Best Chocolate Fudge Cake
A rich, ultra-moist, deeply chocolatey cake layered with smooth, glossy fudge frosting this Chocolate Fudge Cake is the ultimate dessert for chocolate lovers. It’s soft, indulgent, and bakery-level delicious, yet surprisingly easy to make at home.
A decadent, ultra moist, melt in your mouth chocolate fudge cake that tastes better than any bakery cake. This recipe is beginner-friendly, deeply chocolatey, and topped with a smooth fudge frosting that makes every slice irresistible.
Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Fudge Cake
- Incredibly moist, fudgy, and soft thanks to hot coffee/water and oil.
- Tastes better than boxed mix and 10x richer.
- Uses simple pantry ingredients nothing fancy.
- Perfect for birthdays, celebrations, parties, or weekend treats.
- Beginner-friendly and impossible to mess up.
- Thick, glossy fudge frosting that melts in your mouth.
- Stays moist for 3–4 days easily.
- Easy to freeze and make ahead.
Ingredients Explained (Without Measurements)
For the Chocolate Fudge Cake
- All-Purpose Flour: Creates a soft, tender crumb and gives the cake structure.
- Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cake and keeps it moist for days.
- Cocoa Powder: Adds deep chocolate flavor and rich color.
- Baking Powder: Helps the cake rise evenly for a light texture.
- Baking Soda: Reacts with acidic ingredients to make the cake fluffy and moist.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances chocolate flavor.
- Eggs: Bind the batter, add richness, and improve texture.
- Oil: Keeps the cake incredibly soft and moist much better than butter for fudge cake.
- Milk: Adds moisture and helps dissolve the cocoa.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances sweetness and deepens the chocolate flavor.
- Hot Coffee or Hot Water: “Blooms” the cocoa and makes the cake EXTRA moist and rich.
For the Fudge Frosting
- Butter: Creates a creamy, rich base.
- Cocoa Powder: Adds intense chocolate flavor.
- Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting.
- Milk or Cream: Helps achieve a smooth, spreadable fudge consistency.
- Vanilla Extract: Balances chocolate flavor.
- Salt: Cuts sweetness and enhances richness.
Yummy Chocolate Fudge Cake Recipe
Notes
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup hot coffee or boiling water
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- ¼–⅓ cup milk (as needed)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the cake batter- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Beat until smooth and well combined.
- Slowly pour in hot coffee/water. The batter will become thin this is what makes the cake moist and fudgy.
- Divide the batter between the cake pans.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.
- Cool completely before frosting.
- Beat softened butter until creamy.
- Add cocoa powder and mix until combined.
- Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, pouring milk as needed to reach desired texture.
- Stir in vanilla and a pinch of salt.
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4. Assemble the Cake
- Place one cake layer on a plate.
- Spread a thick layer of fudge frosting.
- Add the second cake layer and frost the top and sides generously.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease two 8-inch cake pans.
- Use hot coffee for richer chocolate flavor (but hot water works too).
- Use hot coffee for richer chocolate flavor (but hot water works too).
- Don’t overmix the batter mix only until combined.
- Use room-temperature eggs and milk for best texture.
- Cool cakes completely before frosting, or the frosting will melt.
- Add chocolate chips to the batter for extra fudginess.
FAQs
1. Can I make this cake without coffee?
Yes! Replace coffee with hot water but coffee adds richer chocolate flavor.
2. Can I bake it in one pan?
Yes, use a 9×13 pan and bake 35–40 minutes.
3. How do I store this cake?
Store covered at room temperature for 2 days, or in the fridge for up to 5 days.
4. Can I freeze Chocolate Fudge Cake?
Yes freeze frosted or unfrosted cake for up to 3 months.
5. Why is my cake dry?
Possible reasons:
- Overbaking
- Too much flour
- Not enough oil or liquid
Conclusion
This Chocolate Fudge Cake is truly the ultimate chocolate dessert rich, moist, soft, and covered in the smoothest fudge frosting. Each bite is intensely chocolatey with a melt in your mouth texture. It’s simple enough for beginners yet delicious enough for celebrations. Whether you bake it for a birthday, holiday, or late-night craving, this cake never fails to impress.
