Print

Super Moist Chocolate Cake Recipe

4.4 from 77 reviews

This Super Moist Chocolate Cake is a rich and tender dessert perfect for chocolate lovers. Made with simple pantry ingredients and a homemade chocolate frosting, it bakes to a soft, moist texture that melts in your mouth. With easy-to-follow steps and a luscious cocoa buttercream topping, this cake is ideal for birthdays, celebrations, or whenever a chocolate craving hits.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • ¾ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • ½ cup whole milk, room temperature
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ cup boiling water

Chocolate Frosting

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 ¼ cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tbsp whole milk, room temperature
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or grease it well with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined.
  3. Add Wet Ingredients: Add the egg, room temperature whole milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat for 1-2 minutes until smooth and well incorporated, scraping the bowl sides to fully combine.
  4. Incorporate Boiling Water: Carefully pour boiling water into the batter. Beat on low speed just until combined; the batter will be thin and runny, which is normal for a moist chocolate cake.
  5. Bake the Cake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Avoid overbaking to retain moisture.
  6. Cool the Cake: Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a cooling rack for 10-15 minutes. Then gently lift the cake out using the parchment and allow it to cool completely to room temperature before frosting.
  7. Prepare Frosting: In a saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Whisk in cocoa powder and stir for 1-2 minutes until fully combined and smooth. Remove from heat and add powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Use an electric mixer to beat the frosting for a few minutes until it is smooth and slightly thickened.
  8. Frost the Cake: Spread the chocolate frosting evenly over the cooled cake using a spatula. Cut into 9 or 16 squares as desired and serve immediately or store appropriately.

Notes

  • Use room temperature eggs and milk for better batter consistency.
  • Do not skip adding boiling water; it helps develop a moist texture.
  • Make sure to cool the cake completely before frosting to prevent melting.
  • You can substitute vegetable oil with melted coconut oil for a slight flavor variation.
  • Store leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.

Keywords: moist chocolate cake, homemade chocolate cake, easy chocolate cake recipe, chocolate cake with frosting, simple chocolate dessert