A great chocolate cake recipe is something everyone needs in their recipe collection (along with a Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting of course!). We use this one as the base for fancy variations, like our our popular German Chocolate Cake and Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake. This moist chocolate cake recipe has become my all-time favorite over the years, and it’s also one of the very first recipes I ever shared here on TBFS, way back in 2010! I think I’ve made hundreds of cakes since then, and this is still my favorite recipe. Thank you Hershey’s! It’s everything you’d hope for from a homemade chocolate cake; incredibly moist and tender, with a fantastic homemade chocolate frosting. And, did I mention how easy it is to make? Let’s me show you: *I originally shared this recipe June 2010. Updated June 2019, April 2021 and April 2023. Add Wet Ingredients: Eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla and mix until well combined. Add Boiling Water: Stir to combine (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow cakes to cool in the pan for a few minutes before inverting onto a cooling rack. Cool completely before frosting. Make Frosting: Combine butter and cocoa powder. Add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Mix for several minutes until smooth and fluffy. Assemble and Frost: Place one cake layer on serving tray. Spread a generous amount of frosting on top. Add second cake layer. Frost top and sides of cake with remaining frosting. Enjoy the best chocolate cake for birthdays, parties, or anytime! To Freeze: Allow the cakes to cool completely then wrap each layer in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to three months. I like to frost the cake while it’s still frozen, and let it come to room temperature before serving.
The material in this blog post references the trademarked brand “Hershey’s.” The use of this trademark is for informational and editorial purposes only and does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Hershey Company. This post contains affiliate links.
