It doesn’t get much easier than this Chocolate Bundt Cake – a moist chocolate cake with a satiny smooth chocolate glaze. This is a cake anyone can make, and that everyone wants to eat!
This one is for all of the chocolate lovers out there! For even more chocolate favorites, check out this Chocolate Cream Pie, this Chocolate Bread Pudding, or these Homemade Brownies.
When it comes to cake (or dessert, I should say…), I don’t discriminate. Chocolate or vanilla, fruit covered or covered with a rich glaze. With a filling or just plain. Layered, sheet, or bundt. If it’s cake, I probably just want a big slice of it.
A couple of months ago, I volunteered to bring dessert to our monthly family dinner. I had been dying to remake my Root Beer Bundt Cake, so I decided to go with a bundt cake theme. Along with that Root Beer Bundt Cake, I also made a Buttermilk Cake as well as this Chocolate Bundt Cake. I had made both of the other cakes previously, but since they were both cakes from scratch, I knew I needed a cake that I wouldn’t have to worry about failing at the last minute. I had made this cake recipe as cupcakes before, and I knew it would translate easily to a bundt cake. And I was right!
This is a cake recipe you always need to have bookmarked for when you need a recipe you can count on. I know that it is going into my loved recipe stack!
Using Cake Mix as a Base
I usually prefer a cake from scratch versus a cake made with a cake mix. Mostly because I prefer the texture. Scratch cakes tend to be a little bit more dense versus the large, airy crumb you get when you use a cake mix. But here’s the other thing – I think that most people end up preferring the cake mix cakes, simply because that is what they grew up with and that’s what they are used to. Neither is the right answer, neither is the wrong answer. But they are a little bit different.
Although overall I prefer the texture of a scratch cake, there is no denying that cakes that start with a cake mix are not only super easy, but they are a lot more fail-proof. I can’t tell you how many bundt cakes I’ve had fall or that have been impossible to remove from the pan. But when you start with a cake mix, somehow those usually aren’t issues as much as they are with cakes from scratch.
This Chocolate Bundt Cake is filled with chocolate flavor. It starts with a chocolate cake mix and a box of instant pudding mix. Then the addition of sour cream ensures that the cake is nice and moist, and a rich chocolate glaze gives it its double dose of chocolate. This cake rises beautifully and was a very popular cake that night at family dinner.
How To Make This Chocolate Bundt Cake
- Start by prepping your bundt pan. It’s very important to grease the pan well, then dust it with flour. For a bundt cake, I prefer to use butter or shortening to grease the pan versus a nonstick cooking spray.
- While I often use my stand mixer to make desserts, this cake is easy enough to make with a hand mixer or even with just a whisk or spatula. In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix and chocolate pudding mix. Add in the sour cream, oil, and milk, followed by the eggs. Then stir in the warm water.
- Pour this batter into the prepared bundt pan. Then bake it until a tester inserted in the middle comes out clean or only with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool the cake, then turn it upside down onto a serving plate.
- To make the chocolate glaze, melt the butter, chocolate chips, and corn syrup in a double boiler. I do this by simply putting a heat safe bowl over a pot with about an inch of water in it. Make sure the bowl is large enough so that it doesn’t touch the water. Heat gently and stir until the chocolate is melted and the glaze is smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla, then drizzle over the cake while the icing is still hot.
More Fabulous Bundt Cake Recipes
Apple Bundt Cake with Caramel Frosting
Coconut Bundt Cake
Almond Joy Candy Bar Filled Chocolate Bundt Cake
Orange Cake
Lime Poppy Seed Cake
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Chocolate Bundt Cake
Ingredients
Cake:
- 1 (15.25 oz) package chocolate cake mix
- 1 (3.9 oz) package instant chocolate pudding mix
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup milk I used 2%
- 4 eggs lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup warm water
Chocolate Glaze:
- 3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 335ºF. Generously grease the inside of a 10-inch bundt pan with butter or shortening and dust it with flour. Tap out any excess flour.
- In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix and the chocolate pudding mix. Add the sour cream, vegetable oil, and milk and beat to combine. Add the eggs and mix until combined. Stir in the warm water.
- Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan. Bake until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, or until the cake bounces back when you lightly touch it, about 45 minutes.
- Cool the cake completely in the pan then invert the cake onto a serving plate.
- To make the glaze, place a heatproof bowl on a small pan with an inch or two of water in it. Turn the heat to medium. Place the chocolate chips, butter and corn syrup in the bowl. Stir until the chocolate chips are melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
- Drizzle the warm glaze over the cooled cake on the serving plate. Allow the glaze to set up before serving.
Peggy says
I loved this recipe so much! I used a BC Super Moist Cake Mix (Chocolate Fudge) and a box of Dove Dark Chocolate pudding mix!!! It turned out sooo moist and delicious! Then I added P’s Double Fudge icing!!! I’m in chocolate Heaven!!! Perfect recipe!!!
Deborah says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the review!!
Deb says
Have a question please…could Bailey’s or possibly Guinness or other be added to this cake for st pats day?
Deborah says
Hi Deb – I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure, but I’m guessing that you could.
Dianna fenton says
My 90 year old Mamaw makes this cake. About 50 times a year. That’s not even an exaggeration. She adds chocolate chips and doesn’t do the glaze. We call it Louetta cake because the recipe came from her friend Louetta. I’m a everything from scratch person myself but this is a really good one.
Lena says
Can you please recommend which brand of cake pix and chocolate pudding? Thank you!