6 Decadent Chocolate Cake Recipes

Image source: Flickr

What’s not to love about chocolate cake? This dessert classic is rich and satisfying in every way. Plus, more and more studies are proving that chocolate boasts numerous health benefits as well. Therefore, there’s never been a better reason to indulge in a delicious and moist piece of chocolate cake.
While it’s easier than ever to find cake mixes in the food store, there’s something uniquely special about making a cake from scratch. These six decadent chocolate cake recipes are sure to satisfy your cravings.

Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cake

A drive at the nearest Golden Corral restaurant will delight you with a piece of old-fashioned chocolate cake. But if you want to replicate their star desert, follow this classic recipe:
Ingredients:

• 2 cups white sugar
• 3 eggs
• 3/4 cup softened butter
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cup milk

For the frosting:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 6 tbsp softened butter
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup milk

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease three 7″ cake pans.
2. In a bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and baking soda.
3. In another bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Add each egg one at a time. Add the vanilla extract.
4. Slowly pour the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Once the dry ingredients are incorporated, pour in the milk.
5. Distribute the batter evenly among the three cake pans. Bake for 35 minutes.
6. To make the frosting, combine all of the ingredients with a whisk.
7. Allow the cake to cool for 15 minutes before frosting the cake.

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Yes! This flourless option is one of the most popular gluten-free chocolate cake recipes you must try at least once in your lifetime.
Ingredients:

• 1 cup softened butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 6 eggs
• 18 squares bittersweet chocolate
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup water

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Grease one 10″ cake pan.
2. Over medium heat, combine the water with the sugar and salt until the sugar is dissolved.
3. Place a glass mixing bowl over a pot of bowling water to melt the chocolate.
4. Mix the softened butter into the melted chocolate. Then, add the water mixture.
5. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
6. Pour the batter into the cake pan. Set the cake pan in a larger baking pan that is filled halfway with water.
7. Bake for 45 minutes.

Espresso Chocolate Cake

Is coffee your drug of choice? With over 201.250.780 million people drinking coffee each day in the US (1/3 of the entire US adult population), this ingredient is pretty important to us!

Coffee lovers will relish the hint of espresso in this recipe.
Ingredients:

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 1 tsp espresso powder
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• Chocolate frosting (see above)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 9″ cake pans.
2. Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, salt, espresso powder, baking soda and baking powder.
3. Add the milk, butter, sugar, vanilla and eggs. Once the mix is well combined, add the water.
4. Pour the batter into the two cake pans. Bake for 35 minutes.
5. Allow the cakes to cool for 20 minutes before adding the frosting.

Brownie Cake

This recipe combines two chocolate classics to make a decadent and rich chocolate cake.
Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 3 tbsp flour
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 tsp salt

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease one 9″ cake pan.
2. Beat together butter and sugar. Whisk in the eggs, one at a time.
3. Add the flour and salt.
4. Bake for 35 minutes.

Chocolate Pudding Cake

Oh, yes! This flourless cake has a soft, pudding-like consistency you will die for!
Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 6 eggs, separated
• 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted
• 1/2 tsp salt
• Butter for greasing

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 2-quart baking dish.
2. Whisk together the egg yolks, sugar and the melted chocolate.
3. In another bowl, whisk the egg whites and salt together until the whites form soft peaks.
4. Fold the egg whites into the sugar, chocolate and yolk mixture.
5. Bake for 35 minutes.

Chocolate Polenta Cake

The polenta in this recipe gives this cake a denser texture that will drive your senses crazy. You must return over and over and over again to this wonderful recipe. 
Ingredients:

• 16 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted
• 1 cup softened butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 10 eggs, separated
• 1/2 cup polenta

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Grease a 10″ baking pan.
2. Combine the melted chocolate with the butter.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the yolks and the sugar. Combine this mixture with the chocolate and butter mixture.
4. In a third bowl, beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks.
5. Fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture.
6. Gently fold the polenta into the batter.
7. Bake for one hour.

Summary

Whether you are celebrating a loved one or preparing yourself a treat for the week, remember, any of these chocolate cake recipes will satisfy everybody’s sweet tooth instantly. For another fabulous classic dessert, please be sure to check out this sugar cookies recipe.