Hi, I am Elena, and I have a soft spot for chocolate cake recipe. I bake this when friends come over, when a Tuesday feels too long, and when I want that quiet first bite that makes the room go hushed. The crumb sits tender, the frosting slides glossy, and the kitchen smells like a warm hug. We are keeping it easy and friendly, because good cake should not boss you around. You will see coffee in the batter. Trust me, it deepens the cocoa and stays in the background. Think simple chocolate cake recipe done right. One bowl chocolate cake recipe fans will smile here, since we whisk and pour without fuss. If you prefer a milk chocolate cake recipe vibe, swap part of the cocoa for a sweeter brand and the flavor leans softer. I once baked this for a neighbor who swore off dessert. We split a slice and then we did not speak for a minute. Priorities. Craving a twist. Try a quick swirl of strawberry jam between layers for a playful strawberry chocolate cake recipe mood. If you grew up hearing about a 7 up cake recipe at church socials, you will love the same friendly spirit in this pan. Want extra rich. Stir a spoon of warm ganache into the crumb for a tiny chocolate fudge recipe ripple. Grab a fork, we have work to do, and it tastes like joy.
Table of Contents
- 1) Key Takeaways
- 2) Easy Elena Cooks Chocolate Fudge Cake
- 3) Ingredients for Elena Cooks Chocolate Fudge Cake
- 4) How to Make Elena Cooks Chocolate Fudge Cake
- 5) Tips for Making Elena Cooks Chocolate Fudge Cake
- 6) Making Elena Cooks Chocolate Fudge Cake Ahead of Time
- 7) Storing Leftover Chocolate Fudge Cake
- 8) Try these Dessert next
- 9) Elena Cooks Chocolate Fudge Cake
- 10) Nutrition
1) Key Takeaways
- This cake keeps a tender crumb and a glossy fudge finish, which means neat slices and clean plates.
- Hot coffee lifts cocoa flavor and stays quiet in the background, so the cake tastes rich not bitter.
- The batter comes together in one bowl, which saves time and makes cleanup easy on a busy night.
- Ganache spreads smooth and sets with a soft bite, so the first fork slides in without a fight.
- You can serve it plain or with fresh berries, jam, or a cloud of lightly sweetened cream.
2) Easy Elena Cooks Chocolate Fudge Cake
I am Elena from Elena Cooks at https://www.elenacooks.com and this chocolate cake recipe stays close to my heart. This chocolate cake recipe came from many small notes, a few late nights, and a lot of happy forks. I reach for it when a week runs long and when I need a sure thing for a birthday. The batter stirs fast, bakes even, and cools with a soft sheen. We get a cake that smells like cocoa and warm vanilla and home.
We mix by hand, which gives us control and a calm pace. I like that the bowl sits steady and the whisk does the work. A sip of hot coffee slides into the mix and wakes the cocoa. Friends who swear they taste coffee later come back and admit they only taste deep chocolate. If you crave an easy chocolate cake idea, this one fits and keeps its promise with a gentle crumb and a quiet finish.
When readers ask for a best chocolate cake style bake that skips drama, I send them here. The method stands up to busy kitchens and small spaces. If a little helper wants to stir, hand over the whisk and watch the smile grow. For a playful twist, a spoon of strawberry jam between layers brings a hint of fruit. Fans of a 7 up cake recipe vibe love that same friendly spirit here, where the crumb feels light yet sturdy.
3) Ingredients for Elena Cooks Chocolate Fudge Cake
All purpose flour Soft flour builds structure without weight. It helps the crumb stay tender and slice clean. I sift it for air and a smooth mix.
Granulated sugar Fine sugar melts fast and binds the crumb. It sweetens without grit and gives the cake a gentle shine on the cut edge.
Unsweetened cocoa powder Good cocoa makes the flavor round. I use a deep cocoa and let the coffee boost it. The room smells like a warm bakery.
Baking powder This leavener gives the batter lift. It partners with soda and keeps the rise steady from oven door to rack.
Baking soda Soda reacts with the tang in buttermilk. It pushes bubbles through the batter and sets a soft crumb that holds moisture.
Fine salt A pinch sharpens cocoa and balances sweet. The cake tastes fuller and the ganache feels richer next to it.
Eggs at room temperature Eggs bind and lift. When they sit at room temp, they mix smooth and whip a little air by hand.
Buttermilk Tangy milk keeps the crumb tender. It gently feeds the soda for a steady rise and keeps slices soft the next day.
Neutral oil Oil stays fluid when cool. The cake rests soft on day two and day three, which makes this bake friendly for make ahead plans.
Vanilla extract Vanilla rounds the cocoa and adds a sweet aroma that feels like a hug. Just a little does the job.
Hot brewed coffee Heat loosens the batter and deepens the chocolate note. The coffee fades, the cocoa sings.
Semisweet or bittersweet chocolate Chopped chocolate melts smooth in hot cream. It sets glossy on the cake and cuts with a clean line.
Heavy cream Warm cream softens the chopped chocolate and gives the ganache its silk feel on the fork.
Unsalted butter A small piece adds body and a soft shine to the ganache. It helps with spread and gives a mellow finish.
Pinch of salt A tiny pinch sharpens the chocolate note and keeps the ganache from tasting flat.
4) How to Make Elena Cooks Chocolate Fudge Cake
step 1 Heat the oven to 350 F. Grease two eight inch pans. Line the bottoms with parchment and dust the sides with a little flour for easy release.
step 2 Whisk flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Keep the mix even and light with steady strokes.
step 3 In a second bowl whisk eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla. The mix should look smooth and a little shiny.
step 4 Pour the wet mix into the dry mix. Whisk until barely smooth. A few small bumps will settle after the coffee goes in.
step 5 Stir in the hot coffee. The batter turns thin and glossy. This is right and gives a tender crumb for a homemade chocolate cake feel.
step 6 Divide the batter between pans. Tap gently on the counter to release bubbles. Bake for about thirty two minutes until a tester shows a few moist crumbs.
step 7 Cool ten minutes in the pans. Turn out to a rack and let the layers cool fully before you frost.
step 8 For ganache, place chopped chocolate in a bowl. Heat cream to a gentle steam. Pour over chocolate, rest one minute, then stir from the center. Add butter and a pinch of salt. Let it thicken until spreadable.
step 9 Set one layer on a plate, spread a thin coat of ganache, then add the second layer. Cover the top and sides. Let the finish set until it holds a soft shine, then serve your easy chocolate cake with pride.
5) Tips for Making Elena Cooks Chocolate Fudge Cake
Measure dry ingredients with care. Spoon flour into the cup and level the top. Packed flour can weigh the crumb. Light cups give light slices. Small habit, big payoff.
Use room temp eggs and buttermilk. Cold mix can seize cocoa and leave streaks. Warm ingredients blend smooth and give a calm batter that bakes even.
Do not rush the cool. Warm cake melts ganache and makes a slide show on the plate. Let layers rest until the center feels cool to the touch. Then frost without stress.
If you like a milk chocolate cake recipe vibe, swap a third of the cocoa for a sweeter brand and use semisweet chocolate in the ganache. The flavor turns mellow and kid friendly.
For a one bowl chocolate cake recipe day, whisk wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry mix and stir in the hot coffee last. Fewer dishes, same great crumb.
6) Making Elena Cooks Chocolate Fudge Cake Ahead of Time
Plan a day ahead and the cake thanks you. Bake the layers and cool them well. Wrap each layer in plastic and chill. The crumb firms and slices clean. On serving day, bring the layers back to room temp. Frost with fresh ganache and breathe easy.
Ganache keeps well. Make it, let it cool, and store in the fridge. Before you frost, warm it gently over a water bath and stir until it spreads like silk. If it thickens on the cake stand, a warm spatula smooths the finish fast.
For a simple chocolate cake recipe look on a busy weekend, bake cupcakes from the same batter. Chill them in a tin, then glaze the tops with a spoon of ganache. The result packs well for picnics and school events and still tastes like your best chocolate cake day.
7) Storing Leftover Chocolate Fudge Cake
Cut the cake into neat slices and tuck them into a sealed container. Leave it on the counter for two days or move it to the fridge for up to four. The oil in the batter keeps the crumb soft and friendly even after a chill.
For longer storage, freeze slices on a tray until firm. Wrap each one and stack them in a bag. Thaw on the counter. The ganache softens and the crumb tastes fresh. This trick keeps late night cake runs alive and well.
If you plan to serve with berries or a jam layer for a strawberry chocolate cake recipe mood, add those fresh just before you plate. The fruit stays bright and the ganache stays smooth.
8) Try these Dessert next
9) Elena Cooks Chocolate Fudge Cake
Elena Cooks chocolate cake recipe with silky fudge ganache
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 and 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon fine salt
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 cup buttermilk at room temperature
- 1/2 cup neutral oil
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup hot brewed coffee
For the Fudge Ganache
- 8 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of fine salt
Instructions
For the Cake
- Heat oven to 350 F and grease two 8 inch round pans. Line the bottoms with parchment and lightly flour the sides.
- Whisk flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
- In a second bowl whisk eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla until smooth.
- Pour the wet mix into the dry mix and whisk until the batter looks mostly combined.
- Stir in the hot coffee. The batter will be thin and glossy.
- Divide between pans and tap to release bubbles.
- Bake 30 to 35 minutes until a tester comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool 10 minutes in pans, then turn out to a rack and let cool fully.
For the Fudge Ganache
- Place chopped chocolate in a heat safe bowl.
- Heat cream until steaming, then pour over the chocolate. Let it sit one minute.
- Stir from the center until smooth. Add butter, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Let thicken until spreadable.
- Set one cake layer on a plate, spread some ganache, top with the second layer, then cover the top and sides with the rest.
10) Nutrition
Serving Size one slice Calories 470 Sugar 44 g Sodium 360 mg Fat 22 g Saturated Fat 11 g Carbohydrates 65 g Fiber 3 g Protein 6 g Cholesterol 55 mg. Recipe by Elena for Elena Cooks at https://www.elenacooks.com. For flavor notes, we nod to a chocolate fudge recipe core and we keep a gentle hand with sugar, so every bite reads balanced and clean.
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