This scratch-made Best Chocolate Cake Recipe features three rich, moist layers and plenty of old-fashioned Southern charm. Topped with creamy chocolate sour cream frosting, every slice is pure chocolate heaven. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, gathering with family, or simply craving a homemade chocolate cake, this beauty is sure to make any occasion extra special, y’all!

Best Chocolate Cake Recipe

Just the mention of the words chocolate cake is enough to send hearts aflutter, and trust me, I can certainly relate! This scratch-made three-layer chocolate cake is everything a chocolate lover could wish for, with a rich, moist crumb and deep chocolate flavor in every bite. The secret is a touch of espresso, which enhances the dark chocolate flavor without turning this beauty into a mocha cake. It’s simply a background flavor booster, so even if you’re not a coffee drinker (I’m right there with you!), there’s no need to worry. The result is a wonderfully balanced chocolate cake that’s pretty much perfection in my book.

Finished with a creamy chocolate sour cream frosting, this old-fashioned Southern favorite is worthy of a place at just about any celebration. Serve it for birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, or holiday gatherings when you want a dessert that makes a lasting impression. It’s also a lovely choice for Sunday supper, potlucks, family reunions, or anytime a chocolate craving strikes and you want to treat your family to something special. Dress it up with chocolate curls for a celebration or serve it just as it is with a tall glass of cold milk. However you slice it, this homemade three-layer chocolate cake is sure to bring a little extra sweetness to the table, y’all!

Key ingredients to make this moist chocolate cake recipe: (Scroll down for full recipe card and quantities.)

Flour – All purpose flour for the base of the cake batter.
Cocoa – Unsweetened cocoa powder for a chocolaty flavor.
Leavening – Baking powder and baking soda give rise to the batter while baking and salt balances the flavor.
Sugar – A combination of granulated sugar (white sugar) and light brown sugar for sweetness.
Butter – Unsalted butter or salted butter gives this cake a rich flavor and moist texture.
Whole Eggs – Eggs stabilizes the cake batter.
Flavoring – Vanilla extract balances the flavor.
Espresso – Espresso powder intensifies the chocolate flavor without making the cake taste like mocha.
Liquid – Buttermilk for moisture.
Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting – Butter, cocoa powder, sour cream, powdered sugar, almond extract and heavy cream or milk to thin to spreading consistency.

ingredients-to-make-the-best-chocolate-cake-ever

How to Make Best Chocolate Cake Recipe

Heat Oven and Prepare Pans – Preheat oven butter and flour three (8)-inch round cake pans.
Wet Ingredients – Use an electric mixer to cream together butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla. Add the eggs one at a time beating well after each addition.
Dry Ingredients – Use a whisk to sift flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, espresso powder and salt.
Combine – Add flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternately with the buttermilk beginning and ending with flour. Beat the batter on medium-high just until creamy.
Transfer Batter to Pans – Divide chocolate cake batter evenly between the prepared pans.
Oven – Bake per the recipe until a toothpick inserted into the center comes back clean. (Moist crumbs are fine!)
Cool – Cool in the pans on a cooling rack just until warm to the touch. Remove from the pan and cool completely.
Make the Chocolate Frosting – Place cooled cake layers on a cake stand or platter.
Frost the Cake – Frost between layers, top and sides of cake. Decorate with sprinkles, if desired.
Chill until serving.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Best Chocolate Cake

Electric mixer. You can use a stand mixer or a hand mixer.
Large bowl, medium bowl.
Whisk.
Measuring cups and measuring spoons.
Three 8-inch cake pans.
Wire rack.
Cake stand or platter.

Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions

Cocoa Powder – I used Dutch process cocoa for this dark chocolate cake batter and chocolate frosting, which gives it a more intense chocolate flavor. You can use classic unsweetened cocoa powder in place of dutch-process cocoa powder with no other adjustments needed.
Buttermilk – Buttermilk results in a moist cake. You can make your own adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to every 1 cup of whole milk. Let stand for 5-10 minutes then stir and proceed with the recipe.
Adjust the Frosting – For the chocolate frosting, begin with 5 cups of powdered sugar and all of the sour cream. Only after all of the sour cream has been added, test the consistency. For a thinner frosting add milk or heavy cream 1 tablespoon at time. For a thicker frosting, add more powdered sugar mixing until combined.
Wax Paper for Easy Clean-Up- Cut strips of wax paper and arrange overlapping to keep the cake stand clean while frosting the cake. Gently tug and remove when finished. You can also use parchment paper.
Frosting Options – Once you master making a chocolate layer cake recipe from scratch, the sky’s the limit with frosting choices. You may enjoy a strawberry icing, classic cream cheese frosting, brown sugar frosting or dulce de leche cream cheese frosting or a vintage fluffy seven minute frosting. You just can’t go wrong.
Garnishes – Chocolate nonpareils, or jimmies, make a pretty trim to the edge of this cake. Use a spoon to gently press into place, while the frosting is still wet. This is optional, of course.

Storage and Leftovers

Make-Ahead Tip – The cake layers can be baked, cooled and wrapped in plastic wrap ahead of time. Store them chilled in the fridge for up to 2 days before frosting. They also freeze well for make-ahead baking.
Leftovers – Store this fudgy chocolate cake chilled in an airtight container for up to one week.
Freezer – Freeze leftovers for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge and enjoy.

More Southern Style Chocolate Dessert Recipes to Make

While chocolate may be associated closely with Valentine’s’ Day or Mother’s Day there’s simply no occasion where it wouldn’t steal the show. For the chocoholics in your life, you may also like to try my recipes for:

German Chocolate Cake is frosted with a caramel like coconut pecan icing.
Dark Chocolate Hot Fudge Sauce for drizzling over ice cream, waffles and cake.
Double Fudge Mississippi Mud Cake topped with marshmallows and a fudgy frosting is irresistible.
Treat the family to Crockpot Hot Chocolate.
Flourless Chocolate Cake for the gluten free dessert lovers.
Fudgy Chocolate Doughnuts are baked not fried.
Mini Chocolate Cakes from Celebrating Sweets

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