Easy One-Bowl Chocolate Cake Recipe for Moist and Tender Crumb
A quick and easy one-bowl chocolate cake with a moist, tender crumb that melts in your mouth. Perfect for any occasion, this recipe uses simple pantry ingredients and minimal equipment.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Total Time: 45-50 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups (220g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (65g) unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch-processed)
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (120ml) vegetable oil (can substitute with melted coconut oil)
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk (or dairy-free milk with 1 tbsp vinegar)
- 1 tsp instant espresso powder (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8 or 9-inch cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
- Stir in the granulated sugar to the dry mixture.
- Make three wells in the dry mixture and add vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Pour in the buttermilk slowly while mixing gently.
- If using, stir in the instant espresso powder to deepen the chocolate flavor.
- Using a hand mixer or whisk, beat the ingredients on medium speed until smooth and fully combined, with no lumps.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, checking at 30 minutes by inserting a toothpick into the center. It is done when the toothpick comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack and remove the parchment paper to cool completely.
Notes
[‘Use room temperature eggs for a lighter crumb.’, ‘Do not overmix once flour is added to avoid a dense cake.’, ‘Spoon and level cocoa powder to avoid bitterness.’, ‘Oil keeps the cake moist longer than butter.’, ‘Check oven temperature with a thermometer for best results.’, ‘Espresso powder enhances chocolate flavor without coffee taste.’, ‘Clean up while the cake bakes to save time.’, ‘Avoid opening the oven door frequently during baking to prevent sinking.’, ‘Cool cake completely before cutting to prevent crumbling.’]
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12th of c
- Calories: 250
- Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Protein: 3
Keywords: chocolate cake, one-bowl cake, easy chocolate cake, moist chocolate cake, quick dessert, simple cake recipe