Description
This easy chocolate fudge cake recipe is a moist, rich, and decadent dessert perfect for any chocolate lover. Made with simple ingredients like cocoa powder, sour cream, and optional chocolate chips, this cake delivers a deeply chocolatey flavor with a tender crumb. It’s ideal for birthdays, celebrations, or as an everyday treat. The recipe includes tips to enhance the chocolate flavor using coffee and suggestions for finishing touches like ganache or powdered sugar.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup hot water or brewed coffee (for deeper flavor)
Optional
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8-inch round or square cake pan and line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
- Prepare wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine the melted unsalted butter, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Combine wet and dry: Pour the wet mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir gently until just combined—avoid overmixing to keep the cake tender.
- Add hot liquid: Pour in the hot water or brewed coffee and mix until the batter is smooth and fully incorporated. Coffee enhances the chocolate flavor without adding a coffee taste.
- Fold in chocolate chips (optional): If using semi-sweet chocolate chips, fold them into the batter gently for pockets of melted chocolate in the finished cake.
- Pour and bake: Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and spread it evenly. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 30–35 minutes. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs.
- Cool the cake: Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or frosting.
Notes
- Top with a simple ganache or dust with powdered sugar for an easy yet elegant finish.
- Using brewed coffee instead of water intensifies the chocolate flavor without imparting a coffee taste.
- This cake stays moist for several days when stored properly in an airtight container.
- You can freeze the cake for up to 2 months—wrap well in plastic wrap and foil before freezing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 1/8 of cake)
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 27g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
