Best 20 Cocoa Cake Recipes

COCOA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Using a spoon, make 3 wells in the dry ingredients. Pour oil into the first, vinegar into another and vanilla into the third. Slowly pour water over all. Beat on low speed until thoroughly combined (batter will be thin). , Pour into a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30-35 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

OLD-FASHIONED CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH COCOA FROSTING

Steps:

• Make cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour three 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Sift first 5 ingredients into medium bowl. Mix water, oil and vanilla in large bowl. Whisk in dry ingredients. Divide batter among pans. Sprinkle 1/2 cup chocolate chips over batter in each pan.
• Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks 15 minutes. Cut around pan sides to loosen cakes. Turn cakes out; cool completely.
• Make frosting:
• Beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Gradually beat in 3 cups sugar. Beat in 6 tablespoons milk and vanilla. Add cocoa and remaining 2 cups sugar; beat until blended, thinning with more milk if necessary.
• Place 1 cake layer, chocolate-chips side up, on platter. Spread 2/3 cup frosting over. Top with second cake layer, chocolate-chips side up. Spread 2/3 cup frosting over. Top with remaining cake layer, chocolate-chips side down. Spread frosting over sides and top of cake. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome; let stand at room temperature.)

CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH COCOA FROSTING

Steps:

• In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine cocoa and water until smooth; add the oil and butter. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1 minute. Remove from the heat. , In a large bowl, combine flour and sugar; gradually add cocoa mixture, beating until well combined. Beat in buttermilk and eggs. , Pour into a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 28-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. , Cut cake into four 7-1/2x5-in. rectangles. Wrap two of the rectangles separately in foil; refrigerate or freeze. Set the other two rectangles aside. , For frosting, in a small saucepan, combine the butter, cocoa and milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1 minute (the mixture will appear curdled). , Pour into a large bowl. Gradually add confectioners' sugar and vanilla; beat until frosting achieves desired spreading consistency. Spread frosting between layers and over the top and sides of cake. Unfrosted cakes may be frozen for up to 6 months.

COCOA CAKE BROWNIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, stirring well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; gradually add to butter mixture just until moistened., Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (do not overbake). Cool on a wire rack.

COCOA-BUTTERMILK LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Prep the cake materials: Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 F. Butter two 9 x 2-inch round cake pans with a pastry brush, dust the interiors with flour, tap out the excess and line the bottoms with rounds of parchment or wax paper. Put the pans on a baking sheet.
• For the cake: Whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Beat the butter until soft and creamy in a stand mixer, preferably fitted with a paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl. Add the sugar and beat until it is thoroughly blended with the butter, about 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl halfway through for even mixing. Add the eggs yolks one at a time, then the eggs one at a time, beating for 1 minute after each addition and scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla.
• Reduce the mixer speed to low. Beginning with the dry ingredients, alternate adding the dry ingredients and the buttermilk; add the dry ingredients in 3 portions and the buttermilk in 2. Mix only until each new batch is blended into the batter (i.e., do not overmix). Scrape down the bowl and, if you want, add the melted chocolate, folding it in with a rubber spatula. Divide the batter between the cake pans. Bake for 26-30 minutes, or until the cakes feel springy to the touch and start to pull away from the sides of the pans.
• For the chocolate malt buttercream: Add the chocolate and half the brown sugar to a heatproof bowl; set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water to temper (melt) the chocolate and sugar, making sure the bowl doesn't touch the water. Meanwhile, whisk the malt powder and cocoa together in a small bowl; add 3 tablespoons of boiling water and whisk until smooth. Set aside.
• In the stand mixer, preferably fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until soft and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the remaining brown sugar and beat until well blended, about 2-3 minutes. Beat in the salt and vanilla extract, then reduce the mixer speed to low.
• When the chocolate and sugar are melted, remove heatproof bowl from the saucepan. Whisking the melted chocolate gently, gradually pour in the malt-cocoa mixture and stir to thoroughly incorporate: it should be dark, smooth, and glossy. Add this chocolate mixture to the stand mixer and mix until smooth, pausing to scrape down the bowl. Still working on low speed, gradually add the confectioners' sugar. When all the sugar is in, raise the mixer speed to medium and beat for a couple of minutes. If the frosting is too thin, pop it in the fridge for a few minutes.
• Remove the cakes from the oven; transfer to racks and cool for about 5 minutes. Run a knife around the sides of the cakes, unmold them, and peel off the paper liners. Invert and cool to room temperature right side up. (Note: Once the layers are cooled, they can be wrapped airtight and left at room temperature overnight or kept frozen for up to 2 months.)
• Assemble the cake: Place one layer on a cardboard round or a cake plate protected by strips of wax or parchment paper. Frost the top of the layer, then cover with the second layer of cake. Frost the top and sides (optional) of the cake, smoothing the buttercream for a sleek look or using a spatula, knife, or spoon to swirl it for a more exuberant look. Remove the paper strips after the cake is frosted. Refrigerate the cake for at least 1 hour (or for up to 1 day, if that's more convenient) to set the frosting, then bring it to room temperature before serving.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COFFEE CAKE WITH COCOA CRUMBS

Steps:

• Combine the flour, brown sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl and mix well. Add the butter and mix thoroughly with your fingers or a fork until all of the butter has been evenly distributed and incorporated into the flour. Form into small to medium clumps with your fingers.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8-inch square cake pan.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a small bowl.
• Beat together the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the sour cream, beginning and ending with the flour, beating until just incorporated.
• Spoon half of the cake batter (it will be very thick) into the prepared pan and smooth with an offset spatula. Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top. Spoon the remaining cake batter on top and smooth the top. Sprinkle on the crumb topping.
• Bake until the cake and topping are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let cool in the pan 20 minutes, then invert onto a plate; invert back onto a rack to cool completely.

BUTTERMILK COCOA CAKE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the cocoa and water until smooth; add butter. Bring just to a boil. Remove from the heat. , In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar and baking soda; add cocoa mixture. Combine eggs, oil and buttermilk; add to cocoa mixture and beat until smooth. , Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. , In a large saucepan, bring the cocoa, butter and buttermilk to a boil. Remove from the heat. Whisk in confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Spread over the warm cake. Sprinkle with pecans if desired. Cool on a wire rack.

HOT COCOA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350° F. Spray a Bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray, and set aside.
• In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the sugar and butter on medium speed until the mixture resembles wet sand. Add the sour cream and mix in well. Add the eggs and then the egg whites, one at a time, beating well after each egg is added. Once all of the eggs are in, add the vanilla extract.
• Combine the coffee powder with the hot water. Add to the mixing bowl.
• In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix until homogeneous.
• Remove the bowl from the mixer and sift the dry ingredients into the mixture. Use a spatula to mix gently until all of the ingredients are completely combined. Add the chocolate chips and mix gently until evenly.
• Pour the batter into the Bundt pan and bake for 50 to 55 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then release onto a cake circle or a plate.

COCOA APPLE CAKE

Steps:

• Cream together until fluffy the eggs, sugar, butter or margarine, and water.
• In another bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and spices.
• Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture and mix well.
• Fold in chocolate chips, apple, and vanilla extract. Stir until these ingredients are evenly distributed.
• Spoon into greased, floured 10 inch bundt or loose bottom tube pan.
• Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 60 to 70 minutes until cake tests done.

BEST CHOCOLATE MAYO CAKE WITH COCOA MAYO FROSTING

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 350. Spray 8x8 inch square pan or 9 inch round pan with non-stick spray. In a large bowl whisk together flour, sugar, soda, and salt. In a medium bowl combine cocoa, chocolate chips, and coffee- whisk until smooth. Add mayo, egg, and vanilla to chocolate mixture, whisk to combine. Pour chocolate mixture into flour mixture, whisk until well blended. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center has only small crumbs attached. Cool in pan ten minutes before inverting onto serving platter. Cool two hours.
• Beat cocoa powder, vanilla, and mayo together until well combined. Add sugar and milk, whip until smooth.
• Frost cooled cake with icing. Enjoy!

COCOA-BUTTERMILK CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter and line with parchment a 9 x 13 cake pan Melt butter, stir in water and cocoa and whisk until smooth.
• set aside.
• sift together flour, sugar, salt and baking soda.
• In a separate bowl, whick together eggs, buttermilk and vanilla.
• Add cocoa mixture and buttermilk mixture to dry ingredients.
• Combine very well.
• Pour into cake pan and bake until skewer comes out clean.
• Cool for 20 minutes while making icing.
• ICING: Melt butter, add buttermilk and cocoa.
• Whisk until smooth.
• Put powdered sugar into a food processor.
• With motor running, pour cocoa mixture through feed tube.
• Do not over process.
• Put a platter over the cake pan, flip over so that the cake comes out onto the platter.
• Remove parchment Pour icing over the top of cake and spread evenly over cake to the edges using an offset spatula.
• Do not worry if some goes over the sides.
• Refrigerate cake for 2 hours.
• Remove from refrigerator and with a serrated knife, trim all 4 sides of the cake about 1/4 inch.
• Cut into pieces to serve.

TEXAS HOT COCOA CAKE

Steps:

• Combine in saucepan cocoa, butter, oil, and water.
• Bring to a boil, stirring; let cool.
• Combine sugar and flour in a large bowl.
• Pour cocoa mixture, when cooled, over flour and sugar; and beat until smooth.
• Combine buttermilk, eggs, soda, cinnamon and vanilla; then beat into above mixture.
• Grease and flour a 13x9 inch pan; bake at 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes.
• Frosting: Start 10 minutes before baking is done.
• Combine frosting ingredients except for confectioner's sugar in a bowl, mix.
• Add confectioner's sugar; stir well, then beat until thick.
• Spoon frosting over hot cake.
• Top with nuts if desired.

MAKEOVER SPICED COCOA-APPLE CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, then egg whites, beating well after each addition. Beat in the buttermilk, applesauce and vanilla (mixture will appear curdled)., Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and allspice; stir into butter mixture just until blended. Stir in the apples, walnuts and chips., Transfer to a 10-in. fluted tube pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 325° for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

COCOA ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH ORANGE GLAZE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. and have ready an ungreased 10-inch tube pan (about 4 inched deep) with a removable bottom.
• In a small bowl whisk together flour, cocoa powder, and 1/2 cup sugar. In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat whites with salt on medium speed until white, opaque, and beginning to hold their shape. Gradually add the remaining 3/4 cup sugar, beating at high speed until whites hold soft (not stiff), slightly glossy peaks. Beat in vanilla.
• Sift one third cocoa mixture over whites and fold in gently but thoroughly, scraping bottom of bowl to prevent lumps. Sift and fold in remaining cocoa mixture, half at a time, in same manner and pour batter into pan. With a knife, make series of side by side chops in batter to remove air bubbles and smooth top. Bake cake in middle of oven 40 to 45 minutes, or until firm to the touch. Invert cake over neck of a bottle and cool completely.
• Run a thin knife around edge of cake and remove side of pan. Run knife under bottom of cake and around center tube to loosen cake and invert cake onto a rack.
• While orange glaze is still warm, quickly pour over cake, spreading evenly over top with a spatula and allowing excess to drip down outside. (Alternatively, spoon glaze into a plastic bag and squeeze into one corner. Snip off corner to make small hole in bag and streak glaze over cake from center outward.)
• While glaze is still wet (to avoid cracking), transfer cake to a platter. When glaze is set, cover cake loosely with plastic wrap or place under a cake dome and keep at room temperature until ready to serve.
• If cake is kept more than 1 day (before or after serving), it should be wrapped in plastic wrap and frozen. Bring cake to room temperature before serving.

COCOA BUTTERMILK CAKE WITH SCROLLED TUILES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-by- 12-inch cake pans, and line with parchment paper. Butter parchment, and lightly dust with cocoa powder; set aside. Sift cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl; set aside.
• Put butter and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Mix in eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Add cocoa mixture in 2 batches, alternating with the buttermilk.
• Divide batter evenly between pans. Bake until a cake tester inserted into centers comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack 15 minutes. Invert cakes onto rack; remove parchment, and reinvert. Let cool completely.
• Trim cakes level. Place 1 cake on a platter. Spread with 1 cup frosting. Top with remaining cake. Spread 4 1/2 cups frosting on top and sides. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a petal tip (such as Ateco #126) with remaining frosting. Pipe a ruffled border along edges. Cake can be refrigerated up to 1 day. Serve with scrolled tuiles.

COCOA LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• For cake:
• Position 1 rack in top third and 1 rack in bottom third of oven; preheat to 350°F. Butter three 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Line with parchment paper rounds; butter parchment. Whisk cocoa and 1/2 cup warm water in small bowl. Whisk buttermilk and 1/2 cup water in another small bowl. Sift flour, baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat both sugars and butter in large bowl until pale yellow and fluffy (mixture will appear granular), about 5 minutes. With mixer running, gradually add beaten eggs, then beat until smooth and fluffy, about 15 seconds. Add cocoa mixture; beat to blend. Add flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with buttermilk mixture in 2 additions, beating to blend after each addition. Divide batter among pans (about 1 3/4 cups each).
• Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, reversing pans halfway through baking, about 18 minutes. Cool completely in pans on racks.
• For frosting:
• Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in sugar, cocoa, espresso powder, and 1/2 teaspoon (scant) salt. Gradually stir in cream. Stir until mixture is very hot and just begins to simmer at edges. Reduce heat to low; stir 1 minute to let flavors blend. Transfer to medium bowl; stir in vanilla (frosting will resemble chocolate sauce). Chill until just thickened, stirring occasionally, about 1 1/2 hours. Let stand at room temperature.
• Run knife around cake sides. Carefully invert 1 cake onto plate (cake is very tender); peel off parchment. Spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Invert second cake onto palm of hand. Position cake 2 inches above frosted cake layer. Carefully slide cake onto first cake layer. Peel off parchment. Spread cake with 1⁄2 cup frosting. Repeat with third cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome; let stand at room temperature.
• Cut into wedges and serve.

EASY COCOA 1-LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Stir dry ingredients together in a bowl.
• Cream butter and sugar in another bowl, add eggs, vanilla and water.
• Mix in dry ingredients.
• Mix well.
• Bake in preheated 350 oven in buttered and floured (or cocoa'd) 9 inch cake pan for about an hour or til cake tests done with a toothpick.
• Cool in pan for an hour then remove to rack and sift powdered sugar over top.

THIRTY MINUTE COCOA CAKE WITH QUICK COCOA FROSTING

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup butter or margarine, 1/4 cup cocoa, and water. Cook over medium heat until butter is melted.
• In a large mixing bowl stir together sugar, flour, soda, and cinnamon. Add cocoa mixture to flour mixture, and blend. Beat together eggs and buttermilk, and blend into batter thoroughly. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Pour batter into ungreased 9 x 13 inch pan.
• Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• To Make Frosting: Five minutes before cake is done, combine 1/2 cup butter, 1/4 cup cocoa, and milk in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, and simmer about 3 minutes; remove from heat. Stir in confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla, blending until smooth. Spread immediately over hot cake in pan. Sprinkle with nuts.

TOASTED MARSHMALLOW-HOT COCOA BROWNIE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom of 9-inch round cake pan with cooking or baking spray. Line bottom of pan with cooking parchment paper, then spray parchment.
• In large bowl, beat brownie mix, oil, milk and eggs with whisk until well combined. Stir in 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips. Pour batter into pan.
• Bake 38 to 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack, then run knife around edge of cake, and carefully remove from pan (discard parchment). Transfer cake to parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.
• Make Ganache: In 1-quart saucepan, heat cream just to boiling over medium-high heat. Remove from heat; add remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips, but do not stir. Let stand 5 minutes, then stir until smooth. Refrigerate about 10 minutes or until slightly thickened. Carefully spread over top of cooled cake. Refrigerate another 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make Frosting: Place egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar in heatproof bowl of a stand mixer, then set bowl over saucepan of simmering water. Beat constantly with whisk about 5 minutes or until sugar is dissolved and mixture is warm to the touch. Remove from heat; transfer bowl to stand mixer. Using whisk attachment, begin to beat mixture on low speed. Gradually increase to high speed. Beat 5 to 7 minutes or until stiff peaks form. Stir in vanilla.
• Spread frosting over top of cake, then refrigerate another 20 minutes. Set oven control to broil. Place cake on cookie sheet under broiler 4 to 6 inches from heat about 30 seconds or until top is lightly browned (alternatively, you can use a kitchen torch). Cool completely; sprinkle with cocoa just before serving.

APPLE COCOA SNACK CAKE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Combine water, oil, lemon juice and vanilla; add to the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Toss apples with sugar and cinnamon; fold into batter. Pour into a greased 8-in. square baking pan. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until cake tests done.