Chocolate Buttermilk Cake

A gorgeous one layer Chocolate Buttermilk Cake with a tender crumb. Covered in creamy real chocolate frosting and a boatload of chocolate chips, it’s THE best chocolate cake EVER. 

This cake👆🏻is the answer.

To what, you ask? To EVERYTHING. I’m talking a one bowl, face-plant-worthy, I-must-have-seconds kind of chocolate cake.

If you’re looking for a go-to Chocolate Buttermilk Cake recipe, then this is your day.

It took a number of tries to get this cake just right, but it was more than worth it. All I knew was that I wanted a chocolate cake that was THE chocolate cake.

You know the one. The cake that everyone requests for their birthday. The cake recipe that you print out and keep in your recipe box because it’s THAT good. The cake that when served, everyone asks for seconds.

And yes, this is THE cake.

When I started recipe testing 👆🏻 I knew I wanted a thick one layer chocolate cake that could be made with just a bowl and spoon. My first attempt used melted butter, and while it looked great in form, it was too dense and dry. I cannot stand dry cake, so I knew we had some work to do.

I then switched to vegetable oil as the main fat, as it tends to lend itself to moist chocolate cakes, as I know from my favourite Mint Chocolate Layer Cake. However the cake rose too much in the middle and tasted vaguely of oil – ew.

However the third time round we got lucky. ❤️ Like seriously lucky. The perfect Chocolate Buttermilk Cake was born. It’s soft and tender with a rich cocoa flavour and a gorgeous texture.

I went back to melted butter, but this time added a little more sugar, a little less buttermilk and a little more water – yes hot water is the ultimate ingredient in chocolate cake. And then and there my new favourite chocolate cake was born.

Once you take that cake and add my favourite real chocolate frosting AND a boatload of chocolate chips, you have one downright delicious treat. It’s chocolate on chocolate on chocolate. And I love it.

It’s the ultimate chocolate lovers cake. And the fact that it can be made with a bowl and spoon, just makes it all the more tempting.

There’s no exotic flavours. No outrageous ingredients. Just an old-fashioned, lick-the-bowl, chocolate cake. Even though the cake only uses cocoa powder for it’s chocolate flavour, it is oh-so-choco-licious.

And once you add lashes of luscious chocolate frosting, you are all set. And this frosting is next level. Made with melted dark chocolate, it’s a fluffy, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth kinda buttercream.

Honestly, I can’t wait to make this Chocolate Buttermilk Cake again. And handy tip, if you don’t have store bought buttermilk on hand, you can make your own. Just take 1/2 cup of regular milk and add 1 teaspoon of white vinegar. Voila! Homemade buttermilk.

I really hope you enjoy this lovely chocolate cake. If you do make it, be sure to take a photo and share it with me on Instagram.

Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Hungry for more? Join me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter for more amazing recipe ideas.

Let’s Bake

Chocolate Buttermilk Cake

Yield Serves 12 1x

1x2x3x

★★★★★

4.9 from 53 reviews

Prep: 60 minutesCook: 50 minutesTotal: 1 hour 50 minutes

A gorgeous one layer chocolate buttermilk cake with real chocolate frosting.

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Ingredients

Chocolate buttermilk cake

• 210 grams (1 and 1/2 cups) plain flour or all purpose flour
• 40 grams (1/2 cup) cocoa powder, sifted
• 90 grams (1/2 cup) brown sugar
• 150 grams (3/4 cup) caster sugar or granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 170 grams (3/4 cup or 1 and 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 120 ml (1/2 cup) buttermilk
• 120 ml (1/2 cup) hot water

Chocolate frosting

• 115 grams (1/2 cup or 1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 375 grams (3 cups) icing sugar or powdered sugar
• 100 grams (2/3 cup) dark chocolate
• 1–2 tablespoons full fat or whole milk
• 75 grams (1/2 cup) chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180 C (350 F) standard / 160 C (320 F) fan-forced. Grease and line an 8-inch round cake pan with baking or parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, add flour, cocoa powder, sugars, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Boil the kettle and pour out 1/2 cup of hot water and set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, add butter, eggs, vanilla and buttermilk and stir briefly. Add butter mixture to dry ingredients and stir to combine. Add hot water and stir until chocolate cake batter is smooth. It will be a thin batter – that’s ok.
4. Place in the oven for 45-50 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Leave on a wire rack to cool completely.
5. To make the frosting, place butter in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until pale and creamy. Meanwhile melt the chocolate in a microwave, stirring in between 20 second bursts, until just melted and set aside.
6. Add half the sugar and one tablespoon of milk and beat until combined. Add the remaining sugar and beat until smooth.
7. Add melted chocolate, ensuring the chocolate is still smooth and melted but is not warm. Beat until the chocolate is completely mixed through. If frosting is too thick, add an extra tablespoon of milk. Generously frost the top and sides of the cake using a spatula. Sprinkle over chocolate chips.

Notes

Buttermilk: Make your own buttermilk by adding 1 teaspoon white vinegar to 1/2 cup milk.

Chocolate frosting: If your frosting is too thick, add an extra tablespoon or two of milk and beat until smooth.

Nutrition Information

Serving Size: 1 slice of cake Calories: 540

Nutrition information is a guide only.

Author: Jessica HolmesCategory: CakeCuisine: American

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