Moist and Delicious 9-Ingredient Chocolate Cake That Never Fails

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By Gianna Poulef

9-Ingredient Chocolate Cake

There are chocolate cakes… and then there are this kind of chocolate cakes. The kind that stay moist for days, melt on your tongue, and make people ask for the recipe before they’ve even finished their slice.

This Moist and Delicious Chocolate Cake is the one I make when I need something reliable, rich, and deeply chocolatey — whether it’s for a birthday, a Sunday dinner, or one of those days when only chocolate will do. It’s soft, tender, and packed with bold cocoa flavor, just like the classic cakes many of us grew up with.

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Overview of Recipe Content

What Is This Chocolate Cake?

This is a classic, old-fashioned chocolate cake made with pantry staples and a simple mixing method. No fancy techniques — just honest baking that delivers a bakery-style result every single time.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Incredibly moist and tender crumb
  • Deep, rich chocolate flavor
  • One-bowl friendly and beginner-proof
  • Perfect for layers, sheet cakes, or cupcakes

What Does It Taste Like?

Pure chocolate bliss. Rich but not heavy, sweet but balanced, with a soft crumb that stays moist long after baking.

Ingredients

This Now, Make It Later!

For the Chocolate Cake

  • 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1¾ cups (350 g) granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup (75 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1½ teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk, room temperature
  • ½ cup (120 ml) vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240 ml) hot coffee or hot water

Tools Needed

Substitutions & Additions

  • Use buttermilk for extra tenderness
  • Swap coffee with hot water if needed
  • Add chocolate chips for extra richness
  • Use espresso powder to intensify flavor

How to Make Moist and Delicious Chocolate Cake

Step 1: Prep the Pan

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line your pan with parchment paper.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

Whisk flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.

Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients

Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Mix until smooth and glossy.

Step 4: Add Hot Liquid

Slowly pour in hot coffee or water, whisking gently. The batter will be thin — that’s exactly what you want.

Step 5: Bake

Pour batter into pan. Bake 30–35 minutes until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.

Step 6: Cool

Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack.

What to Serve with Chocolate Cake

  • Vanilla ice cream
  • Whipped cream
  • Fresh berries
  • Hot coffee or cold milk

Tips for Making It Perfect

  • Don’t skip the hot liquid — it blooms the cocoa
  • Use room-temperature eggs and milk
  • Do not overbake
  • Let cake cool fully before frosting

Storage Instructions

  • Store covered at room temperature for 2 days
  • Refrigerate up to 5 days
  • Freeze unfrosted cake up to 2 months

General Information

Chocolate cakes like this became popular because they were dependable and affordable, yet indulgent. This recipe stays true to that tradition — simple ingredients, big payoff.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this into cupcakes?

Yes! Bake 18–20 minutes.

Can I frost it?

Absolutely — chocolate ganache or buttercream works beautifully.

Why is the batter so thin?

That’s what keeps the cake ultra-moist.

Can I make it dairy-free?

Use plant milk — it works great.

Conclusion

This Moist and Delicious Chocolate Cake is the kind of recipe you keep forever. Reliable, comforting, and deeply satisfying — it’s chocolate cake the way it should be. If you love chocolate desserts, try these next:

Interactive Elements

Did you bake this cake? Leave a review below!
Share your slice on Pinterest and tag me https://www.pinterest.com/poulefrecipe/

Nutritional Information (Per Slice – Approximate)

NutrientAmount
Calories360
Fat18g
Saturated Fat4g
Carbs48g
Sugar32g
Protein6g
Sodium310mg
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Moist and Delicious 9-Ingredient Chocolate Cake That Never Fails


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  • Author: Gianna Poulef
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 12 slices 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

This Moist and Delicious Chocolate Cake is soft, tender, and packed with deep chocolate flavor. Made with simple pantry ingredients, this classic cake stays moist for days and is perfect for any occasion.


Ingredients

Scale

2 cups all-purpose flour

1¾ cups granulated sugar

¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

1½ teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

1 cup whole milk

½ cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup hot coffee or hot water


Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare pan.

2. Whisk dry ingredients together.

3. Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla.

4. Slowly mix in hot coffee or water.

5. Pour batter into pan.

6. Bake 30–35 minutes.

7. Cool before serving or frosting.

Notes

Batter will be thin — this is correct.

Do not overbake.

Use coffee for deeper chocolate flavor.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice
  • Calories: 360
  • Sugar: 32g
  • Sodium: 310mg
  • Fat: 18g
  • Saturated Fat: 4g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 12g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 48g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 6g
  • Cholesterol: 55mg
Moist and Delicious 9-Ingredient Chocolate Cake That Never Fails
Gianna Poulef
CEO, Chef & Recipe Creator at BLYNO LLC | Website

I’m Gianna Poulef from Poulef Recipes. I love sharing perfected dishes from my kitchen. I’m sure they’ll earn a spot in your heart. Let’s savor this journey together!.

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