A deliciously rich Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake covered in a creamy two-ingredient chocolate ganache. With a rich, velvety texture, this is hands-down my favourite chocolate cake recipe.
Sometimes life calls for chocolate cake.
Especially when it’s dripping with dark chocolate ganache. This Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake is one of those amazing homemade desserts that everyone will just love.
The chocolate cake has a velvety texture and the addition of sour cream adds lovely depth of flavour. Simple, sweet and perfect for chocoholics like you and me.
I’ll be honest with you. This Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake is my go-to cake. Any dinner party, birthday or celebration, this is the cake I’ll take. Not only is it beautiful, it’s a total crowdpleaser. I mean, who doesn’t love a big slice of chocolate cake?
Especially when its coated with creamy chocolate ganache. That’s the other reason why I love it. Instead of whipping up a big bowl of frosting, all you need to do is make a two-ingredient chocolate ganache – one that pairs perfectly with the moist cocoa-laden cake.
How to make chocolate ganache
Have you ever made chocolate ganache before? You are going to love it. I use it all the time to make drips on my layer cakes or to make the perfect Chocolate Tart or creamy Chocolate Truffles. It tastes amazing and is extremely versatile when it comes to desserts.
So, all you need to do it chop your chocolate by hand – yes, you can use milk, white or dark chocolate. I prefer dark chocolate as it is just sweet enough. You can also use chocolate chips. Then pour over hot cream. You can warm your cream in the microwave or on the stovetop. You don’t want to boil it, you just want it hot to the touch.
Leave your ganache to sit for approximately 5 minutes, before whisking until smooth. Voila! Two ingredient chocolate ganache.
The ratio of chocolate to cream will vary, depending on what you are using it for. A little less cream, will make a thicker ganache, while more cream, a drippy ganache. Your ganache will firm up over time and should be stored in the fridge, if you’re not using it straight away. It never lasts long in my house.
How to get a cake out of a bundt pan
Have you ever had your cake stick to your bundt pan? It can be so disappointing after all your hard work. To prevent your cake from sticking, I recommend taking the time to greasing your bundt pan really well with butter. Use a paper towel to smear butter all over your bundt pan – getting into every single nook and cranny. Double check that you’ve covered every single inch, from the top to the bottom – especially around the middle panel.
When it comes to removing your cake, leave it to cool for 10-15 minutes, then gently run a butter knife around the edges to loosen the cake, and in the middle. Place a plate over the top of your bundt pan, then flip over the plate and pan in one swift movement. Your cake should come out in once piece. If it doesn’t – don’t worry. We’ve all been there – it’ll still taste amazing.
You will seriously love this Sour Cream Chocolate Bundt Cake because –
- It looks incredible – simple but stunning, perfect for any occasion
- It’s surprisingly easy to make with a two ingredient frosting
- It tastes like the BEST chocolate cake ever
- It easily feeds a crowd – and it even freezes well
Now I’ve written this blog post, I’m desperate for another slice of this Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake. Lucky, I have all the ingredients sitting in my pantry right now. Let’s do this 👊🏻
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 Sour Cream Bundt Cake
Moist and tender Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake dripping with dark chocolate ganache.
Ingredients
Chocolate cake
- 230 gram (1 cup or 2 sticks) butter, room temperature
- 200 grams (1 cup) caster sugar or granulated sugar
- 135 grams (3/4 cup) brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 245 grams (1 and 3/4 cup) plain flour or all purpose flour
- 60 grams (3/4 cup) cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 120ml (1/2 cup) hot water
- 240 ml (1 cup) sour cream, room temperature
Chocolate ganache
- 200 grams (1 and 1/3 cup) good quality dark chocolate
- 180 ml (3/4 cup) thickened or heavy cream
Instructions
- Grease a 10-12 cup capacity bundt cake pan really well with butter. Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F) standard / 160 C (320 F) fan-forced.
- In a large mixing bowl, add butter and sugars and beat with an electric mixer until pale and creamy.
- Add vanilla and eggs, one at a time, and continue to beat until mixture is combined and creamy. Boil the kettle and pour out 1/2 cup water and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, sift plain flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and baking soda and lightly whisk.
- Add dry ingredients to the wet, along with the hot water and gently fold with a spatula. Finally, add the sour cream and fold until the mixture is completely combined and smooth. It will be quite thick – this is fine.
- Pour chocolate batter into prepared bundt pan and bake for approximately 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. Leave the cake to cool for about 15 minutes before carefully transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make chocolate ganache, chop dark chocolate and transfer to a bowl. In a small saucepan, add your cream and pop on a medium heat. Once the cream is warm but not boiling, pour the cream over the chocolate and leave for 2-3 minutes.
- Gently whisk the mixture until smooth. Leave to stand for a few minutes and it will thicken slightly. Then pour chocolate ganache over the top of your cake.
This recipe was first published on Sweetest Menu in May 2015.
Ashleigh says
Just wondering how I would store the cake if I need to make it 2 days before serving it? I’ll wait to frost it on the day. Do I refrigerate it or keep it out? Don’t want it to go stale.
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Ashleigh, this cake keeps well at room temperature in an airtight container. Hope you enjoy it!
Michelle says
I don’t know where I went wrong! I sifted the flour and cocoa, but the cocoa reformed into lumps when I folded the dry ingredients into the wet so that the batter was extremely lumpy. Is there a way to prevent this from happening?
★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Michelle, I’m not sure why your batter was lumpy if you sifted the dry ingredients (unless perhaps they were butter lumps, not cocoa lumps) but it shouldn’t make a difference to the end result of your cake.
Amy says
Hi Michelle!
Once you have sieved your drys, use a whisk to to combine the two. Then make a well in the centre and add your wets. 🙂
Hilary Klose says
Hi Jessica,
This cake is amazing! I was wondering what do you recommend for storaging? Cover in fridge would be ok?
Thanks!
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
So glad you enjoyed it Hilary! Yes you can store covered in the fridge. Or you can store at room temperature before you’ve added the frosting. I usually do that and add the frosting just when serving.
jamie says
can i use salted butter?
Jessica Holmes says
Sure!
Lisa says
Jessica, you don’t mention any salt in your recipe was it omitted? most cakes have a little salt in them, thanks
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Lisa, feel free to add a pinch of salt!
Lisa says
Hi Jessica, this is an amazing recipe I used this recipe to make my son a Black Forest chocolate cake, this is a wonderful recipe that is easily adaptable, I am making you lemon poppyseed loaf today, which is my husbands favorite, thank you for your wonderful recipes
Jessica Holmes says
Aww love hearing that Lisa! Thank you for your lovely feedback!
Ellie says
The cake is so tasty and the sponge is amazingly moist, which made it a big hit!
However, my ganache kept splitting so I was wondering whether you had any tips for dealing with that?
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
So glad you enjoyed it Ellie! Sometimes that can happen if your ganache or cream is too hot – also make sure you are using a good quality chocolate. You can also try heating it slowly in the microwave, stirring every 20 seconds or so, if you find the heat hard to control on the stovetop.
Shabnam says
Hi Jessica I made this cake for the 4th time but the first time in a bundt pan, as i did not have one earlier. A lot of it spilled over into the bottom of my oven, had to quickly grease an 8in pan and pour some batter out into that, what do you think happened? been making it in an 9in springform pan earlier. WAs still yummy though,, was worried it might not taste good.
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Shabnam, it sounds like your bundt pan is just a bit too small. A standard bundt pan is usually around 10-12 cups in volume. Alternatively, you can use this recipe to make two 7 or 8 inch cakes.
Shabnam says
Ok thanks
★★★★★
Fuzah says
Hiiiiii!! What pan size can I use if I don’t have any bundt pan? 😊
Jessica Holmes says
Hi, I recommend using two 8 or 9 inch round cake pans.
Nadia says
Is this recipe for 2 (8 inch) round cake pans?
Or one 9 inch?
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Nadia, it will make enough batter for two 8-inch cake pans or two 9-inch cake pans. Hope that helps!
Shabnam Sahni Arora says
Hi Jessica am congused your recipe only mentions one pan and your images show only one pan? But now you saying 2 pans? So we can make it in one pan right?
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Shabnam, yes this recipe is for one Bundt cake as per the photos, but a reader asked if she could make this using regular cake pans. In that case, there would be enough cake batter for two 8 or 9 inch cake pans. Hope that helps.
Laura says
I am not one to leave reviews, and I have made a great many chocolate cakes that end up too dry, or not as described. This one is a keeper! This is a lovely delicious moist cake! Even without the ganache it makes a nice treat. It is a terrific soft textured cake. Next time I will try making as a layer cake with a chocolate frosting. Thank you for sharing!
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Laura! Thank you for your kind review!!
shirley says
Hi, what type of cocoa powder do I use? Dutch processed or Hersey natural cocoa ?
Also can I use chocolate chip instead of chocolate square?
Thanks
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Shirley, I use regular cocoa not dutch processed for this recipe. And yes you can use chocolate chips! Hope you enjoy it!
Janine says
Hi Jessica, do you mix flour, cocoa etc with hot water together before adding to butter mixture or add all dry ingredients and hot water separately? Thanks Janine 😀
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Janine, yes I just add all the dry ingredients and the pour the hot water down the side as you’re mixing it all together – hope that makes sense!
Janine Morris says
Hi Jessica, perfect sense thanks. Baked your yummy cake yesterday…. all gone today. Thanks for sharing 🥰 Janine
Jessica Holmes says
Aw so happy to hear that Janine!
Shabnam says
Absolutely yummy..made a cake after years and this was the best, my kids demollshed it in no time at all
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
Love that! So glad you enjoyed it!
Ferra says
Hello, I just made this cake, unfortunately it had a nice ride but then sinked after coming out of oven!
Why do you think it happened? Thanks
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Ferra, sorry to hear that. There are many reasons why a cake can sink, but the most common is underbaking. If your cake is still wet and moist in the middle it may have needed longer in the oven.
Els says
I have made this cake a couple of times and it is absolutely gorgeous! I did cut back on the sugar, though (I use a total of 265 gr instead of 335 gr) and put a bit more sour cream in it. It is such a decadent yet moist and light chocolate cake.
Truly the best chocolate cake recipe I have ever tried! 🙂
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Els, so glad you enjoyed this cake! It’s one of my favourite things to make ☺️
Marianne Klid says
Made this twice. The second time I mixed the source with some softened cream cheese and substituted brewed coffe for the hot water. Love the ganache instead of regular frosting.
Baked in cupcake tins..
Jessica Holmes says
Amazing! Glad you enjoyed it Marianne!
Jamie says
Im making this now…do you pour the gnache over the xake when its completely cooled or still warm?
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Jamie, when the cake is cooled, otherwise the ganache will just slide right off!
annette kilwein says
what does boil the kettle mean????
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Annette, as in turn the kettle on to create some hot water?