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There's a reason the Hershey Chocolate Cake recipe has been the best chocolate cake recipe for decades! It's soft, moist, and has the perfect chocolate flavor, and don't even get me started on that homemade chocolate frosting! This one of our favorite desserts!
The Only Chocolate Cake Recipe You'll Ever Need.
This Matilda's Chocolate Cake recipe is one of the very first recipes I ever shared here on TBFS, back in 2010. I've made it hundreds of times, and my kids now make it on their own, too. Thank you Hershey's! Some changes I've made to improve the original recipe are using hot coffee, instead of water (to boost the rich flavor) and adding buttermilk instead of plain milk (for a more tender and moist cake).
I recommend freezing the baked cake rounds ahead of time, and then frosting them right out of the freezer, for super easy prep. Once you see how easy homemade chocolate cake is, you'll never buy a box mix again.
Don't miss all of my cake recipes, including Yellow Cake, Carrot Cake, Biscoff Cake, or Flourless Chocolate Cake.
How to make Chocolate Cake:
Make Cake Batter: Combine sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla then mix. While stirring, slowly pour in the boiling water or hot coffee, mixing to incorporate (the batter will be thin).
Bake: Carefully pour cake batter into prepared pans and bake at 350°F(180°C) for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cakes cool in the pan for a few minutes then invert onto a cooling rack. Let the cakes cool completely before frosting.
Frosting: mix butter and cocoa powder then add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Mix for several minutes until it has a smooth and fluffy texture.
Assemble and Frost: Carefully transfer one cake layer to your serving tray. Spread a generous amount of frosting on top then place the second cake layer on top. Use a cake spatula to frost the top and sides of the cake with remaining frosting. Slice and enjoy!
Recipe Variations:
- 9×13 Cake: Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray then pour the batter. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 35-40 minutes. Let cool completely then frost and serve.
- Cupcakes: Place cupcake liners in a muffin pan then fill each one 2/3 of the way full with batter. Bake for 22-25 minutes then let them cool completely before frosting. This recipe makes 24-30 cupcakes.
- Bundt Cake: Grease and flour a 12 cup bundt pan then pour in batter. Bake for 50-55 minutes then let cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Invert on a wire cooling rack and let cool completely before frosting.
- Gluten-Free: Use a 1:1 ratio of Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Flour instead.
- Dairy-Free: Instead of cow's milk, use almond milk in the cake and frosting with a 1:1 ratio.
Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:
To Make Ahead: The cakes and the chocolate frosting can both be made ahead of time. Store frosting in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to two weeks, or in the freezer for up to three months. Let frosting come to room temperature (I also like to re-whip it, with electric beaters), until soft and smooth.
To Freeze: Allow the cakes to cool completely then wrap each layer in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to three months. Fully frosted cake can also be frozen, if covered really well.
More Cake Recipes:
Hershey Chocolate Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake:
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 ¾ cup + 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs, , room temperature*
- 1 cup buttermilk*
- 1/2 cup oil, (vegetable or canola oil)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water, , or hot coffee
Chocolate Frosting:
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F(180°C). Line two 8 inch round baking pans with parchment paper* and then spray lightly with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Dry Ingredients: Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl.
- Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla and mix until well combined. Stir in boiling water (or hot coffee). Batter will be thin. Pour batter into prepared pans.
- Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Chocolate Frosting: Combine butter and cocoa powder. Add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Mix for several minutes until smooth and fluffy.
- Assemble: Place one cake layer on serving tray. Spread a generous amount of frosting on top. Add second cake layer. Frost top and sides of cake with remaining frosting. Cut and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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*I originally shared this recipe June 2010. Updated June 2019, April 2021 and April 2023 and February 2025.
The material in this blog post references the trademarked brand “Hershey’s.” The use of this trademark is for informational and editorial purposes only and does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Hershey Company.
This is the best chocolate cake recipe I’ve ever made! It’s irresistible and makes my chocolate dreams come true! This recipe is a gem that I will never lose 😍
This is the best chocolate cake and icing I have ever had – my family loved it and keeps asking me to make it again!
This is a keeper! Absolutely delicious, just the right amount of chocolate taste and super easy recipe! Made it for my sister’s birthday and everyone said it was the best chocolate cake they have ever tasted!! WOW!!
It came out great!
I used home made yogurt 3/4 cup for the cake. Reduced the sugar For both cake and frosting. Made a rectangular cake. Had to keep it in the oven for 10 extra mins. My oven is old so I set it at 330.
Wow! My husband was craving chocolate cake during our COVID-19 stay at home. We’re healthy, just doing our part by staying home. Anyway, we both agreed it’s one of the best chocolate cakes we’ve ever had. It was easy to make. Thanks for including baking directions for 13×9 pan. The only change I made was just personal preference. We prefer our frosting that isn’t too sweet. I used 2 cups instead of 3 of powdered sugar. I will definitely make it again. Thank you!
Tried baking this cake for the first time for my husband’s birthday and it was the best!!! Thank you so much for such an amazing recipe!
My cake was kinda sunken in why?
Here’s a great resource that troubleshoots the reasons that could have happened: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/food/a559688/12-things-youre-doing-wrong-when-baking-a-cake/
Hi there! First time I made it in a vessel by putting salt at bottom n it turned out perfectly. It was awesome. Kids loved it.
Only the side of the cake was little dry. Top and bottom was all good.Can you please tell me what should I do to keep the sides of the cake more moist ?
Thank you once again.
Hi,
Can you bake this cake in a convection microwave oven,if so what is the temperature settings.
This resource might help-https://home.howstuffworks.com/calculating-convection-oven-cooking-times1.htm
Absolutely amazing recipe…I have made this several time..and it’s a hit…can you please let me know vanilla cake recipe or butter cake with white cream ..thanks..my kids love it..
I’m happy you liked it! Here is my yellow cake recipe: https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/yellow-cake/
I made this chocolate cake yesterday for my birthday cake…. I needed a chocolate cake mix in order to make my ice cream cake….It turned out great….it was delicious and ever so moist…Thank you so much for sharing your recipe..I will not buy a store bought chocolate cake mix again : )))))
Delicious cake, I wish the sponge was a little more rich, but it was very moist and a nice treat:)
Mine was a fail,,I thought I followed the directions but I must have done something wrong,, it came out real thin like a cookie pan thin and was like a brownie with frosting,, I’m gonna try again and see if I get better results, if u have any suggestions I’ll take them,, thank you
This was AMAZING. I used half the recommended sugar in the icing to make it a little less sweet, amd that seemed like plenty to me. I also made berry compote for between the layers and thay added a lovely touch. Such a delicious and easy cake. So fluffy and moist, and honestly better than some of the chocolate cakes I’ve had at fancy bakeries. Thank you!