Dark chocolate cake is a delectable dessert that can tantalize taste buds and create a memorable experience. Its rich, decadent flavor and smooth, velvety texture make it a favorite among chocolate lovers. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply looking to indulge in a delightful treat, finding the best recipe for dark chocolate cake can be a delightful journey. With endless variations and techniques to choose from, this guide will help you discover the perfect recipe to satisfy your sweet cravings.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE
The type and strength of the coffee and chocolate will change the taste of this cake. Modify them as you see fit.
Provided by Food Network
Categories dessert
Time 3h30m
Yield One 9-inch cake
Number Of Ingredients 30
Steps:
- For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter three 9-inch cake pans and dust with cocoa powder, shaking off the excess.
- Mix the chocolate into the hot coffee in a medium bowl and stir to melt. Set aside to cool completely.
- In another bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and baking powder. Set aside.
- Combine the sugar, oil, salt and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed, 3 to 5 minutes. (This batter is fluid and tends to get lumps; mix carefully with the paddle, or even use the whisk attachment on low speed to avoid lumps.) With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Scrape the bowl and continue mixing on medium-low speed until fully incorporated, 2 to 3 minutes. (Don't worry about overmixing at this stage; you need to make sure the batter base is fully mixed.)
- Stir the buttermilk into the coffee mixture. In alternating batches, add the flour and buttermilk mixtures to the batter base. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix. The batter should be thick but fluid. Stir or mix by hand to get rid of any lumps; strain if you feel compelled.
- Divide the batter among the prepared cake pans. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean or with just a few crumbs, 20 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely.
- For the toffee: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine the butter, sugar and salt in a heavy-bottom saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer. Heat over medium-high heat to 300 degrees F (the hard crack stage), 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Pour over the prepared baking sheet and let cool completely. Break into small pieces, then process into a powder using a food processor or coffee grinder.
- For the buttercream: Combine 339 grams of the sugar, the water, corn syrup and salt in a heavy saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer. Heat over medium-low heat until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to medium, being careful not to let the flames go up the sides of the saucepan. The target temperature for the syrup is 250 degrees F.
- Meanwhile, combine the egg whites and cream of tartar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. When the syrup has reached 230 degrees F, run the mixer on medium speed until the egg whites get frothy. Sprinkle the remaining 30 grams sugar into the egg whites and continue to whip on medium speed. (The egg whites should increases in size and form soft peaks by the time syrup reaches 250 degrees F.) Once the syrup reaches 250 degrees F, increase the mixer to high speed and carefully pour the hot syrup down the side of the bowl, being sure not to hit the whip. Whip the mixture until it has cooled to room temperature, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Replace the whisk with the paddle attachment. Gradually beat in the butter, a few cubes at a time, on medium-low speed. Mix until the buttercream comes together, then mix in the vanilla bean paste.
- Mix 3 to 4 ounces of the powdered toffee into 1 cup of the buttercream and set aside.
- For the chocolate feuilletine crunch: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Melt the dark chocolate and milk chocolate in a double boiler. Remove from the heat and mix in the feuilletine. Spread on the prepared baking sheet and let cool. Crumble into bite-size pieces. Set aside.
- To assemble the cake: Set one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread with a thin, even layer (about 1/4 inch) of the buttercream, then spread with a thin, even layer (1/8 to 1/4 inch) of the toffee-buttercream mixture. Top with feuilletine crunch. Repeat with the remaining layers. Cover the cake with the remaining buttercream.
DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2 round 9-inch cake pans.
- For the cake, put flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl and mix well.
- In a stand mixer, mix the buttermilk, oil, eggs, vanilla together. Slowly add in the mix of dry ingredients while the mixer is on low. Add the coffee and make sure everything is combined. The batter will be very thin.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Allow the cakes to cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Turn the cakes out onto a cooling rack.
- Make the Dark Chocolate Buttercream (double the recipe).
- Now it's time to put your cake together!
- Frost the top of the first cake. Then layer the other half of the cake on top. Frost the outside of the cake.
- Use a decorating comb to smooth the outside edge and to make lines, if desired.
- Pipe stars using Wilton tip 1M on the top outer edge of the cake.
- Sprinkle mini chocolate chips over the top of the cake.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 478 kcal, Carbohydrate 76 g, Protein 4 g, Fat 19 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Cholesterol 26 mg, Sodium 439 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 59 g, ServingSize 1 serving
DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE
While it takes slightly longer to prepare this recipe than a box mix, the resulting moist, delicious cake makes it VERY worth the little extra time. I consider this 'perfect' chocolate cake. This cake is excellent with both with Recipe #261024 and Recipe #208959 (the dark flavor version). (I use Recipe #95416 when I'm decorating the cake.) I love how the leftovers are still moist even a day or two later. (I store my loosely covered with plastic wrap.) My father adores this cake with Recipe #261024 on it. For his birthday, Father's Day etc. I make him cupcakes with the icing on them and individually wrap them. He keeps them in his freezer for when he wants "a piece of cake". He claims they are as good as when they are fresh. (Even though it isn't where I got the recipe from so I can't vouch for it, reviewers have said it is the recipe on the Hershey's cocoa can. I would recommend using their Special Dark Cocoa if possible.)
Provided by Marg CaymanDesigns
Categories Dessert
Time 1h
Yield 20-24 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350°F.
- Grease and flour two 9 inch round baking pans or one 13x9 inch pan.
- In large mixer bowl, stir together dry ingredients.
- Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla; beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.
- Stir in boiling water by hand (batter will be thin). NOTE: I have tried it with 1/2 cup, 2/3 cup and 3/4 cup boiling water and we prefer it with less than 1 cup water. I usually use between 2/3 & 3/4 cups. The cake is still very moist but it doesn't seem to "fall" as much as it cools. This might have to do with our high humidity or brand of flour or other factors so I don't know if it will work for everyone.
- Pour into prepared pan.
- Bake 30 to 35 minutes for round 9-inch pans, 35 to 40 minutes for rectangular pan or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. (Do not use 8-inch pans or the batter will overflow.).
- Because they have a tendency to overflow if you fill them more than 2/3 full, I usually get about 27-28 cupcakes per batch. Bake for approximately 18-20 minutes.
- Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to wire racks.
- Please note: baking cocoa isn't hot chocolate drink mix! Baking cocoa contains no sugar and it is found on the baking aisle. Chocolate drink mixes that you add to milk or water to drink WILL NOT work in this recipe.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 189.1, Fat 6.9, SaturatedFat 1.4, Cholesterol 20.3, Sodium 252.4, Carbohydrate 30.9, Fiber 1.4, Sugar 20.1, Protein 2.8
DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE I
This recipe features an icing made with cream cheese, cocoa, and cinnamon frosts this dark chocolate cake for an elegant dessert.
Provided by Carol
Categories Desserts Chocolate Dessert Recipes Dark Chocolate
Time 1h20m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 3 - 9 inch round cake pans. In medium bowl, pour boiling water over cocoa, and whisk until smooth. Let mixture cool. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at time, then stir in vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the cocoa mixture. Spread batter evenly between the 3 prepared pans.
- Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Allow to cool.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 426.9 calories, Carbohydrate 63.5 g, Cholesterol 102.7 mg, Fat 18.3 g, Fiber 3.2 g, Protein 6.6 g, SaturatedFat 10.9 g, Sodium 462.6 mg, Sugar 37.9 g
DEEP, DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE
This is an incredibly dark, very moist cake - a serious chocolate lovers' cake. It is so chocolatey that I like it with a fluffy white icing like the Italian Meringue. This cake has a tendency to really stick to the pan. Be sure to spray the pan well with nonstick cooking spray and line the bottom of the round pans, or use parchment or Release foil in the rectangular pan.
Provided by Shirley O. Corriher
Categories Dessert Cake Chocolate Buttermilk Egg Bake Birthday Party Vegetarian Soy Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Kid-Friendly
Yield Makes One 13 x 9 x 2-inch (33 x 23 x 5-cm) Sheet Cake or Two 9 x 2-inch (23 x 5-cm) Round Layers
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Arrange a shelf in the lower third of the oven, place a baking stone on it, and preheat the oven to 350°F/177°C.
- Spray VERY GENEROUSLY a 13 x 9 x 2-inch (33 x 23 x 5-cm) rectangular pan or two 9 x 2-inch (23 x 5-cm) round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray. Line the bottom of the round pans with parchment and spray on top of the parchment. With the rectangular pan, line and extend up the long sides with a piece of Release foil or parchment sprayed lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a heavy saucepan, stir together the sugar, salt, cocoa, and baking soda. In another saucepan, bring 1 cup (237 ml) water to a boil. Stirring constantly, pour boiling water a little at a time into the cocoa mixture. It will bubble up at first and then get dark and thicken. Stir the cocoa mixture briskly. Place on the heat and bring back to a boil. Turn off the heat and allow to stand in the hot saucepan for at least 10 minutes.
- Pour the hot cocoa mixture into a mixing bowl. Add the oil and vanilla and beat on low speed for about 10 seconds. On low speed, beat the flour into the batter and then, with a minimum of beating, beat in the egg yolks, whole eggs, and buttermilk. This is a thin batter. Pour the batter into the prepared pan or pans. Place in the oven on the stone and bake until the center feels springy to the touch, about 25 minutes for round layers or 35 minutes for the sheet cake. Allow to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes on a rack. Run a thin knife around the edge and jar the edge of the pan to loosen. Invert onto the serving platter. Cool completely before icing.
DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE II
The absolute best, richest, and easiest one-bowl chocolate cake recipe ever! It's great topped with chocolate cream cheese frosting!
Provided by Kelly Smith
Categories Desserts Chocolate Dessert Recipes Dark Chocolate
Time 55m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13-inch pan.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the center and pour in the eggs, coffee, milk, oil and vinegar. Mix until smooth; the batter will be thin. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 319.9 calories, Carbohydrate 53.2 g, Cholesterol 32.6 mg, Fat 11.3 g, Fiber 2.3 g, Protein 4.9 g, SaturatedFat 2.4 g, Sodium 358.6 mg, Sugar 34.5 g
CRAZY DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE
Found this in Cotton Country Collection by The Monroe Louisiana Junior Charity League that my DB and DSIL gave me for Christmas in 1981. I started using the Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa a few years ago with rave results. Its this chocoholic's dream cake. It is incredibly moist and rich, as well as easy. I use a disposible pan and take this to potlucks all the time. You can also mix in a bowl with the same results. (If you use the frosting recipe make sure you use whole milk, I made the mistake of using skim once and it came out so thin that even twice the amount of sugar would thicken it and it was too sweet after that to eat.I had to scrape it off and add more cocoa.)
Provided by greksgirl
Categories Dessert
Time 55m
Yield 1 cake
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Sift into an ungreased 9x13" cake pan the flour, sugar, baking soda and cocoa, blend well. Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and add the oil, vinegar and vanilla. Pour the water over all the ingredients and mix with a fork untill smooth and well blended, making sure to get into the corners. Bake at 350º for 20 to 25 minutes or until the center springs bake when tapped or a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely and frost as desired.
- Frosting.
- Melt the butter and stir in the cocoa. Alternating between the two, mix in the milk and powdered sugar. Beat to spreading consistency; adding more milk or sugar as needed. Stir in the vanilla. Makes about 2 cups frosting.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 7026, Fat 271.2, SaturatedFat 81.6, Cholesterol 252.2, Sodium 5723.1, Carbohydrate 1106.6, Fiber 28.8, Sugar 757.7, Protein 60.9
DARK CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE
-David Heppner, Brandon, Florida
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 1h
Yield 12 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- In a large bowl, beat the sugar, buttermilk, coffee, eggs, oil, chocolate and vanilla until well blended. In another large bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into buttermilk mixture until blended., Pour into three greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, combine the cream, sugar and corn syrup in a small saucepan. Bring to a full boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; stir in chocolate and butter until melted. , Transfer to a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate until desired consistency, stirring occasionally. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. Store in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 816 calories, Fat 41g fat (17g saturated fat), Cholesterol 93mg cholesterol, Sodium 569mg sodium, Carbohydrate 112g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 11g fiber), Protein 11g protein.
BEVERLY'S DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE
Categories Cake Mixer Chocolate Dessert Bake Vanilla Spring Bon Appétit Kidney Friendly Vegetarian Pescatarian Dairy Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher
Yield Makes 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour 13x9x2-inch metal baking pan. Place sugar, cocoa, and salt in large bowl. Pour in oil (do not mix). Place baking soda in medium bowl; stir in 1 1/2 cups hot water (mixture will bubble up). Add baking soda mixture to cocoa mixture and, using electric mixer, beat until cool, about 1 minute. Beat in flour, then eggs and vanilla. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
- Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool cake completely in pan on rack. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and store at room temperature.) Cut cake into squares and serve.
DARK CHOCOLATE FROSTING
This deep, dark, satiny frosting (thanks to the addition of melted semisweet chocolate) is a favorite of our food editors, since it has just the right consistency for spreading or piping into beautiful swirls. It also has a wonderful sheen. Use it to decorate our Candied Hazelnut Cupcakes or Easy Chocolate Cupcakes.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes
Time 30m
Yield Makes about 5 cups
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Combine cocoa and the boiling water, stirring until cocoa has dissolved. With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter, confectioners' sugar, and salt until pale and fluffy. Reduce speed to low. Add melted and cooled chocolate, beating until combined and scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in the cocoa mixture. If not using immediately, frosting can be refrigerated up to 5 days, or frozen up to 1 month, in an airtight container. Before using, bring to room temperature, and beat on low speed until smooth again.
DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE
Use this recipe to make Mint Chocolate-Chip Cake and Swirly Cupcakes.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Cake Recipes
Yield Makes 2 eight-inch-square layers
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat oven to 325 degrees. Butter two 8-inch-square baking pans. Line with parchment, and butter again. Flour pans, tapping out excess; set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine all the ingredients except the hot coffee. Mix ingredients on low speed until combined, about 1 minute. Slowly add the coffee. Mix until smooth, about 1 minute. Pour batter into prepared pans; smooth tops with an offset spatula.
- Bake until a cake tester inserted into the middle comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer the pans to wire rack to cool. Turn out the cakes, and wrap them in plastic wrap until ready to use.
Tips:
- Use high-quality dark chocolate: The quality of the chocolate you use will greatly impact the final flavor of your cake. Look for a dark chocolate with a cocoa content of at least 70%.
- Don't overmix the batter: Overmixing the batter can result in a tough, dense cake. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
- Bake the cake in a water bath: Baking the cake in a water bath helps to create a moist, tender crumb.
- Let the cake cool completely before frosting it: This will help to prevent the frosting from melting.
- Store the cake in the refrigerator: Dark chocolate cake can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Conclusion:
Dark chocolate cake is a delicious, decadent dessert that is perfect for any occasion. With its rich, chocolatey flavor and moist, tender crumb, it is sure to please everyone. If you are looking for a special dessert to impress your friends and family, this dark chocolate cake is the perfect choice.
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