Description
A rich and fudgy chocolate cake with a smooth chocolate fudge frosting, inspired by the classic Matilda chocolate cake.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup hot coffee (or hot water)
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (plus more as needed)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 oz melted dark chocolate, slightly cooled (optional but extra fudgy)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment.
- In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
- Slowly pour in hot coffee (or hot water) and mix until the batter is silky (it will be thin).
- Divide batter evenly between pans. Bake 28–32 minutes until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool in pans 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool completely.
- Beat butter until fluffy. Add powdered sugar, cocoa, and salt; mix on low, then beat on medium.
- Add heavy cream and vanilla and beat until thick and glossy. Mix in melted dark chocolate if using.
- Frost the cooled cake layers generously, swirling the frosting on top for that classic look.
Notes
- Hot coffee enhances the chocolate flavor, but hot water works too.
- For extra fudgy frosting, use melted dark chocolate.
- Let cake cool completely before frosting to avoid melting.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 65g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 75g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: best chocolate cake recipe, fudgy chocolate cake, chocolate fudge frosting, rich chocolate cake, homemade chocolate cake