06/05/2026
Old-Fashioned Chocolate Fudge Cake
This easy chocolate dessert is the kind of cake that disappears one slice at a time.
A rich, old-fashioned homemade dessert with a soft, moist crumb and a thick layer of glossy chocolate fudge frosting. It looks like it came from a neighborhood bakery, but it’s surprisingly simple to make. Chocolate lovers know how hard it is to stop after one bite.
Yield
Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients
For the cake
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1½ cups granulated sugar
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup hot coffee
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
For the chocolate fudge frosting
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
How to make it
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9-inch round cake pan.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. In another bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, oil, buttermilk, and vanilla until smooth.
4. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
5. Stir in the hot coffee until the batter is smooth. The batter will be thin.
6. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.
7. Let the chocolate cake cool completely.
8. To make the frosting, heat the cream and butter until steaming. Pour over the chocolate chips and let sit for 2 minutes. Stir until silky smooth.
9. Spread the warm fudge frosting over the chocolate cake, allowing it to gently drip down the sides.
10. Let the frosting set for 20 minutes before slicing.
11. This chocolate cake is delicious at room temperature, but even better with a cold glass of milk or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Serve this old-fashioned chocolate fudge cake when you want a simple homemade dessert that feels like pure comfort.