Best-Ever Chocolate Cake Recipe

Best-Ever Chocolate Cake Recipe Best-Ever Chocolate Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Rating 4

You can't miss with this delightful old-fashioned dessert. The cake is moist and chocolaty, and its light, fluffy frosting stirs up in a jiffy. Use vanilla pudding instead of chocolate in the frosting if you wish. -Catherine Dawe, Kent, Ohio

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Best-Ever Chocolate Cake Recipe
  • Prep: 15 min. Bake: 40 min. + cooling
  • Yield: 12-15 Servings
15 40 55

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 6 tablespoons baking cocoa
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups water
  • 2/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • FLUFFY CHOCOLATE FROSTING:
  • 1 cup cold milk
  • 1 package (3.9 ounces) instant chocolate pudding mix
  • 1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions

  • In a bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Add the water, oil, vinegar and vanilla. Beat on low speed for 1 minute. Beat on medium for 1 minute.
  • Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
  • For frosting, in a bowl, beat the milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Beat in whipped topping. Spread over cake. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 12-15 servings.

    Editor's Note: This cake does not contain eggs.

Nutritional Facts 1 serving (1 piece) equals 365 calories, 13 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 2 mg cholesterol, 443 mg sodium, 58 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 4 g protein.

Originally published as Best-Ever Chocolate Cake in Taste of Home June/July 2003, p33

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Reviews for Best-Ever Chocolate Cake

Best-Ever Chocolate Cake Recipe

Best-Ever Chocolate Cake

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(0-26) of 26 reviews

Reviewed on Oct. 27, 2012 by melanna

This is my go-to chocolate cake recipe. I have been making it for years. I have made it as sheet cakes, cupcakes, shaped cakes, layered cakes. It always works. I use shortening and cocoa to grease and "flour" the pans and then they always come out.

I love that the cake part (without the icing) is egg-free and dairy-free (since we have family who can't have those things). When I do make the icing, it's a hit, but this cake is also good with a butter-cream or fondant topping.

It's not super sweet and it's not super rich, but it's still super good and that's why I like it!

Reviewed on Apr. 13, 2012 by micheleclow

Oops, wrong recipe. The one I was trying to get an answer on has the same name.

Reviewed on Apr. 13, 2012 by micheleclow

This cake was absolutely delicious. I've make it twice, once in a cake pan and last night in 3 round 8". I wish someone could tell me why the cake practically fell apart when I took them out of the cake pans. Except for that though, it was quite tasty.

Reviewed on Feb. 19, 2012 by tknoll06

This recipe definitely lives up to it's name! I was alittle worried as I was making it in my Wilton Giant Cupcake pan for the first time. I doubled the recipe and made the big cupcake plus 18 regular sized! I shared it with my coworkers and my husband's coworkers and everyone loved them! Just finished leftovers and it only seemed to get better the longer it was refrigerated!

Reviewed on Nov. 22, 2011 by jeanhenson51

This is my favorite chocolate cake recipe. I get request for it as well as requests for the recipe. It is quick and easy to make.

Reviewed on Sep. 26, 2011 by Abby_21

So busy making my comments on the cake I forgot to give it 5 stars!

Reviewed on Sep. 26, 2011 by Abby_21

Hubby declares this to be the best chocolate cake he has ever tasted! Normally chocolate cake bothers both his stomach and mine. This one does not do that. Not sure why. I just made my normal chocolate butter icing as I had the ingredients on hand. Made no other changes. Easy to put together, common household ingredients and fantastic taste. This is the ONLY chocolate cake I will make from now on.

Reviewed on Apr. 24, 2011 by Nitnole711

Ok this cake is good, but definitely NOT the best ever. Try 'Moist Chocolate Cake' on this website..much better!

Reviewed on Feb. 21, 2011 by mgarif

It's delicious! This recipe is a keeper.

Reviewed on Feb. 14, 2011 by jonesy85

I have been making this cake for years and We all love it, Also used different pudding flavors.. Moist and easy to make.. You cant go wrong with this one..Like cakes use to taste... Yummy yummy yummy.:)

Reviewed on Aug. 02, 2010 by gmtwitch

I have made this cake several times and it has always been a hit. At a church potluck, it disappeared fast! I love how easy it is to make, and the cake is so moist. My whole family loves it!

Reviewed on Jul. 24, 2010 by pcinant

Very moist cake. My kids loved this cake !!

Reviewed on Jul. 08, 2010 by Shelly413

This is the best-ever chocolate cake. Everyone always wants the recipe. So very moist. I have used many different pudding flavors and the cake is wonderful by itself.

Reviewed on Jun. 11, 2010 by suegirl

I LOVE this recipe! I looked it up to make for a girl's night out. I've made it as a birthday cake for my husband, and he loves it too! This is an easy from scratch cake recipe - it comes out perfect everytime I make it.

Reviewed on Jan. 20, 2010 by jenny73

My family loved this cake!

Reviewed on Dec. 13, 2009 by hannahbanana16

I followed the directions properly and this had to be the worst thing i ever baked, i just don't know what went wrong. It was overly moist and tasted like a too chewy and moist piece of cake. It barely tasted chocolatey and i even used Ghiradelli baking cocoa. It tasted more sugary with a whole bunch of flour, and the frosting was a bif off for my taste. I usually dont complain and eat whatever, but this by far tasted horrible to me. Any suggestions?!!!

Reviewed on Nov. 19, 2009 by JBLORD-2007

It also freezes very well and is still excellent after thawing. I freeze small portions so I can take out one or two servings as desired from the freezer.

Reviewed on Aug. 20, 2009 by Mussi

I,ve added 1 cup of apple sauce to cake mixture and 1ttbs of natural unsweetened cocoa to the froorsting for extra chocolate flav

Reviewed on May. 31, 2009 by shaunaanne

Found this highly rated recipe and used in for a funeral luncheon I was organizing. I never had made it before but passed the recipe out. It was super yummy. Quickly disappeared from the buffet table.

Reviewed on May. 23, 2009 by countess cookie

Made this cake for a birthday. Everyone loved it! We especially enjoyed the creamy frosting.

Reviewed on Mar. 29, 2009 by purpleirismama

Made this into cupcakes, minus the frosting. It is incredibly moist and rich, yet fluffy. Everyone loved it! A new easy and delicious favorite.

Reviewed on Mar. 07, 2009 by julieandkavin

This really is the best chocolate cake ever! So is the frosting!

Reviewed on Dec. 18, 2008 by txmom1

Every time I make this cake, the recipe is the first thing they ask for when they can talk!! I have change the pudding & whipped topping flavors too. I have also put a regular frosting on it and it makes no difference, the cake still tastes awesome!!

Reviewed on Dec. 12, 2008 by mary therese

Whoever tasted this cake asks for the recipe. I have passed it along to tens of my friends and they've all added it to their rescue recipes book.

We all love it even without the frosting.

Mary

Reviewed on Aug. 26, 2008 by 2greyhares

WOW very easy and delicious.

Reviewed on Dec. 31, 2007 by monkeybug

YUMMY!!! What else can I say? This cake is delicous, and easy to prepare. I could eat an entire bowl of just the frosting!

 
 

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