Classic Chocolate Layer Cake
This is hands down my favourite chocolate cake recipe. It's rich, moist, and full of chocolate flavour without being overly sweet. Dress it up with chocolate shavings and a dusting of icing sugar, colourful sprinkles, or chunks of your favourite chocolate bar. This is one of those recipes that disappears quickly whenever I make it. Simple, delicious, and always a crowd-pleaser, it's the kind of chocolate cake you'll find yourself coming back to again and again.
Prep time
30 min
Cook time
25 min
Serves
10–12
Ingredients
▼
Chocolate Cake
- 1¾ cupsall-purpose flour
- 1 cupcocoa powder
- 1¼ tspbaking soda
- ¾ cupbutter, softened (1½ sticks)
- ⅔ cupgranulated sugar
- ⅔ cupbrown sugar
- 2 largeeggs, room temperature
- 2 tspvanilla extract
- 1½ cupsbuttermilk
Silky Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- ½ cupbutter, softened (1 stick)
- 1½ cupsicing sugar, sifted
- 3 ozunsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled slightly
- 2 tspvanilla extract
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake
- 1¾ cupsall-purpose flour
- 1 cupcocoa powder
- 1¼ tspbaking soda
- ¾ cupbutter, softened (1½ sticks)
- ⅔ cupgranulated sugar
- ⅔ cupbrown sugar
- 2 largeeggs, room temperature
- 2 tspvanilla extract
- 1½ cupsbuttermilk
Silky Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- ½ cupbutter, softened (1 stick)
- 1½ cupsicing sugar, sifted
- 3 ozunsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled slightly
- 2 tspvanilla extract
Instructions
Prepare the Cake
- 1
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- 2
Line the bottoms of two 8- or 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper. Grease the paper and the sides of the pans. Dust lightly with flour and gently shake out any excess.
- 3
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and baking soda.
- 4
In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy.
- 5
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- 6
Mix in the vanilla extract.
- 7
On low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk to the butter mixture, mixing just until combined. Do not overmix.
- 8
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans.
- 9
Bake for approximately 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
- 10
Transfer the pans to wire racks and cool for 10 minutes.
- 11
Turn the cakes out onto the racks, remove the parchment paper, and allow the cakes to cool completely before frosting.
Prepare the Frosting
- 1
Beat the butter and sifted icing sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy.
- 2
Add the melted chocolate and vanilla extract.
- 3
Continue beating for several minutes until the frosting is smooth, shiny, and spreadable.
Assemble the Cake
- 1
Place one cake layer on a serving plate or cake stand.
- 2
Spread a generous layer of frosting over the top.
- 3
Add the second cake layer.
- 4
Frost the top and sides of the cake.
- 5
Garnish with shaved chocolate, a dusting of icing sugar, or sprinkles if desired.
Melissa's Notes
Make sure the cake layers are completely cool before frosting.
Be careful not to overbake the cake, as this can cause it to dry out.
This cake can be made a day ahead and will remain wonderfully moist and delicious.
No buttermilk? Simply add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to 1½ cups of milk and let it sit for 5 minutes before using.
**No parchment rounds on hand?** No problem! Place your cake pan on a sheet of parchment paper, trace around the bottom with a pencil, and cut just inside the line. Butter the bottom of your cake pan first, press the parchment round in, then butter the top of the parchment and the sides of the pan. Dust very lightly with flour, turn the pan upside down and tap out the excess — and your pan is ready to go.
If you bake often, pre-cut parchment rounds are a real time-saver. I keep a pack in my baking drawer — you can grab them on Amazon, and they're also listed in Shop the Kitchen.
Nutrition Information
Per slice — based on 12 slices
Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary depending on the ingredients and brands used.
Join the Nest
Get 10 free recipes — sign up for The Cozy Weeknight Dinner Plan.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share things I genuinely use and love.
Want to save this recipe? Print it out, share with a friend, or follow along on social.