This Double Chocolate Cake is a moist, rich chocolate cake that is topped with a fudge chocolate frosting. It is the perfect cake for any chocoholic!
If you love chocolate desserts, also try this Chocolate Mousse or Chocolate Pound Cake.
Any day is a good day for this Double Chocolate Cake! I feel like everyone needs a good chocolate cake in their baking arsenal, and this Double Chocolate Cake is just that.
This cake is perfect for a birthday celebration, but also a perfect family night dessert as well. Moist and full of chocolate flavor, the cake is perfection. And the frosting is fudgy and sweet and oh, so good. This cake is perfect for any chocoholic!
I have been checking out cookbooks from the library lately. They have a very large selection, but most of the books are a bit dated. Not to say that the books aren’t good, but it’s hard for me to preview some of the books that are people are raving about when the library doesn’t carry the newer books. So when I saw The Cake Book by Trish Boyle, I new I had to check it out. I have heard it’s praises sung on many different blogs, and have been wanting to take a look inside for quite some time.
I went back and forth between several chocolate layer cakes, but settled on this sour cream chocolate cake. I also decided to go with her fudgy chocolate frosting.
I set out to make the cake the night before. The cake came together effortlessly. After the layers had cooled and after I had cut them to make them even, I threw the scraps into a bowl off to the side. I then started to make dinner. My husband came into the kitchen and picked up a scrap of the cake, throwing it into his mouth. And then he took another piece, and then another! He claimed that is was the best chocolate cake that he had ever had, and wanted to just eat chocolate cake for dinner!! I have to agree, this cake is amazing. It is so moist with just the right amount of chocolate.
I will also say, that although the frosting was a good frosting as well, you could probably get away without frosting it at all. I may try it with just a sprinkle of powdered sugar, because the cake itself is just that good!
Here are more birthday worthy desserts:
Funfetti Frosting
Sour Cream Cheesecake
Pistachio Pudding Cake
Almond Joy Candy Bar Filled Chocolate Bundt Cake
Dark Chocolate Cake with Nutella Buttercream
Red Velvet Ice Cream Cake Recipe
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Double Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
Cake:
- 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 large eggs at room temperature
- 2/3 cup sour cream at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and then cooled
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil or other neutral oil
- 1 1/4 cups ice-cold water
Frosting:
- 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate
- 3 ounces bittersweet chocolate
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar*
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream*
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease the bottom and the side of two 9-inch round cake pans. Line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper, then grease the parchment paper. Dust the sides and bottom with flour and tap out any excess.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour, 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar, 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt
- In another medium bowl, whisk the eggs lightly. Add the sour cream and vanilla and whisk until blended.3 large eggs, 2/3 cup sour cream, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- Place the cooled butter and vegetable oil in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix together on low speed. Add the cold water and mix to blend. Add the dry ingredients all at once and mix on medium-low for 1 minute. Add the egg mixture, and mix for an additional minute or until well blended, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.10 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2/3 cup vegetable oil, 1 1/4 cups ice-cold water
- Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared baking pans.
- Bake the cakes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30-35 minutes. Cool the pans on wire racks for 15 minutes, then invert the cakes onto the wire racks, peel off the paper, and then allow the cakes to cool completely.
- To make the frosting, place both the unsweetened and bittersweet chocolate in a stainless steel bowl and place that bowl over a pan of simmering water, making a double boiler. Heat, stirring frequently, until the chocolate is completely melted. Remove from the heat and allow to cool until tepid.3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, 3 ounces bittersweet chocolate
- Place the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat the butter at medium speed for about 30 seconds. Gradually start adding the powdered sugar, then beat on high until creamy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the vanilla extract. With the mixer on low, add the cooled chocolate, beating until blended, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the cream as needed to make the frosting a spreadable consistency. Increase the speed on the mixer and mix until the frosting is slightly aerated, about 1 minute.1 cup unsalted butter, 3 cups powdered sugar*, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream*
- To assemble the cake, level the cooled cake layers, if needed. Place one layer on a cake stand or serving plate. Spread a layer of the frosting on the cake, then place the second layer on top. Frost the outside and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting.
Belinda says
Your cake looks beautiful, and sour cream always creates such a rich, decadent taste and texture…now I want to go search for this cookbook too. 🙂
Dharm says
Looks lovely Deborah! How nice of you too to bring in cakes for your co-workers birthdays! Mine is on the 29th November if you’d like to send some over!! *Cheeky grin*
Kevin says
That looks great! I like the idea of the sour cream in the cake.
April says
Is there anything sweeter than a piece of chocolate cake and chocolate icing?! YUM!! My mouth is watering!
Abby says
I’ve heard great things about that book, too. Thanks for sharing! Great picture, too, by the way.
sunita says
I wish I was your co-worker :)..that’s one scrummy cake!
Nicole says
What a beautiful beautiful chocolate cake! I’m gonna have to check out that book!
Cynthia says
I bet the people at the office LOVE you very much 🙂 I particuarly like the composition of the second photograph.
KJ says
Your cake looks so good. I wish I could chomp into a piece right now.
Meeta says
Oh you are soooo cruel to this chocolate addict — showing me but not allowing me to indulge! Looks really good Deborah!
The Baker & The Curry Maker says
Oh yeaarr! That looks so good. Your work place is so lucky!
Nirmala says
I just want to take a big bite right now! This looks so good.
Rachel says
I love that cookbook, it is one of my favorites.
Anh says
isn’t it the cake on the cover of the very book? Oh, you have done a great great job!
Butta Buns says
Uh oh, I’m going to have to extend my lunch break so I can dash across the street for a chocolate fix now.
The photos are lovely, I especially like the angle on the 2nd picture. I made something very similar for my colleagues this year and it was a hit. Lucky coworker! Is your office hiring? Because I’d be your personal assistant if you baked me goods like this!
Jenn says
That cake looks delicious! I am sure it would satisfy a chocolate craving better than anything else…!