Serving up just one result for the search "The Best Chocolate Cake" wouldn't be very helpful, and this is why... everyone has a different idea about what they think is the best version of a chocolate cake, so this post gives you choices based on what you like!
Here are the best chocolate cake recipes for beginners - easy, moist, and reliable chocolate cakes you can bake at home, from simple sheet cakes to layered celebration cakes.
The Best Chocolate Cake Recipes And When to Make Them
- When You are Short on Time: Chocolate Nut Cake
- Top Pick for Beginners: Chocolate Sheet Cake with Chocolate Cream Cheese
- An Extra Special Celebration Cake: Ferrero Rocher Chocolate Cake
- A Classic Chocolate Cake: Bar One Chocolate Caramel Cake
- Best Cake with a Twist: Chocolate Espresso Martini Cake
Whether it's a cake that needs to be a show-stopper birthday cake like this Bar One Chocolate and Caramel Cake, or a cake without frosting like this Chocolate Nut Cake, this list has you covered!
This post is all for the chocolate lovers, but don't forget to have a look at my collection of Easy and Delicious Cake Recipes for more less-chocolatey cake ideas.
Jump to:
- The Best Chocolate Cake Recipes And When to Make Them
- Easy Chocolate Cake Without Frosting
- Chocolate Cake with Caramel
- Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
- Boozy Chocolate Cake Recipe
- Dark Chocolate Sponge Cake Recipe
- Chocolate Cake Recipe with Nuts
- Vanilla and Chocolate Cake
- Chocolate Coconut Cake
- The Best Chocolate Cake Recipes FAQs
- More Easy Layer Cake Recipes
- Happy Baking, With Love, Kitty
Easy Chocolate Cake Without Frosting
This Chocolate Nut Cake recipe is for an easy chocolate cake made with oil, drenched in two different sauces after baking for extra moistness! The first sauce is a sweet milk sauce, and the second is a milk chocolate-hazelnut sauce!
I have made this recipe countless times since I was 12, and it is still the most requested cake of mine! It's quick to make, and if you prep, it can be ready in just over an hour.
Chocolate Cake with Caramel
This Bar One Chocolate and Caramel Cake is probably my top recipe on this list! The sponge is moist and has a light chocolate flavour, with a fluffy texture! This recipe makes two cake layers, sandwiched with a homemade caramel filling, and the cake is covered in Bar One chocolate frosting. If you don't have Bar Ones, then Mars Bars will also work.
Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
This easy Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting is perfect for beginner bakers looking to make their first birthday cake! Baking and decorating sheet cakes is a great way to find kitchen confidence.
The sponge of this cake has a rich, dark chocolate flavour that pairs really well with the chocolate cream cheese frosting. It is perfect for people who don't love super-sweet desserts.
Boozy Chocolate Cake Recipe
This Espresso Martini Cake recipe is perfect for a boozy birthday cake for someone special who loves espresso martini cocktails! This cake would also be a hit at any New Year's Eve celebration.
This recipe is for 3 layers of fluffy chocolate sponge stacked on top of each other. The layers are with a dark chocolate espresso ganache and a coffee Swiss meringue buttercream. This is a naked cake, so decorating skills don't need to be top-tier either!
Dark Chocolate Sponge Cake Recipe
This moist dark chocolate cake recipe is made from two layers of dark chocolate sponge covered in a luscious cream cheese frosting. This Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting recipe is perfect for those who love a dense, super-chocolatey sponge! If you'd like to try this cake with other frostings, see my collection of Buttercream Frosting Recipes.
Chocolate Cake Recipe with Nuts
This Ferrero Rocher Cake is the ultimate celebration of everyone's favourite little chocolate. This recipe is for 3 layers of fluffy chocolate sponge layered together and covered in Nutella buttercream. Between the cake layers, there are roasted hazelnuts and chopped Ferrero Rocher chocolates. Trust me, this cake will get you the baking cred you're looking for!
Vanilla and Chocolate Cake
If, like me, you love vanilla sponge covered in chocolate frostings made with melted chococolate rather than cocoa powder, this Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Frosting Recipe is what you've been looking for!
Chocolate Coconut Cake
All lists need a wild card, and this Bounty Coconut Chocolate Cake recipe is just that, the chocolate cake you didn't know you needed! This cake is made from two layers of vanilla coconut cake, filled with coconut flavour thanks to coconut milk and desiccated coconut. The cake is covered in a decadent melted chocolate frosting and decorated with Bounty Bars, absolutely delicious!
The Best Chocolate Cake Recipes FAQs
Chocolate cakes that don't need to be stacked and frosted are much easier for beginner bakers, which is why this Chocolate Sheet Cake with Chocolate Cream Cheese is a good pick. Cakes that are made with oil instead of butter are also easier for beginners, and that's why this Chocolate Nut Cake is a good option.
Birthday cakes need to feel a little different to make them feel special, and that's why I love making this Ferrero Rocher Cake with Nutella Buttercream for birthdays. This Espresso Martini Cake is also fantastic for an adult-only special celebration!
For these recipes, I recommend using an electric mixer. If you don't have an electric mixer, try making this Chocolate Nut Cake; you can use a handheld whisk to beat the egg whites.
I know you're going to have a hard time choosing which one of these delicious, easy chocolate cake recipes to begin with, so my recommendation is to make all of them!
More Easy Layer Cake Recipes
Happy Baking, With Love, Kitty
If you give any of these delicious chocolate cake recipes a try, please leave a star rating and comment below! And if you're wondering what to try next, have a look at these Passion Fruit Cookies!
Yettibisi says
Thank you for sharing. Just came across the page. I love to know more about cake.
Cat Spiller says
Thank you so much for your comment, I hope you give a few of these recipes a try 🙂