easy chocolate cake recipe

This devil’s food cake is a wildly decadent treat to whip up for any occasion. Essentially, it’s an easy-to-make chocolate layer cake. Buttermilk and oil help to ensure a very moist cake crumb. Coffee is added to deepen the overall taste in richness. (But you won’t taste it—it just acts as an enhancer!) It gets decorated in a creamy chocolate buttercream frosting (plus chocolate sprinkles) to seal the deal. Bottom line: It’s the perfect treat for all chocolate lovers.  

INGREDIENTS



FOR CAKE:

1. Cooking spray
2. 2 c. all-purpose flour 
3. 1 1/2 c. granulated sugar
4. 3/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
5. 2 tsp. baking soda
6. 1 tsp. baking powder
7. 1 tsp. kosher salt
8. 1/2 c. vegetable oil
9. 2 eggs, lightly beaten
10. 1 c. strong black coffee
11. 1 c. whole buttermilk
12. 1 tsp. vanilla extract
13. Chocolate sprinkles, optional

FOR BUTTERCREAM:

1. 1 c. unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
2. 4 c. powdered sugar
3. 1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
4. 4 tbsp. heavy whipping cream
5. 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
6. 2 tsp. vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350° and line two 8" round baking pans with parchment paper. Spray pans with cooking spray around the bottom and rim for good measure. 
2. In a large bowl: whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
3. Add in oil, eggs, black coffee, buttermilk, vanilla extract, and mix until just combined.
4. Using a kitchen scale, divide batter evenly into prepared cake pans.
5. Bake cakes for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of cakes comes out clean.
6. Allow cakes to cool in pans for at least 10 to 15 minutes and then invert cakes onto a wire rack to cool completely.  
7. Make buttercream: using a hand mixer, beat butter together on medium speed until creamy. Working one cup at a time, carefully add in powdered sugar and continue beating until well incorporated. Add in cocoa powder and continue mixing together. Lastly, add in heavy cream, salt, and extract and continue beating until everything is well combined. 
8. Frost buttercream onto cooled cakes, and decorate with chocolate sprinkles, if using. Place decorated cake into the refrigerator for at least one hour prior to cutting into for best results.