The Ultimate Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake Recipe

Discover how to make the most decadent, moist chocolate layer cake with rich fudge frosting. Perfect for special occasions or whenever you’re craving an intensely chocolatey dessert!

If you’ve been searching for the perfect chocolate cake recipe that’s both impressive and achievable, you’re in the right place. This Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake is everything a chocolate lover dreams of – deeply chocolatey, incredibly moist, and covered in a silky-smooth fudge frosting that’ll make you weak in the knees.

What Makes This Chocolate Cake Special?

There’s chocolate cake, and then there’s this chocolate cake. What sets it apart is its perfect balance of rich chocolate flavor and incredibly moist texture. The secret? A combination of quality cocoa powder and hot water (or coffee, if you’re feeling adventurous) that creates an intensely chocolatey cake that stays moist for days.

Key Ingredients for Success

For the Cake Layers

• All-Purpose Flour: Creates the perfect structure without being heavy
• Quality Cocoa Powder: Don’t skimp here – use the best unsweetened cocoa powder you can find
• Buttermilk: Adds tenderness and a subtle tang that enhances the chocolate flavor
• Hot Water or Coffee: The heat helps “bloom” the cocoa powder, intensifying the chocolate flavor

For the Fudge Frosting

• Real Butter: Use unsalted butter for better control over the final taste
• Heavy Cream: Creates that luxurious, silky texture
• High-Quality Cocoa: Again, quality matters for the best chocolate flavor

Essential Tips for Perfect Results

1. Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your eggs, buttermilk, and butter are at room temperature before starting
2. Don’t Overmix: Mix just until ingredients are combined to ensure a tender cake
3. Check Early: Start checking for doneness at 25 minutes – overbaking is the enemy of moist cake

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preparing Your Workspace

Before diving in, get everything ready. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare your cake pans – nothing’s worse than having your batter ready with nowhere to put it! Pro tip: line the bottoms of your pans with parchment paper for foolproof removal.

2. Making the Cake Batter

The magic starts here. Whisk together your dry ingredients first – this ensures even distribution of the leavening agents. Then, combine your wet ingredients separately. When you mix them together, you’ll notice the batter is quite thin – don’t panic! This is exactly what creates that perfect, moist crumb we’re looking for.

3. The Baking Process

This is where patience becomes your best friend. Your kitchen will start smelling like a chocolate paradise around the 20-minute mark, but resist the urge to open the oven door! Let the cakes bake until a toothpick comes out clean, usually about 30-35 minutes.

4. Creating the Fudge Frosting

While your cakes cool (and they must cool completely!), prepare the fudge frosting. This isn’t your average chocolate frosting – it’s a rich, fudgy dream that spreads like silk and sets to a gorgeous finish.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

• Make-Ahead: Bake the layers up to 2 days in advance, wrap well in plastic wrap
• Storage: Keeps beautifully at room temperature for 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week
• Freezing: Unfrosted layers can be frozen for up to 2 months

Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake Recipe

Recipe by Kyla EvansCourse: DessertCuisine: American

Servings

12

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

50

minutes

Calories

380

kcal

Ingredients

• For the Cake:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1½ cups granulated sugar

• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1½ teaspoons baking powder

• 1½ teaspoons baking soda

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 2 large eggs, room temperature

• 1 cup buttermilk

• ½ cup vegetable oil

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 1 cup hot water (or hot coffee)

• For the Fudge Frosting:

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened

• ½ cup heavy cream

• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1½ cups powdered sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• Optional Fudge Drizzle:

• ½ cup heavy cream

• ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 9-inch cake pans.
• Mix dry ingredients:
• Whisk flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl
• Combine wet ingredients:
• In separate bowl, whisk eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla
• Add to dry ingredients, mix until just combined
• Stir in hot water carefully
• Bake:
• Divide batter between pans
• Bake 30-35 minutes until toothpick comes out clean
• Cool 10 minutes in pans, then remove to cooling racks

Notes

• Room temperature ingredients create the best texture
  
• Don't overmix the batter
  
• For extra richness, use hot coffee instead of water
  
• Can be made ahead and frozen unfrosted for up to 2 months
  
• Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days

Ready to indulge in chocolate heaven? Give this recipe a try and share your results with us! Tag your creations with #ChocolateFudgeLayerCake on social media – we’d love to see your masterpiece. Have questions? Drop them in the comments below, and I’ll help you create the perfect chocolate cake!

Looking for more chocolate desserts? Check out our related recipes for [Turtle Chocolate Layer Cake] and [Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake Cake]!