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A moist chocolate fudge cake sponge, topped & filled with THE BEST chocolate frosting you will ever make!

So let me introduce to you the only chocolate fudge cake recipe that you are ever going to need. I realise saying that this contains the BEST chocolate frosting ever is quite a statement, but I honestly think it is – its so delicious! I also realised after my Facebook requests post that I hadn’t actually posted my go-to chocolate cake recipe!

This recipe is what I’d make a bruce cake out of to make a Matilda cake, it’s the cake I would use when I am craving chocolate, it’s the recipe I would use if you want something epic and indulgent – it is epic. 

A classic bake

When I posted my recipe for my Victoria sponge – celebration cake I knew you all loved the classics, so I hope this suits well too! However, this cake is so much more indulgent. You can easily make a chocolate version of my Victoria sponge, but this is definitely more dense, and more chocolatey. It’s basically heaven in a bite.

This is the sort of cake that you want to have a slice, and then shove it all in your face. Yes its gooey, and has many more ingredients then you think it probably should have, but it is WORTH IT. Honestly, worth it. It also does seem a little faffy, but again.. its worth it!

Layering it up with the best frosting on the planet, and you will want to devour every single crumb. Because of how it bakes however, it can often take a long time in the oven, and even sometimes less. It’s all down to the mixing!

The cake mix

This recipe will sound like a lot of ingredients, but it’s worth it. Melt the chocolate and butter, and then mix everything into one big bowl… you don’t need a mixer for this bit. 

  • Chocolate – when making this, you want to use dark chocolate in the mixture for best results. I always use 70%+
  • Butter – unsalted butter, or baking spread, will work for the sponges 
  • Coffee – this is mentioned below, but trust me… 
  • Flour – I use plain flour, as your raising agents come elsewhere so you don’t need self raising flour. It’ll make the sponge too delicate 
  • Cocoa – I like my cake super chocolatey, so I add this in as well as the chocolate 
  • Raising agents – baking powder, and bicarbonate of soda for this beauty of a cake 
  • Sugar – a mixture of brown sugar and caster sugar is wonderful – all of one, or all of the other works perfectly though 
  • Eggs – I use medium eggs in my baking, but 3 large would work instead of 4 medium 
  • Buttermilk – this is an important ingredient – you can make your own though with 1tsp of lemon juice mixed into 75ml milk 

Coffee

Chocolate cake is one of those classics that you don’t want to mess with, but sometimes they can be terrible, or not chocolatey enough, or just not moist enough. I have seen over the past few months that people use coffee or instant coffee in a chocolate cake of forms to make the cake more moist and chocolatey – so I tried this!

I personally cannot taste the coffee, and neither could my family – however, If you don’t like coffee, or never buy it then no worries – you can use just water, but the depth of flavour might not be the same!! Please please PLEASE trust in using the coffee though – I really am sure that you will love it! It just makes it basically the best sponge ever!!!

The BEST EVER frosting

The magical ingredient in the chocolate frosting is the evaporated milk – I discovered this after trawling through the internet for hours on end and found a couple of mentions that it might be better – and holy smokes it was.

  • Butter – for this frosting, you MUST use a block butter. You do not want to use any form of spread 
  • Sugar – icing sugar, as always
  • Cocoa – a nice rich cocoa powder is best, I use a 100% cocoa powder 
  • Vanilla – a little bit of vanilla, as always again 
  • Evaporated milk – this is so important. Condensed milk is not a substitute, if you can’t get evaporated milk, add double cream whipped in really well, but it’s still not quite the same 

Tips & tricks 

I do NOT use an electric mixer for this cake recipe, because it will most likely over do it. I just do each bit by hand, and then fold it all together to get a thick fudge cake that bakes to perfection. However, a mixer is good for the frosting side of things! 

It is very soft, so it can be difficult if you want to spread the cake in buttercream, so I find its easier just to make layers. If you do want to cover it, you’ll need to refrigerate the cake for 30 minutes to firm it slightly first, and it’ll be easier

Chocolate Fudge Cake with the BEST Chocolate Frosting Ever!

A moist chocolate fudge cake sponge, topped & filled with THE BEST chocolate frosting you will ever make!
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Category: Cake
Type: Chocolate
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Cooling Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 14 Slices
Author: Jane's Patisserie

Ingredients

Cake Ingredients

  • 225 g dark chocolate
  • 225 g unsalted butter
  • 1 tbsp instant coffee granules
  • 125 ml boiling water
  • 175 g plain flour
  • 25 g cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 200 g white/golden caster sugar
  • 200 g light brown sugar
  • 4 medium eggs
  • 75 ml buttermilk

Chocolate Frosting

  • 250 g unsalted butter (not stork)
  • 500 g icing sugar
  • 50 g cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 100-125 ml evaporated milk

Decorations

  • Sprinkles
  • Anything!

Instructions

For the Cake!

  • Preheat the oven to 160ºc/140ºc fan and grease & line two 8″/20cm cake tins – leave to the side.
  • In a heatproof bowl, microwave the dark chocolate & butter until melted
  • Pour the coffee granules into the boiling water and mix – add the coffee to the chocolate/butter mix and stir well until smooth!
  • In a separate large bowl add the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarb, sugars and mix well so the ingredients are all mixed with each other well
  • Mix the eggs with the buttermilk – and then add all the ingredients together and stir
  • Pour the mixture into the two tins and bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes (can take a little longer in some ovens)
  • Once baked leave to cool in the tin and remove afterwards

For the Frosting!

  • With an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter until its very smooth and supple (couple of minutes)
  • Gradually add the icing sugar & cocoa powder alternatively with the evaporated milk until all is incorporated and add the vanilla essence – beat for a couple of minutes so its extra smooth & creamy.
  • The more evaporated milk you add the more runny it’ll be, and I have found about 100ml-125ml is perfect for me! If it's a little hotter weather however, you may find you need less!

For the Decoration!

  • Decorate your cake how you like and ENJOY! I spread half my buttercream on the first cake, add the second sponge and repeat!
  • And then I sprinkle on all sorts of sprinkles!

Notes

ENJOY!

Find my other Cake Recipes on my Recipes Page!

You can find me on:
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J x

© Jane’s Patisserie. All images & content are copyright protected. Do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words and credit me, or link back to this post for the recipe.

607 Comments

  1. Rukhsana on April 2, 2026 at 4:43 pm

    5 stars
    Best recipe, love it, delicious cake
    Just want ask question can you use self raising flour instead of plain flour?

  2. Abi on January 21, 2026 at 2:47 pm

    The only chocolate cake I bother with now, it’s sooooo good. But oh my goodness does the batter go everywhere 😂😂

  3. Ella on January 2, 2026 at 1:53 pm

    Can I swap the buttermilk for regular cows milk?

    • Jane's Patisserie on January 2, 2026 at 6:25 pm

      No – you need to make it into buttermilk as it’s part of the rising agent x



  4. Lucy on December 16, 2025 at 7:27 pm

    5 stars
    Amazing recipe Jane, the best chocolate cake I’ve ever made!

    Quick question though, could I add evaporated milk to any buttercream to make it rich & delicious? For example, could I add it to a normal vanilla buttercream?

    Thanks in advance 😊

  5. Sophie on December 13, 2025 at 8:12 pm

    5 stars
    I baked this cake for my fiancés birthday and it was absolutely delicious! I also found the recipe super easy which was a win win! I am now going to make this as a dessert for the festive period. A great recipe – thank you Jane!

  6. Nicole Plunkett on December 7, 2025 at 2:44 pm

    5 stars
    Hi,
    Love your cakes. I made one of your drip cakes for my daughter’s 18th. I’m making your chocolate fudge cake. I was just wondering what decorations you have on the top. Thank you

  7. Katie on November 16, 2025 at 9:22 am

    Hi
    Can I use decaf coffee as making this fir my 2 year olds birthday?
    Thanks, Katie

  8. Chris on September 26, 2025 at 1:24 pm

    I’ve made this before and it’s delicious! This time I’m baking it in a rectangular tin (approx 34 x 24 cm) rather than my usual round one (20cm). I’m using the same quantities as in the recipe. How should I adjust the oven temperature and bake time? I was thinking maybe same temperature but bake for around 20 mins?

  9. Ciara on August 5, 2025 at 9:20 pm

    5 stars
    Absolutely love this recipe, it never fails to impress! I receive endless compliments when I make it, it is definitely my go to chocolate cake! I want to make it this weekend for my son’s birthday but I was hoping to add some orange zest to it, would two oranges be enough to use? Thanks in advance 😊

    • J Auger on September 6, 2025 at 6:46 pm

      4 stars
      The first time I made this I forgot to add the caster sugar, I just put in soft brown sugar. It was incredible!!! Everyone loved it. The second time I made it, I added both caster and soft brown sugar. It was a disaster! Far too crusty on top and gooey and undercooked inside. It was just like a brownie.



  10. Katie on July 29, 2025 at 8:56 am

    Can I substitute the evaporated milk in the frosting with condensed milk?

    • Jane's Patisserie on July 29, 2025 at 9:12 am

      The best substitute is actually double cream for a replacement, as evaporated milk and condensed milk are quite different x



  11. El on July 11, 2025 at 3:33 pm

    It’s good, but let’s be honest with the sugar to flour ratio and the butter and chocolate being melted it’s a fancy brownie

    • Jane's Patisserie on July 17, 2025 at 3:13 pm

      Exactly how a chocolate fudge cake should be



  12. Emma on June 19, 2025 at 1:55 pm

    5 stars
    Amazing recipe, the cake was delicious, everybody loved it. Will definitely bake it again, thank you.

  13. Laura on June 4, 2025 at 9:34 pm

    5 stars
    I will make this cake over and over for any family birthdays – it’s ALWAYS a hit. So moist and rich and just the best choccy cake recipe I’ve used. Still eating it a few days later and it’s stayed so fresh

  14. Sarah on April 17, 2025 at 4:40 pm

    5 stars
    Hi
    Chocolate Fudge Cake
    I have made this cake but would like to make again but it would need to be made in advance .
    I see you can freeze the sponge but is it also possible to make the icing in advance and freeze this ?

    • Jane's Patisserie on May 6, 2025 at 9:20 am

      Yes, it can be frozen! X



    • Megan on August 7, 2025 at 6:10 pm

      Can I please ask if you can put food colouring in the frosting? 🙂



  15. Lil on April 16, 2025 at 7:20 am

    Hiya, looking to make this for my son’s bday, I don’t have a stand mix for the icing.. would a hand held whisk be ok or would you recommend I make a different icing?
    Also I tend to just use ‘normal’ chocolate when baking ..so like normal eating dark chocolate, but do you recommend using cooking chocolate for your recipes? ..as I’m pretty sure there’s more sugar in eating chocolate which I probably should consider 😆 – thank you

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