This is perhaps the easiest chocolate cake recipe you can make. You mix a few ingredients, pour into a casserole dish and bake. It’s left in the baking dish to maintain moistness and a soft, airy texture. The simple icing glaze makes it even easier to prepare. This is the perfect cake to give as a gift or take to a gathering as you can make it in a disposable pan. What’s better is how well it is loved by everyone.

We have friends that adore chocolate. So much so that they will make a beeline to the dessert table to stake claim over the chocolate desserts at social gatherings. One in particular will load up a plate of chocolate before she even looks at the meal. This is her favorite chocolate cake.

Whereas many cakes often rely on creamed sugar and butter to create some of the loft, this cake uses science. Baking soda reacts to the acid in the cocoa powder and buttermilk to create a lofty, moist and airy cake. If you are out of buttermilk, don’t panic. Follow this simple tutorial to make a buttermilk substitute.

This chocolate cake is so easy to make by hand. There is also need to break out that mixer. Just a whisk or a spoon, elbow grease and a couple bowls will do. What makes this the perfect chocolate cake recipe is that it feeds a large group of people for just a little amount of money.

Quick and Easy Chocolate Cake

This is a classic chocolate cake recipe with a simple chocolate glaze that tastes just as good as more expensive desserts. Eat a decadent chocolate cake for less money!

Print Recipe

Prep Time15 minutes minutes

Cook Time1 hour hour

Total Time1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings24

Calories 192.5

Ingredients

• 2 cups (400g) sugar
• 2 cups (300g) flour
• 1 ½ cups (360mL) buttermilk
• ¾ cup (180mL) oil
• 2 large (100g) eggs
• ½ cup (40g) cocoa powder
• 1 tsp (5mL) vanilla
• 1 tsp (6g) baking soda
• ½ tsp (2.5g) salt

Chocolate Glaze

• 1 ½ cups (187.5g) powdered sugar
• 2 tbs (10g) cocoa powder
• ¼ tsp (1.25g) salt
• 3 tbs (45mL) milk

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350F (180C.)
• Grease and flour a 9×13 (23x33cm) cake pan or line with parchment.
• Combine flour, cocoa, sugar, salt and baking soda in a large bowl. Break up any clumps with a whisk, fork or sifter. Set aside.
• In a separate bowl, beat buttermilk, oil, vanilla and eggs. Pour liquid in flour mixture and beat until just combined and there are no lumps. It will be a thin batter. Pour immediately into baking dish.
• Bake 45-60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Center should read between 190 – 210F (88 – 99C.)
• Cool in pan on wire rack before icing.

Chocolate glaze

• In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, salt and cocoa. Add milk, one teaspoon at a time, and stir until desired consistency is achieved.
• Spread glaze evenly on top of cooled cake. Allow to dry several minutes before serving.

Notes

The type of pan can affect cooking temperatures.  Heavy casserole baking dishes can take longer to heat up and can add an additional 5 – 10 minutes cooking time.  Thin pans such as disposable aluminum can take as little as 30 minutes to bake.  

Nutrition Facts

Quick and Easy Chocolate Cake

Serving Size

 

1 slice

Amount per Serving

Calories

192.5

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

8.1

g

12

%

Saturated Fat

 

1.4

g

9

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

0.8

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

5.2

g

Sodium

 

131.7

mg

6

%

Carbohydrates

 

30

g

10

%

Fiber

 

0.7

g

3

%

Protein

 

2

g

4

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

* Calories provided as a courtesy and not guaranteed.