The World's Best Chocolate Cake Recipe (2024)

The best chocolate cake recipe, ever — this decadent, moist chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting is an old family favorite. It’s requested for birthdays time and time again, and it’s quite easy to make. You’ll never want to make another chocolate cake recipe again!

Best Chocolate Cake Recipe

I’m just going to say it.

This is the best chocolate cake recipeever.

And I’m not just saying that to get you to try it…I truly believe this is the best chocolate cake I’ve ever eaten.

If you don’t believe me – read some of the comments on this post. It’s really what everyone seems to think!

This cake is extremely moist, decadent, and oh-so-delicious…not something you probably want to eat while you are on a diet, but you’ll definitely want to make as part of your cheat meal.

This chocolate cake was created, and tested, and perfected, by my great-grandmother.

Growing up, I’ve always heard my dad rave about this chocolate cake.

He would always talk about how it was incredibly moist (he attributed that to it having a full cup of oil. Delicious, yes. Unhealthy…debatable) and nothing else could be compared to its deliciousness.

Considering how often my dad told me about this cake, you’d think I would have tried it a time or two.

However, that was not the case. My dad wasn’t sure where the recipe was, or if there ever was one.

You see, my great-grandmother never wrote recipes down, or really measured things out in traditional methods (by using measuring spoons.)

However, we were able to get a copy of the recipe, which looks like it was in her handwriting, and I knew I had to try it out for a family Christmas party on my dad’s side of the family.

I made this cake three times, and from those experiences, I discovered one thing — do not changeanything.

Seriously. I know there’s a lot of sugar and oil, but if you are going to make a delicious chocolate cake…you can’t really skimp in those areas!

I tried using all-purpose flour and homemade buttermilk the first time, and while, yes, it was good, it wasn’t perfect.

The second and third time, I followed it perfectly…and it was delicious.

The original recipe had glaze/boiled frosting on it, but we couldn’t get it quite right, so we decided to use the cream cheese frosting my great-grandmother used on other cakes.

I personally loved it, and I think it will definitely be my go-to frosting from now on.

Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Printable recipe available below

Supplies

• 9×13 glass baking dish
• Cooking Spray
• Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer
• Mixing Bowl (if you aren’t using a stand mixer bowl)
• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons

Ingredients

FOR CAKE

• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 whole eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups cake flour
• 2 cups white sugar
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 Tablespoon baking soda
• 1 cup boiling water

FOR FROSTING

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 1 stick butter (1/2 cup), softened to room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 pound plus 2 cups powdered sugar

Directions

FOR CAKE

In a mixing bowl, beat together oil, buttermilk, eggs and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, mix together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda until well-combined.

Slowly mix together dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, and mix well until smooth.

After wet and dry ingredients are combined, add in the cup of boiling water. Mix well. The batter will be runny.

Pour into a well-greased 9×13 baking dish.

Baked at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Let cool in pan.

Frost once completely cool. Best served after being refrigerated for a few hours.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING FOR CHOCOLATE CAKE

Cream together cream cheese, vanilla, and butter until nice and smooth.

Add powdered sugar in slowly and mix until combined and smooth. You may not add in all the powdered sugar – just add it until you reach your desired consistency.

Refrigerate until ready to use.

FAQ

Chocolate Cake and Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Yield: 10 slices

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Cooling Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

The World's Best Chocolate Cake Recipe - it's so easy, moist and delicius.

Ingredients

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 stick butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 pound 2 cups powdered sugar

Chocolate Cake

• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups cake flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 Tablespoon baking soda
• 1 cup boiling water

Instructions

1. Chocolate Cake
2. In a mixing bowl, beat together oil, buttermilk, egg, and vanilla.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda until well-combined.
4. Slowly mix the dry ingredients into wet ingredients, and mix until everything is smooth, and no chunks exist.
5. After the wet and dry ingredients are combined, add in the cup of boiling water. Mix well. Batter will be slightly runny.
6. Pour into a well greased, 9x13 baking dish.
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Let cool in pan.
8. Frost once cool. Best served after being refrigerated for a few hours.
9. Cream Cheese Frosting
10. Cream together cream cheese, vanilla, and butter until nice and smooth.
11. Add powdered sugar in slowly and mix until combined and smooth.
12. Refrigerate when not using.

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This post was originally posted in 2014. It was updated in 2019.