You will never want to celebrate your birthday without this Chocolate Birthday Cake Recipe! Imagine soft, moist chocolate cake covered with creamy, chocolate frosting.
The Heart and Soul of the Best Chocolate Birthday Cake Recipe
My husband is responsible for the recipe behind this Chocolate Birthday Cake. It’s his favorite birthday cake and I’ve been making it for more than 15 years for him.
Cuisine Inspiration: A classic American treat, this Chocolate Birthday Layer Cake is pure joy in every slice.
Primary Cooking Method: Baking transforms the chocolatey batter into moist, delightful layers, complemented by creamy American frosting.
Dietary Info: This is a rich and indulgent treat, so it’s perfect for those looking to indulge.
Key Flavor: Chocolate reigns supreme, delivering a rich and satisfying taste in every bite.
Skill Level: Ideal for those with some baking experience, as creating even layers and the perfect frosting consistency will make this cake shine.
Sweet Highlights:
- Rich Layers: Dive into moist, chocolatey goodness with every slice.
- Creamy Frosting: The chocolate American frosting is smooth, velvety, and downright irresistible.
- Celebration Ready: Perfect for birthdays and special occasions, this cake knows how to party.
- Get Creative: Add your own twist with sprinkles, shavings, or a caramel drizzle.
- Prep Ahead: Bake the layers ahead of time and freeze them for party-ready perfection.
I was raised to think that food was the way to a man’s heart, and I think this cake might be the ticket. It is my auntie Rose’s chocolate cake recipe, and it is quite delicious. It is everything a chocolate layer cake should be:
- Filled with chocolate flavor
- Incredibly fudgy
- The perfect texture
- Insanely moist
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- Large Eggs: The foundation of our cake structure, they’re bringing the fluff and holding it all together.
- Granulated Sugar: Sweetness central! This is what’s making our cake indulgently sweet.
- Cocoa Powder: Hello chocolatey goodness! This is where the deep, rich chocolate flavor kicks in.
- Instant Coffee Powder: A little secret weapon to enhance and intensify the chocolate flavor.
- Salt: Just a pinch to balance the sweetness and elevate the flavors.
- Hot Water: This is going to mix with our cocoa to create a chocolatey oasis.
- All-Purpose Flour: The backbone of our cake, giving it structure and softness.
- Baking Soda & Baking Powder: These guys are the lift providers, ensuring our cake rises to the occasion.
- Vegetable Oil: Bringing in the moisture, for a cake that’s tender and ready to party.
- Buttermilk: Tangy and fabulous, it’s here for moisture and a delicate crumb.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: A splash of sweet, aromatic goodness to round out the flavors.
For the Frosting:
- Unsalted Butter: Soft and creamy, it’s the base of our frosting masterpiece.
- Confectioner’s Sugar: Powdered perfection, making our frosting sweet and smooth.
- Cocoa Powder: Back at it again with more chocolate love.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: Just like in the cake, we’re here for that sweet aroma and flavor.
- Milk: A dash for consistency, making our frosting spreadable and silky.
How to Make Chocolate Birthday Cake
For the Cake:
- Get Set: Preheat that oven to a cozy 350 degrees and show your 9-inch round pans some love with a good spray of non-stick magic.
- Whisk It Up: Eggs and sugar in the stand mixer? Yes, please! Let them dance together on high for a sweet 2-3 minutes.
- Choco Mix: In a separate bowl, mix cocoa, instant coffee, and a dash of salt with hot water. Pour this chocolatey dream into the egg and sugar fiesta happening in your mixer.
- Dry Ingredients, Incoming: Slowly welcome flour, baking soda, and baking powder to the party. Follow it up with the oil, buttermilk, and vanilla extract. Mix until just right – the batter will be on the thin side, and that’s totally cool.
- Bake it Beautiful: Divide that batter evenly between the pans and bake for 22-25 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when a toothpick comes out clean. Give it 10 minutes of rest before moving them out of the pans to cool off completely.
For the Frosting:
- Butter, Sugar, and Everything Nice: Into the mixer they go! Butter, confectioner’s sugar, and cocoa powder. Mix until it’s smoother than a jazz tune.
- Vanilla and Milk Magic: Add a splash of vanilla and enough milk to make it fluffy and fabulous.
- Layer and Love: Frost each layer with care, then show the whole cake some frosting love.
The secret to making an outstanding homemade chocolate frosting is to make it fluffy. The key to fluffy frosting is to continue to mix the ingredients (butter, confectioner’s sugar, cocoa powder, milk and vanilla extract) on a high speed. This will ensure your chocolate frosting is fluffy.
How to Decorate Your Birthday Cake
Now that you have your chocolate cake and chocolate frosting done, your chocolate birthday cake is not complete without sprinkles, candles and other birthday cake toppers.
If you don’t know what a topper is, a birthday cake topper is any decoration to go on top of a cake. Some other examples of cake toppers are:
- Sparklers
- Edible prints with cartoon and comic book characters
- Flowers
Whatever topper you decide, your cake is complete. Get ready to surprise the birthday boy or girl!
How to Store
Wrap your chocolate birthday masterpiece tightly in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container to keep it fresh and fabulous for up to 3-4 days at room temperature. If you’ve got leftovers after the big bash (lucky you!), slide it into the fridge, and it’ll stay scrumptious for up to a week. Just a little tip: if you’re diving back in for another slice, let it sit out for a bit to get back to room temperature – it’ll taste just like it did on day one!
Amazing Chocolate Cake Recipes
- Want chocolate cake in cupcake form? These Perfect Chocolate Cupcakes are amazing!
- Want the best chocolate cake recipe that ever existed? This Chocolate Cake with a blackberry buttercream is decadent and insanely delicious.
- Love berries and chocolate like this recipe? Try my Raspberry Chocolate Cake!
- This Coca Cola Cake is necessary as well!
Chocolate Birthday Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon instant coffee powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup hot water
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
For the Frosting:
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter 3 sticks
- 6 cups confectioner’s sugar
- 3/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup milk
Instructions
For the Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray 3 9 inch round pans with non-stick baking spray.
- Add eggs and sugar to bowl of your stand mixer and beat on high speed for 2-3 minutes.
- While mixture beats, add cocoa powder, instant coffee powder and salt to hot water. Add to eggs and sugar.
- Next slow down mixer and add flour, baking soda, and baking powder then add vegetable oil, buttermilk and vanilla extract to the mixer and beat until just combined. Batter will be sort of thin but this is normal.
- Evenly add cake batter to all three pans and bake for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow to rest for 10 minutes before removing from pans to cool completely.
For the Frosting:
- Add butter, confectioner’s sugar and cocoa powder to bowl of mixer and mix on high speed until smooth.
- Lastly add in vanilla extract and milk until frosting is fluffy and smooth.
- Frost each layer of cake with frosting then frost the entire cake and serve.
Nicole says
My birthday is coming I usually make myself a delicious chocolate cake and homemade frosting, but I’m going to try this one, I love a chocolate cake.
Tammy Taylor says
It’s my third time making this cake …this month! I made it for my husband and my mom …this morning I made it for my own birthday! I can’t begin to describe how absolutely PERFECT this recipe is …and I’ve made many cakes over the years.
I have made this and the lemon pound cake …it brings me SO MUCH joy and a few added inches that are well worth it!
Thank you for sharing your family’s traditions!
Daniella says
Am dying to make this! Do you think I’d be able to substitute sour cream for the butter milk? I don’t have any by me! And what kind of cocoa powder do you use? Natural or Dutch?
Thanks!!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
Surely! Natural cocoa
Annie Malka says
Make buttermilk w milk and vinegar
Olivia says
All I have to say is AMAZING!! This cake made my dad’s birthday celebration. It’s the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had. Even my boyfriend, who doesn’t like cake gobbled up his piece. It’s also easy to make for first time bakers 🙂 enjoy!
Tammy says
I made this 6 days ago (yes …I am counting) for my husband’s birthday. It was hectic – I made my own buttermilk, didn’t have an appropriate oil on hand and used butter and added the flour before the coffee. It was the MOST AMAZING chocolate cake I’ve ever made. Moist and so full of flavor. My husband and I finished it off and I’ll be making another today to celebrate my Mom. Then …another on the 22nd as I’ve told everyone I’ll make my own cake because nothing compares!
I should also share – Chocolate cake is my hubby’s fave. I’m a lemon or pound cake girl. Until now …
THANK YOU!! ❤️
Tammy says
I meant to clarify that even all of my “hectic day” blunders didn’t change the fact that this was AMAZING!!
Hadia says
Its an amazing and simple recipe for chocolate cake I’ve ever tried . I’m in love with it ❤️
Summer B says
This was the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had! Made it for my son’s 3rd birthday and the moment everyone had a bite they were all amazed! So glad I found this recipe and can’t wait to go through and start cooking my way through the rest of the Grandbaby Cakes site!
Ashok says
Thanks Guys, Your Recipe Was Too Fantastic. Me and My Family Loved it. I Will Share your Rrecipe with my friends. Hope they will love it too.
Hema says
Thanks Guys, Your Recipe Was Too Fantastic. Me and My Family Loved it. I Will Share your Rrecipe with my friends. Hope they will love it too.
Bruce says
My birthday cake growing up. Only difference is my Mom put a little brewed coffee in the frosting too. I never had a store bought cake for my birthday!!!