Easy One-Bowl Chocolate Cake: Simple, Moist, and Delicious!
Craving a rich, decadent chocolate cake but don’t want the fuss? Look no further! This Easy One-Bowl Chocolate Cake recipe is your answer. It’s incredibly simple to make, requires minimal cleanup, and delivers a moist, flavorful cake that’s perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a complete beginner, this recipe is foolproof and guaranteed to impress.
Forget complicated steps and endless bowls – this recipe uses a straightforward method that minimizes effort without sacrificing taste. The result is a tender, deeply chocolatey cake that’s perfect on its own or dressed up with your favorite frosting and toppings. Get ready to indulge in a homemade treat that’s easier than you ever imagined!
This cake is perfect for:
- Birthday celebrations
- Weeknight desserts
- Potlucks and gatherings
- A simple chocolate fix
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
- Easy to Make: One bowl and simple steps make this recipe a breeze.
- Moist and Delicious: The cake is incredibly moist and has a rich chocolate flavor.
- Minimal Cleanup: One bowl means less washing up!
- Versatile: Enjoy it plain, with frosting, or with your favorite toppings.
- Perfect for Beginners: This recipe is great for novice bakers.
Ingredients:
- 1 ¾ cups (210g) all-purpose flour
- 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
- ¾ cup (75g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk (or 1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar)
- ½ cup (120ml) vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup (240ml) boiling water
Instructions:
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan. You can also use baking spray with flour.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Add the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes, or until well combined. The batter will be thin.
- Stir in Boiling Water: Carefully pour the boiling water into the batter and stir until smooth. The batter will be very thin at this point, which is normal.
- Pour into Pan: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan.
- Bake: Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached.
- Cool: Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Frost (Optional): Once the cake is completely cool, frost with your favorite chocolate frosting, or dust with powdered sugar.
Tips and Variations:
- Buttermilk Substitute: If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make a quick substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to 1 cup of milk. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using.
- Coffee Boost: For a richer chocolate flavor, substitute ½ cup of the boiling water with ½ cup of hot brewed coffee.
- Chocolate Chips: Add ½ cup of chocolate chips to the batter for extra chocolatey goodness.
- Nuts: Stir in ½ cup of chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, or almonds) for added texture and flavor.
- Frosting Ideas: Try a classic chocolate buttercream, cream cheese frosting, or even a simple ganache.
- Sheet Cake vs. Layer Cake: This recipe works well as a sheet cake in a 9×13 inch pan. You can also divide the batter into two 8-inch or 9-inch round cake pans for a layer cake, reducing the baking time by about 5-10 minutes.
- Gluten-Free Option: Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free all-purpose blend. Be sure to use a blend that contains xanthan gum or add a teaspoon of xanthan gum to the dry ingredients.
- Vegan Option: Substitute the buttermilk with plant-based milk mixed with apple cider vinegar (1 tbsp vinegar per cup of milk). Use flax eggs (1 tbsp ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tbsp water, let sit for 5 minutes) in place of the eggs. Make sure your chocolate chips are vegan too, if adding them.
Storage Instructions:
Store leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze the cake for up to 2 months. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then in foil before freezing.
Conclusion:
This Easy One-Bowl Chocolate Cake is the perfect solution for a quick, delicious, and satisfying dessert. With its simple ingredients and straightforward instructions, anyone can bake a moist and flavorful chocolate cake that will impress family and friends. So, ditch the boxed mixes and give this recipe a try – you won’t be disappointed!
Easy One-Bowl Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1.75 cups All-purpose flour
- 1.75 cups Granulated sugar
- 0.75 cup Unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1.5 teaspoons Baking powder
- 1.5 teaspoons Baking soda
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 cup Buttermilk or 1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar
- 0.5 cup Vegetable oil
- 2 Large eggs
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
- 1 cup Boiling water
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan. You can also use baking spray with flour.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes, or until well combined. The batter will be thin.
- Carefully pour the boiling water into the batter and stir until smooth. The batter will be very thin at this point, which is normal.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once the cake is completely cool, frost with your favorite chocolate frosting, or dust with powdered sugar.