This chocolate cake recipe is our go-to when we need something rich, simple, and deeply chocolatey. I’ve tried a lot of chocolate fudge recipes, but this one is the perfect balance between a decadent dessert and an easy win in the kitchen. You won’t need to dig through your pantry for odd ingredients—just grab what’s probably already in your kitchen and mix it up in one bowl. Yep, it’s that kind of one bowl chocolate cake recipe we all love. The beauty of this cake? It gives off major chocolate fudge pie recipe vibes, especially with that creamy fudge frosting on top that practically begs to be swiped with a finger (or three—no judgment here). It’s a milk chocolate cake recipe with an attitude—soft, moist, and rich enough to make you close your eyes when you take a bite. Whether you need a recipe for chocolate cake to wow a crowd or you’re simply treating yourself to a Tuesday-night bake, this simple chocolate cake recipe will not let you down. I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve made it, and honestly, I never get tired of it. If chocolate has a love language, this cake is it.
Table of Contents
- 1) Key Takeaways
- 2) Easy Chocolate Fudge Cake Recipe
- 3) Ingredients for Chocolate Fudge Cake
- 4) How to Make Chocolate Fudge Cake
- 5) Tips for Making Chocolate Fudge Cake
- 6) Making Chocolate Fudge Cake Ahead of Time
- 7) Storing Leftover Chocolate Fudge Cake
- 8) Try these desserts next
- 9) Chocolate Fudge Cake
- 10) Nutrition
1) Key Takeaways
- Linda on Cook Daily Recipe shares the cake she bakes for birthdays and slow Sundays
- The batter mixes in one bowl and bakes into a soft crumb with deep cocoa flavor
- Simple pantry items build a clean chocolate taste and a steady fudge finish
- Frosting sits smooth and glossy and spreads with ease for a neat slice
2) Easy Chocolate Fudge Cake Recipe
We call this our chocolate cake recipe for good reason. This chocolate cake recipe saves the day when time runs tight and a craving hits hard. I whisk the batter in one bowl and the kitchen smells like cocoa in minutes. Friends lean in close and ask for a slice before the cake even cools.
I learned the rhythm on a rainy afternoon. I set a kettle on, I softened butter, and I reached for sugar and flour. The crumb came tender and the center stayed rich. It felt like a small win. On Cook Daily Recipe at www.cookdailyrecipes.com we keep things calm and clear so anyone can bake this at home.
The cake leans toward a chocolate fudge recipe in spirit. The top takes a gloss when warm frosting meets the surface. The taste sits between a recipe for chocolate cake and a chocolate fudge pie recipe. If you love a simple chocolate cake recipe or a milk chocolate cake recipe you will feel at home here. I even tag it as a one bowl chocolate cake recipe for busy nights.
3) Ingredients for Chocolate Fudge Cake
Soft butter I use room temp butter so it blends with sugar fast and traps tiny air that helps the crumb lift in the oven.
Caster sugar The fine crystals mix quick and keep the crumb light with clean sweetness that does not push past the cocoa.
Cocoa powder I pick a good dutch style cocoa for deep color and a round taste that reads rich without harsh notes.
Plain flour with baking powder This pair gives structure and soft lift so the cake slices neat and stays tender.
Eggs I bring eggs to room temp so they blend smooth and help hold the moisture through the bake.
Milk A splash loosens the batter and keeps the crumb soft on day one and still soft on day two.
Vanilla A small dose rounds the cocoa and adds a warm note that people taste but cannot place.
Salt A pinch wakes the chocolate and pulls the flavors into focus so each bite tastes balanced.
4) How to Make Chocolate Fudge Cake
Step 1 Heat the oven and line a round tin with parchment. I grease the base and sides so the cake slips out clean with no crumbs left behind.
Step 2 Cream butter with sugar until pale. The mix will look fluffy and light. This stage sets the crumb so I give it a steady minute with a whisk.
Step 3 Beat in eggs one at a time. I scrape the bowl so the mix stays even and smooth. The batter should look glossy and thick.
Step 4 Sift flour with cocoa and baking powder. Fold the dry mix into the bowl in two parts with milk in between so the batter stays soft and lump free.
Step 5 Add vanilla and salt. Give a gentle stir and pour into the tin. Tap once to ease any large air pockets so the top bakes even.
Step 6 Bake until the center springs back to a light touch. Cool in the tin for a short rest then lift to a rack. Frost when the cake feels cool to the hand.
5) Tips for Making Chocolate Fudge Cake
Use fresh cocoa for full flavor. Old cocoa loses aroma fast. A fresh tin makes a big difference in a chocolate cake recipe or any bake with cocoa.
Bring butter and eggs to room temp. Cold butter fights the sugar and cold eggs split the mix. Warm helps the batter stay smooth and the crumb stay soft.
Do not overbake. Pull the cake when a skewer shows a few damp crumbs. The carryover heat will finish the set and keep a tender bite you want from a one bowl chocolate cake recipe.
6) Making Chocolate Fudge Cake Ahead of Time
I bake the layers the day before a party. I cool them and wrap them snug. The crumb stays soft and the flavor blooms by morning. Frosting can wait until the day you serve.
If you plan a long lead, freeze the unfrosted cake. Wrap in two layers of film. Thaw on the counter in the wrap so moisture moves back into the crumb. The taste stays clean and the texture stays tender.
For a busy weeknight, bake cupcakes from this batter. They cool fast and take frosting with ease. This method still fits a simple chocolate cake recipe goal for speed and comfort.
7) Storing Leftover Chocolate Fudge Cake
Keep slices in a sealed box at room temp for two days. The crumb stays soft and the frosting holds its shine. I set paper between slices so edges stay neat.
For longer storage, chill the cake. Bring slices back to room temp before you serve. Chocolate tastes fuller when warm. A short rest on the counter helps.
You can freeze leftover pieces. Wrap tight and label the date. Thaw on the counter. The texture returns and the flavor still reads like a true milk chocolate cake recipe.
8) Try these desserts next
9) Chocolate Fudge Cake
Chocolate Fudge Cake – Rich Chocolate Cake Recipe Everyone Loves
Ingredients
- 200 g unsalted butter
- 200 g dark chocolate (I used 54.5% cocoa)
- 200 g light brown sugar
- 130 g self-raising flour
- 3 large eggs
- 100 ml whole milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 320°F (160°C). Grease and line an 8-inch round baking tin.
- Melt the butter and chocolate together in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until combined.
- Slowly pour the melted chocolate mixture into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to avoid curdling the eggs.
- Add in the flour and salt, and gently mix until the batter is smooth and fully combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared tin and bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a skewer inserted comes out mostly clean.
- Let the cake cool in the tin for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Dust with cocoa powder or top with chocolate fudge frosting if desired.
10) Nutrition
Serving size one twelfth of the cake. Calories 385. Sugar 32 g. Sodium 150 mg. Fat 22 g. Saturated fat 13 g. Carbohydrates 45 g. Fiber 2 g. Protein 5 g. Cholesterol 95 mg. Figures are an estimate from my kitchen notes on Cook Daily Recipe and will vary with brands and oven trends.
Recipe by Linda for Cook Daily Recipe. Read more at www.cookdailyrecipes.com
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