Description
A dense, moist, and fudgy chocolate cake enhanced with instant espresso powder for deeper flavor. This one-bowl recipe is easy to make, budget-friendly, and stays moist for days.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (250g) All-Purpose Flour
- 2 cups (400g) Granulated Sugar
- ¾ cup (75g) Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- 1 tsp Salt
- 2 tablespoons Instant Espresso Powder
- ½ cup (115g) Butter, softened
- 2 Large Eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- 1 cup (240ml) Hot Water or Hot Coffee
- ½ cup (120ml) Milk
- ½ cup Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips (Optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 9-inch round cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper. Dust with cocoa powder.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and espresso powder until no lumps remain.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk softened butter, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
- Gradually add the wet mixture to the dry mixture. Beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes until combined. The batter will be thick.
- Slowly pour in the hot water (or hot coffee) and milk. Mix on low speed until just combined. The batter will become thin.
- If using, gently fold in chocolate chips with a spatula.
- Pour batter evenly into prepared pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with moist crumbs.
- Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then invert onto a cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.
Notes
Use hot liquid to bloom the cocoa powder for richer flavor. Ensure ingredients are at room temperature for best emulsification. Do not overmix the batter to avoid a tough texture. The espresso enhances chocolate flavor but does not make the cake taste like coffee.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 40
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 5
Keywords: chocolate cake, fudge cake, espresso cake, easy baking, one bowl cake, moist chocolate cake, anniversary dessert