    October 9, 2020

    I’ve been using this recipe since I stumbled on it and it’s been a hit back to back. Everyone who tastes it never forget it in a hurry. The feedback from my clients is just out of this world. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      October 18, 2020

      Yay, I am so happy to hear that Emily! Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and leave kind words. I appreciate it!

      Reply

  107. Lisa
    October 1, 2020

    Going to make this for my husbands birthday today. I’m going to use a non stick Bundt pan.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      October 18, 2020

      Hope it turned out and that he had a wonderful birthday!

      Reply

  108. chloe
    September 28, 2020

    i made this cake and it was horrible it was rock solid when i finished it. The frosting was good though.

    Reply

    • Chelsea
      October 1, 2020

      You probably did something wrong. I made it for my daughters birthday cake and it was perfect. I’m about to make it again for my other daughters birthday.

      Reply

    • Kara Cook
      October 18, 2020

      Sorry it didn’t turn out for you. Did you follow the recipe exactly? If so, all I can think of is that it was overbaked.

      Reply

  109. Mary
    September 25, 2020

    Omg so freakin good !! Have made three times !! Making it again today !! Thank you for a great recipe!!!

    Reply

    • Terri Oliger
      September 27, 2020

      Looks delicious and easy! I live at 7500ft. Would I add 1 tbsp of extra flour for altitude? I normally add that to a boxed cake.

      Reply

      • Kara Cook
        October 18, 2020

        Yes, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of extra flour. I also live at a high altitude, and I’ve made this cake both with extra flour and as written. It doesn’t rise up quite as high without the extra flour, but it still turns out amazing for me.

        Reply

  110. Kayla
    September 19, 2020

    Baking the cake now with my niece its very easy to make thank you.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      October 18, 2020

      So glad to hear it Kayla! Baking with family is always extra special. 🙂

      Reply

  111. Nicole Burns
    September 17, 2020

    I need to make a square cake. Will this fill 2 8×8 nicely?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      September 18, 2020

      I think that should work. You may need to adjust the baking time, so just watch them carefully. 🙂

      Reply

  112. Isabel M
    September 11, 2020

    If my son doesn’t like chocolate can k just leave out the cocoa powder and it’ll make a good vanilla Cake?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      September 17, 2020

      I haven’t done that, but it is certainly worth a try. Let me know how it turns out!

      Reply

  113. Lesley
    September 9, 2020

    This Cale was amazing!!! Do you happen to have a recipe for a thin cream layer to put in the middle? Similar to what you would have inside of a Twinkie or hostess cupcake?

    Reply

  114. Alyssa
    September 4, 2020

    I am trying out this recipe and I had a question. Is it too thin to use springform pans? I followed the recipe and put it in the oven, and then are leaking!! never had them leak with paste recipes!!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      September 17, 2020

      Yes, this batter is very thin, so I wouldn’t recommend baking it in a springform pan. So sorry they leaked, I know what a mess that can be. 🙁

      Reply

  115. Patty
    September 1, 2020

    Can you reduce the amount of sugar and still have the cake turn out?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      September 17, 2020

      I haven’t tried that with this cake recipe, but I have noticed that when I lower the sugar in other baked goods, it changes more than just the flavor. Texture and baking times are also affected.

      Reply

  116. Brenda
    August 28, 2020

    This is my go to chocolate cake recipe. It’s moist and flavorful but not overly sweet. My family and I eat the cake without frosting (it’s that good). I’ve also frozen the cake into individual squares so when the craving hits I have them on hand. As noted you can wait for them to fully defrost but my husband the guy that he is ate his right out the freezer and it was dense but moist if that makes sense.

    Reply

  117. Becki
    August 18, 2020

    I am going to make this as a surprise for my mom. I don’t eat cake…she said I was the only kid on it’s first birthday to throw cake at the floor in refusal and want more watermelon. Anyway, so I really struggle with cake baking, but I only cook from scratch. I don’t have cake tins. I have a 9″, 7″, and 4″ springform pan or the option of multiple 8×8 or 9×13 pans. I had hoped to layer it for astetics but no need for even layers just can I use different size springforms if I make them with the same depth and just watch time on smaller pans? If so would I use all 3 or just extra in the 2 bigger? Or should I give up on beauty and go for tried and true (saw other post that worked) 9×13? Plus I am making marshmallow frosting because I know it’s her absolute favorite. I don’t like marshmallow either but I have got the technique of making down now though I usually use it on my no bake homemade ice cream cakes for her. I am a bread person… No a cake person sorry.

    Reply

  118. Ashley
    August 10, 2020

    I just wanted to say hands down the best choc cake I have ever made !! My number one go to for sure . I still need to try out your frosting I ended up making a choc cream cheese frosting to top this cake with but holy cow !! Do you share other cake flavor recipes i would love to try them all out !!!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      August 13, 2020

      I am so glad you loved it! I bet it was delicious with chocolate cream cheese frosting. You can’t go wrong with cream cheese in my book! I do have lots of other cake recipes. I don’t make lots of layer cakes (I like things simple, haha), but they are all tasty. You can find them here: https://www.creationsbykara.com/category/recipes/dessert-cakescupcakes/

      Reply

  119. Nirmala
    August 6, 2020

    I tried out this cake, it is so yummy😍 What can be replaced instead of egg? I want an eggless cake.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      August 13, 2020

      I have never used anything to replace eggs. If you have found a substitution that works in your other recipes, you could try it for this cake. If you do, let me know how it turns out!

      Reply

    • Ethel harris
      August 23, 2020

      Arrowroot flour can be used instead of eggs.

      Reply

      • Kara Cook
        August 26, 2020

        Thanks for the tip!

        Reply

    • S
      December 17, 2020

      You can also use flax seed to make a flax “egg” substitute.

      Reply

  120. N
    August 2, 2020

    Hi, please can I use butter instead of the oil? And can I use powdered milk?.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      August 13, 2020

      Reconstituted powdered milk should work just fine. You can use butter in place of oil, but the cake will not be as moist, and the texture will be different due to the water content in butter.

      Reply

  121. Maria
    July 25, 2020

    Is it a huge deal if I forget the baking soda?😳

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      August 13, 2020

      It won’t rise up quite as nicely, but it should have still tasted good. How did it turn out?

      Reply

  122. Brittany
    July 23, 2020

    Do you happen to know how many 6 inch pans this would fill and for how long to cook? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      August 13, 2020

      My guess is that you would need at least three 6″ pans. I’m not sure on the time, so I would leave the oven light on and start peeking at them through the glass at 20 minutes, then add time as needed.

      Reply

  123. Crystal Majors
    July 17, 2020

    Can I use this recipe for cupcakes

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      August 13, 2020

      I haven’t tried it, but I think it would make good cupcakes. You should probably get 24-30 cupcakes. They will probably take around 18 minutes to bake, but check them early to make sure they don’t overbake.

      Reply

      • Caroline I
        August 28, 2020

        I just made them as cupcakes! It made 30 and I baked for 16 min and that was enough!

        Reply

  124. Lindsey
    July 15, 2020

    Hey Kara, how soon in advance can I make the frosting considering I plan to freeze the cake layers overnight?

    Reply

  125. Adrianna
    July 8, 2020

    Can I also make this cake dairy free? Lots of allergies in my family, I was thinking of trying oat milk as a substitute

    Reply

    • Laura
      November 5, 2022

      My husband can’t do dairy, so I replaced with oat milk – hands down, the best chocolate cake I have ever made from scratch!

      Reply

      • Kara Cook
        November 14, 2022

        So happy to hear that it worked with oat milk! Thanks for sharing the tip Laura!

        Reply

  126. Aanya
    July 8, 2020

    hi so i didn’t put the cake in two pans and put it in one instead and it is taking forever to cook any recommendations!

    Reply

  127. Carmen
    July 7, 2020

    What adjustments need to be made for high altitude?

    Reply

  128. Heather
    July 7, 2020

    I just made this and oh my goodness I love it so much thanks for the share. My boyfriend enjoyed it as well 😍😍

    Reply

  129. Serena
    July 6, 2020

    My cake isn’t rising what did I do wrong ?

    Reply

  130. Shaley
    July 1, 2020

    This is great the best cake! We subbed the flour for namasta’s gluten free flour 1:1 and was moist and not fragile at all! I want to make some cakes ahead of time, would it be ok to keep in the freezer for a few days?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      July 1, 2020

      Yes, you can definitely keep them in the freezer for a few days, then frost them when you are ready! 🙂

      Reply

  131. Mia
    June 25, 2020

    hey kara, so how long do they need to be in the freezer before frosting? can i leave it overnight??

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      June 26, 2020

      Yes, it will be just fine if you leave it in the freezer overnight.

      Reply

  132. gb
    June 19, 2020

    Thank you for the recipe. Please help why my cake become pudding-like… overall the cake still yummy!

    Reply

  133. Esther
    June 15, 2020

    Hi
    Would this recipe be suitable to carve for a novelty cake & to be covered with fondant? Thanks in advance.

    Reply

  134. Rebecca Brown
    June 14, 2020

    Since this is a denser cake, would it work in a bundt pan?

    Reply

  135. Angela
    June 11, 2020

    Do you think it would work with half the sugar? I don’t like very sweet cakes. I wonder if it would change the consistency since you mentioned it is a runny batter.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      June 12, 2020

      I’m not sure how it would work with reduced sugar, but it will definitely change more than just the flavor. You’re probably better off just using less frosting, that’s where most of the sweetness comes from.

      Reply

  136. Linda
    June 10, 2020

    I saw this chocolate cake and I have to try your recipe. I just order my Hershey cocoa on amazon. Can wait to try this.
    Thanks

    Reply

  137. Stephanie
    May 28, 2020

    This was the best chocolate cake I have ever had! It was very moist and easy to make! Thank you so much for ahring this recipe!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      June 12, 2020

      I am so glad you enjoyed it Stephanie! 🙂

      Reply

  138. Ariel
    May 27, 2020

    Do you have to use parchmen paper? or can I just oil my pan?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      June 12, 2020

      You can grease the pan with shortening and then coat it with flour, but using parchment paper is definitely the best way to make sure that it pops right out of the pan easily. I haven’t had great success using oil to grease my pans.

      Reply

  139. Gemma
    May 22, 2020

    Thank you so much for this recipe! I have never been 100% happy with any chocolate cake recipe I have tried, but this is amazing! I made this today for my husbands birthday cake and we all love it. Very moist and tastes great.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      May 23, 2020

      I am so happy to hear that Gemma! I hope your husband had a very happy birthday! I celebrated mine this month too. 🙂

      Reply

    • Joyce
      June 4, 2020

      how long did you cook it for ?looking to do this for my sons bday. Thanks

      Reply

      • Kara Cook
        June 12, 2020

        I used two 9″ pans and mine baked for about 33 minutes.

        Reply

  140. Kristin
    May 20, 2020

    I made this cake and frosting recipe today, and it is the BEST cake I have ever had!!!! I followed the recipe to a T but instead of the round pans I did a 9×13 pan!!! It turned out perfect!!!!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      May 23, 2020

      I am so happy to hear it turned out great in a 9×13″ pan! Sometimes it’s nice to just have a quick option. Thanks for letting me know, I’m sure other readers will appreciate the tip as well. 🙂

      Reply

  141. Rina
    May 20, 2020

    Could I possible make this on a 9×13 pan? should I do anything different?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      May 23, 2020

      I actually just had another reader let me know that it worked just perfectly in a 9×13″ pan! You will have to adjust the baking time, it does take a bit longer to bake a larger cake. Happy baking!

      Reply

    • Joanne Adams
      December 10, 2024

      Did it work? And, did you freeze it? Wrapped?

      Reply

  142. Ashley
    May 17, 2020

    Hi! Do you have a basic vanilla cake recipe? If you do, I’d appreciate it!

    Reply

  143. Alex
    May 9, 2020

    Hello, I love the cake, how many hours earlier to serve it, must I take the cake out the freezer?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      May 9, 2020

      I’d take it out at least 2-3 hours before serving. The rate that it thaws depends on the temperature of your room. 🙂

      Reply

  144. Yvette
    May 7, 2020

    I will be attempting this to make this cake…can i use almond milk instead of regular milk? Also, can I use butter instead of the oil??

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      May 9, 2020

      I think that the almond milk should work just fine. If you use butter instead of oil, your cake won’t be as moist. Because oil is liquid at room temperature, it keeps baked goods more moist than other oils that are solid at room temperature. Butter also has water in it, so your cake will probably still be good, but I’m not sure exactly how it will turn out.

      Reply

  145. Kathy Lewis
    May 5, 2020

    KARA, MY CAKE BATTER SEEMS REALLY RUNNY.
    HELP??

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      May 9, 2020

      It is a pretty thin cake batter, so you’re probably fine. Did your cake turn out?

      Reply

  146. Karen wilson
    May 4, 2020

    Hi Kara can you please tell me what a cup is in grams??? Or ounces????

    Reply

  147. Holly
    April 30, 2020

    My frosting came out super runny. Butter was at room temp. What did I do wrong?! 🙁

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      May 1, 2020

      You probably just added a little too much milk. No worries. If that happens, you can add more powdered sugar to thicken it up. You may also want to add some additional cocoa powder so you don’t lose any of the chocolate flavor.

      Reply

  148. Andrea
    April 30, 2020

    I went to flip it onto the cooling rack and the cake fell apart. What did I do wrong?!? Still tastes good though.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      May 1, 2020

      Dang, I hate it when that happens! Did you use parchment paper? If so, it could be that you just flipped it too slowly, allowing gravity to pull it out before it hit the cooling rack. I find it easiest to put the cooling rack right on the cake, then flip it carefully while holding it onto the cake. Hope that helps!

      Reply

  149. Sarah K
    April 26, 2020

    I was a virgin at baking cakes with parchment and apparently it moved and now I have parchment paper baked into my cake 😢 smells really good though. Any tips???

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      May 9, 2020

      Hm, I have never had that happen before. 🙁 Hopefully you were able to save it and still eat the cake. Next time, try spraying a little bit of non stick spray on the bottom of the pan before adding the parchment, it helps hold it in place.

      Reply

  150. Cindy Watson
    April 26, 2020

    Made this cake 2 times in the last weekk, and it is fabulous!

    Reply

  151. Marwa
    April 23, 2020

    Thank you sooo much my son love to bake with me and today he choose your cake from pinterest and we bake it and decorate with chocolate and strawberry and it will be my chocolate cake recipe now only thing i replace milk with buttermilk 😁 my son is 4 and he told his father he bake it 👍

    Reply

  152. Ravinder kular
    April 22, 2020

    Oh my I have been baking for my kids for years but never had this easy and tasty cake recipe thank you so much!!!! My family loved it❤️

    Reply

  153. Mary
    April 22, 2020

    We made this yesterday using cake flour. It’s honestly the best scratch chocolate cake we’ve ever had! We wrapped the layers in plastic and froze them as suggested and it could not have been more moist and perfect. Thank you for such a delicious recipe!

    Reply

  154. Addie
    April 21, 2020

    This recipes is definitely a really good one! I love it but it only makes about 2 – 6inch rounds, unless you want your cake layers to be really thin, I’m sure you can do more but if you need more, doubt the recipe.

    Reply

  155. Katie
    April 20, 2020

    My daughter and I made this tonight as a fun (and delicious) project since we’re stuck at home. It was amazing! One of the best chocolate cakes I‘ve ever had! Was a little worried as the batter was a little more liquid than others that I made. Was perfect!

    Reply

  156. Kristi
    April 12, 2020

    I’m making to eat today. Do I have to freeze?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      April 15, 2020

      No, you don’t have to freeze it, that step just makes it extra moist and delicious. But it will still be tasty!

      Reply

  157. Mangalagiri Handloom Sarees Online | Dress Materials Online
    February 17, 2020

    This is our go to for chocolate cakes! Soooooo amazingly yummy…

    Reply

  158. Terry Bush
    February 16, 2020

    I don’t usually comment but I wanted to say this is the best homemade chocolate cake I have ever made. I wrapped it in plastic after cooking a little in the pan and froze the layers as you suggested. It is very moist and delicious!!! Thank you thank you thank you. I will make a little more frosting next time. The frosting is delicious too. This will be my go to chocolate cake. I’ll ditch the others.😊

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      February 18, 2020

      I am so happy to hear that you loved it so much Terry! And a little more frosting is always a good thing in my book. 🙂

      Reply

4.54 from 665 votes (660 ratings without comment)

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