Devil's Food Cake

4.51 from 55 votes

A sinfully delicious Devil’s Food Cake made with rich cocoa powder, tangy sour cream and fresh, bittersweet coffee. This obscenely fudgy chocolate cake takes dessert to a whole new level of decadent goodness!

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Cool30

Total Time1 15

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 337kcal

Author: Jocelyn Delk Adams

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter room temperature
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar packed
4 large eggs room temperature
2 tbsp oil
1 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
3/4 cup hot brewed coffee
3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sour cream room temperature
Swiss Meringue Buttercream Find the Full Recipe HERE! if desired, halve the recipe

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 9x2-inch round cake pans, line the bottoms with parchment paper, grease the parchment and flour the pans. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed for 3 minutes, until light and fluffy. On low speed, add the eggs, on at a time. Add the oil and vanilla and beat until well mixed, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula.
In a small bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder and hot coffee until smooth. With the mixer on low, add the chocolate mixture to the batter.
Still with the mixer on low, slowly add half of the flour mixture to the batter, then all of the sour cream, then the remaining flour mixture, mixing each addition until combined. With a rubber spatula, fold the batter until it is well mixed.
Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans and smooth the tops. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then turn the cakes out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
Slice each cake layer in half horizontally. Place the bottom of the first cake, cut side up, on a flat serving plate and spread 1 cup of frosting on the top. Place the top of the first cake, cut side down, on top and spread another 1 cup of frosting on top. Next, place the top layer of the second cake on top, cut side up, and frost with another 1 cup of frosting. Finally, place the bottom layer of the second cake, bottom side up (so the top of the cake is flat). Frost the top and sides of the cake. The cake can be stored, covered, for up to 3 days. If you use the meringue buttercream, the cake should be refrigerated; bring to room temperature prior to serving. If you use any other type of frosting (a traditional vanilla, chocolate, cream cheese, etc.), the cake can be stored at room temperature.

Notes

How to Store Devil's Food Cake

Make sure you wrap leftovers tightly with plastic wrap or place it in a cake carrier to keep it fresh for up to 3-4 days. If you need it to last any longer than that, add to the fridge.

Just make sure you let your slices come back to room temp before you eat them.

How long will devil cake last in the fridge?

It should stay all good for up to 5 days.

Can I freeze?

Absolutely boos! Start by chilling the cake in the fridge so the frosting gets firm. Next cut slices, wrap them in plastic wrap and add to freezer bags releasing excess air. Label with the date. They should stay all good in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge then bring back to room temp before you indulge again.

NOTES: For the Frosting, you can use my Swiss Meringue Buttercream but I would halve the recipe since it makes quite a lot of frosting!

This cake naturally makes 2 layers however if you want to make 4 simple cut the two layers in half for a taller cake.

Nutrition