Description
This 1-bowl quick and easy chocolate cake recipe is your go-to solution for last-minute cravings or surprise guests. Moist, rich, and ready in under an hour, it’s made with pantry staples and topped with a silky chocolate ganache. Whether you’re looking for an easy chocolate cake, a one-bowl chocolate cake, or a simple chocolate cake recipe that doesn’t require a mixer, this one’s got you covered. It’s a fast chocolate cake recipe that doubles as a quick chocolate dessert no fuss, just pure chocolate bliss.
Ingredients
- Cake
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (130g)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar (165g)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 egg
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil (65g)
- ½ cup buttermilk (120g) (or ½ cup milk + ½ tbsp vinegar)
- 1 tsp instant coffee (or ½ tsp for milder flavor)
- ¼ cup boiling water (60g)
- ¼ cup cocoa powder (25g)
- Ganache
- ¼ cup cream (60g)
- 75g chocolate of choice (milk or dark chocolate)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease or line an 8-inch round or square baking pan with parchment paper. Mix dry ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.Add wet ingredients
Add the egg, vegetable oil, and buttermilk to the bowl. Stir until just combined—avoid overmixing to keep the cake tender.Incorporate coffee mixture
Dissolve the instant coffee in the boiling water. Stir this into the batter. It may look a bit thin—that’s exactly what you want for a moist texture.Bake the cake
Pour the batter into your prepared pan. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely before adding ganache.Make the ganache
Heat the cream in a small saucepan or microwave until just simmering. Pour it over the chocolate and let sit for 1 minute. Stir until smooth and glossy.
Top and serve
Spread the ganache over the cooled cake. Let it set at room temperature or in the fridge for a firmer finish. Slice and enjoy!
Notes
If you don’t have buttermilk, just combine ½ cups of milk with ½ tbsp vinegar or lemon juice. Let it sit for 5 minutes to curdle.
Want a deeper chocolate flavor? Use dark chocolate in the ganache or add a handful of chocolate chips to the batter.
You can double the recipe for a 9×13-inch pan—just add 10 minutes to the bake time.
Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temp for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 26g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: quick and easy chocolate cake recipe, 1-bowl chocolate cake, easy chocolate cake, chocolate ganache cake, one bowl cake, simple chocolate dessert