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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. Anna Cripps on June 4, 2021 at 7:47 pm

    5 stars
    Wow this is a truly amazing cake! Made for my husbands birthday and everyone thought it was delicious and were asking for the recipe. It turned out perfectly. Thank you!

    • Jane's Patisserie on June 7, 2021 at 4:25 pm

      Ahh thank you so much I am so happy it went down so well xx



  2. Beth on May 22, 2021 at 5:54 pm

    5 stars
    Hi Jane,
    How would you scale up this recipe to make 3 layers in 8″ cake tins?

    Love your bakes!
    Thanks so much 🙂 x

    • Jane's Patisserie on May 24, 2021 at 12:36 pm

      Hiya! Use 1.5x the recipe. Aww thank you so much!xx



  3. Fiona James on May 18, 2021 at 2:44 pm

    I’m making this cake for chocoholics but also cover the sides of it. Will this amount cover it or do I need extra?

    • Jane's Patisserie on May 19, 2021 at 1:58 pm

      Hello you might need another half but also the frosting is a lot slacker than normal so it may not work xx



  4. Vicky on May 13, 2021 at 7:53 am

    HI Jane,

    What type of dark chocolate would you recommend?

    Thanks x

    • Jane's Patisserie on May 15, 2021 at 10:34 am

      Hello! 70% or darker x



  5. S Patterson on May 13, 2021 at 7:46 am

    5 stars
    I’m just wondering could u possibly use spur cream instead of buttermilk

    • Jane's Patisserie on May 15, 2021 at 10:34 am

      No you need to use buttermilk x



  6. Danielle on May 12, 2021 at 2:43 pm

    3 stars
    Really disappointed with this, yes the cake is super soft and moist but you can absolutely taste the coffee. It tastes like burnt coffee. I didn’t even put the full table spoon in as I hate coffee. I had a piece 15 minutes ago and can still taste it in my mouth. 🙁

    I’d make it again but definitely leave out the coffee.

    • Jane's Patisserie on May 15, 2021 at 10:27 am

      How strange! No one else seems to be able to taste it, perhaps its just a personal taste!xx



  7. Katherine on May 4, 2021 at 8:56 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious cake – the best thing I’ve ever baked! No one could taste the coffee – you were right.

    Topped mine with Peanut M&Ms and Twirl Bites – and the frosting is sooo delicious.

  8. Laura on April 18, 2021 at 11:08 am

    Hi

    I want to bake this but as a 6 inch cake rather than 8 inch.
    Could I just split the mixture between 2 6inch tins? If not, how should I scale down?

    Thanks x

    • Jane's Patisserie on April 19, 2021 at 5:28 pm

      Hello! A 6inch recipe is usually 2/3rds of an 8 inch xx



  9. Emma on April 5, 2021 at 5:19 pm

    5 stars
    Hi, this sponge is super delicious. How come it got a crackly top like a brownie? Thanks.

    • Jane's Patisserie on April 6, 2021 at 1:34 pm

      Hello! This could mean that there was too much air in the mixture. I am so glad you enjoy the sponge!x



  10. Resh on April 3, 2021 at 12:54 am

    Hi Jane,

    I have two 7” tins and only require 6 slices of cake, do you think it would be ok to just half the recipe?

    Thanks,
    Resh

  11. Clíodhna on March 31, 2021 at 4:22 pm

    5 stars
    Hi Jane, I made this cake yesterday and it was delicious!
    I have been asked to make it again but in two 10inch cake tins, I’m just wondering what measurements would you recommend?
    Thanks!!

  12. Sarah on March 29, 2021 at 9:49 pm

    Hi, I’ve made this a few times, each time, whilst delicious, the cake sinks… I’ve troubleshooted but cannot get it right!
    Any tips please?

  13. Naomi on March 29, 2021 at 4:28 pm

    This is honestly my favourite chocolate fudge cake recipe ever! So rich, moist and fudgey. Absolutely delicious and not difficult to make. Thank you Jane!

    • Jane's Patisserie on April 1, 2021 at 10:56 am

      Yayyy I’m so glad you love it, thank you so much!xx



  14. Charlie on March 26, 2021 at 7:58 pm

    Hi Jane,

    I am not able to have dairy, what could I use in place of buttermilk? Thanks

    • Jane's Patisserie on March 27, 2021 at 10:09 am

      Hello! You can make your own vegan buttermilk by using soy milk and 1tbsp of Lemon juice, mix them together and let them sit for 5 minutes before using x



  15. Claire Small on March 25, 2021 at 5:31 pm

    Hi Jane

    Can I make the cake today (thursday) and keep in airtight tin and frost and eat on Saturday?!

    Just wanted to be prepared.

    • Jane's Patisserie on March 26, 2021 at 1:03 pm

      Hii! Yes you can x



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