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How much do you love chocolate? I could live on chocolate alone. That may have been true when I was a fair bit younger but I still love, love, love chocolate. You get the idea. When I set out to make this recipe, my goal was “how chocolaty could I make it.” I think I found out with the Decadent Chocolate Cake. Hence, the name.
Decadent Chocolate Cake
I added a depth of chocolate at each level. The cake has cocoa and espresso in it to deepen its flavor. The chocolate filling is made with cocoa and cream cheese to make it rich. The frosting is made with a dark chocolate cocoa to make it super rich. For those of you that bake, you totally understand how rich this cake is. I really infused a depth of chocolate in all the layers of this cake.
I love making a layer cake. I think they make such a beautiful presentation. It also provides the chance to add different flavors and textures with each layer. Since my goal was chocolate, I played with texture a little. I used cream cheese for both the filling and frosting because I wanted its richness and its velvety texture. In stark contrast to this chocolate flavor and color is this Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting I made not too long ago. This cake was rich with banana flavor and has a very light color. Both recipes are awesome.
The cast of characters for the cake.
Ingredients
The cake being mixed, pre-bake and post baking.
Dry Ingredients
Wet Ingredients Added
Cake Pre-Bake
Baked Caked
The cast of characters for the filling and the frosting.
Filling Ingredients
Frosting Ingredients in Mixer
The layering of the cake with the filling and the frosting.
Filling Layer
2nd Cake Layer
Frosted Cake
The final Decadent Chocolate Cake plated.
Decadent Chocolate Cake Plated
- Chocolate Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon espresso powder
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 1 stick butter, softened
- 1 cup cocoa powder
- 4 cups confectioner's sugar
- 2-3 TBS of milk or cream
- Preheat oven to 350º F.
- Prepare two 9-inch cake pans by spraying with baking spray or buttering and lightly flouring.
- Add flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt and espresso powder to a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer.
- Whisk through to combine or, using your paddle attachment, stir through flour mixture until combined well.
- Add milk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla to flour mixture and mix together on medium speed until well combined.
- Reduce speed and carefully add boiling water to the cake batter. Beat on high speed for about 1 minute to add air to the batter.
- Distribute cake batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes, remove from the pan and cool completely.
- Let your cream cheese and butter soften on the counter then add to your mixer and cream together.
- Stir the cocoa into 1 cup of the confectioner's sugar and slowly add to the cream cheese mixture.
- Slowly add the remaining sugar while your mixer is on a low setting.
- Stir in milk as needed until a easily-spreadable consistency is reached.
- Frost around the side of the cake and carefully pull the paper from beneath the cake when finished.
I made this cake and am about to make the frosting. The pictures appear a bit misleading and the recipe for the frosting doesn’t coincide. It seems that the outer layer of frosting uses a darker cocoa powder but this is not mentioned in the recipe. The center filling looks much lighter and thicker. No other comments mention this which makes me wonder if I am the only on who made this. I do see that many of the comments are from several years ago. I would love to hear from Feed Your Soul Too.
Sandy, I apologize. It has been so long since I made this recipe that I am not totally sure. I do remember that he cake was delicious. I checked with my expert, my wife, and she said that the cream cheese was in the filling and not the exterior. She said the exterior is just softened butter, confectioners sugar and cocoa powder. I hope this helps.
This looks amazing! For some reason, I can’t see the recipe. Can you add it, pretty please with a cherry on top?
Done. I am so sorry I forgot to put it in the post. Enjoy it. It was so good.
This is making me drool! Thanks for sharing
Hope you have a napkin nearby.
This cake looks amazing!! Must make this soon.
Let me know if you try it Nic.
I could eat this any time of day!! This looks delicious!
Michelle, if you are like me, I used to do that all the time. Now, I try to limit my chocolate intake to once per day.
Luscious!
That is the perfect word to describe this cake.
I’m not sure I could live on chocolate, but I do love it! Your Decadent Chocolate Cake looks beautiful, Peter!
This cake is perfection to me and it would fulfill all my chocolate cravings! I’m going to Chicago around Christmas – I explain why in my blog 🙂 – will I be able not to harrass you for a slice of this beauty? 😉
How fun. I will read your post. Let me know if I can help you with anything.
How much do I love chocolate? Let me count the ways… 🙂 Your cake looks so good Perfect for a party gathering!
Now, Celia, you will have to jog just a little farther.
This chocolate cake looks so rich and decadent.. Seems like you have achieved your goal. Can’t get more chocolaty than this..
This cake has my name written all over it!
What a stunning slice of deliciousness!
My favorite dessert is chocolate cake and this does look so delicious and decadent.
When in doubt, go for chocolate.
I am for everything indulgent and decadent when it comes to chocolate cake so I know I will totally love this cake. It shows moistness and deliciousness all over for sure!
Thx Abigail.
This cake is a chocaholic’s dream.:)
Yes it is.
I couldn’t possibly make this decadent chocolate lusciousness. I’d eat the whole thing by myself. And I’m really good at sharing. Looks crazy good!
Love the comment about sharing! I don’t believe chocolate is part of the universal sharing rule.
I could lay my head on that slice of cake. I know it’s messy, but it looks so comfy. 🙂
I assume you meant face first! LOL!
Looks decadent and rich! Great cake recipe.
The two correct words.
Oh Peter, you know the way to a girl’s heart, you had me at chocolate:-)
Very funny Camilla. We could do dessert together for sure!
Delicious – so much chocolate, love this.
That is an understatement Patty!