This chocolate buttermilk cake is incredibly moist, soft, and deeply chocolatey. The buttermilk gives it a tender crumb and slight tang, making it a bakery-style classic perfect for any occasion.
👥 Serves
10–12 slices
⏱️ Prep Time
15 minutes
🕒 Bake Time
30–35 minutes
⏱️ Total Time
50 minutes
🍳 Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Hand or stand mixer
- Cake pan (8–9 inch)
- Oven
- Spatula
🥣 Ingredients
🍰 Cake Batter
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1¾ cups sugar
- ¾ cup cocoa powder
- 1½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup hot coffee or hot water
🍫 Chocolate Frosting (Optional)
- ½ cup butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 2–3 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Buttermilk makes the cake extra soft
- Hot coffee enhances chocolate flavor (no strong coffee taste)
- Don’t overmix batter
- Use good-quality cocoa powder
👨🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare Oven
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F)
- Grease and line cake pan
2. Mix Dry Ingredients
- In a bowl, whisk flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt
3. Add Wet Ingredients
- Add eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla
- Mix until smooth
4. Add Hot Liquid
- Slowly pour in hot coffee or water
- Mix gently (batter will be thin)
5. Bake
- Pour into pan
- Bake for 30–35 minutes
- Check with toothpick (should come out clean)
6. Cool & Frost
- Let cake cool completely
- Prepare frosting and spread evenly
📊 Nutrition Facts (approx per slice)
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fat: 18g
- Protein: 5g
- Sugar: 30g
💡 Tips
- Use room temperature ingredients
- Don’t overbake to keep it moist
- Let cake cool before frosting
- Add chocolate chips for extra richness
🔄 Variations
🍫 Double Chocolate Cake
- Add chocolate chips
🍰 Layer Cake
- Divide into two pans
🧁 Cupcakes
- Bake in cupcake liners (18–20 minutes)
🍫 Ganache Topping
- Use chocolate ganache instead of frosting
🍫 Why It’s Loved
- Super moist texture
- Deep chocolate flavor
- Easy beginner-friendly recipe
- Perfect for any celebration