How to Make the Best Chocolate Cake from Scratch

There’s nothing quite like a rich, moist chocolate cake to satisfy your sweet tooth. And while store-bought mixes can be convenient, making a chocolate cake from scratch is a rewarding experience that will impress your friends and family. Plus, the taste and texture of a homemade chocolate cake are unmatched by anything you can buy at the store.

If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and get baking, here’s a step-by-step guide to making the best chocolate cake from scratch:

Ingredients:
– 1 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
– 1 and 3/4 cups granulated sugar
– 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
– 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
– 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
– 1 teaspoon salt
– 2 large eggs
– 1 cup milk
– 1/2 cup vegetable oil
– 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
– 1 cup boiling water

Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
2. In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. Add the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients and mix on medium speed for 2 minutes.
4. Stir in the boiling water until the batter is well combined. The batter will be thin, but that’s okay – it will result in a moist and tender cake.
5. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
6. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing them and transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. Once the cakes are completely cool, you can frost and decorate them as desired.

For the frosting, you can use a simple chocolate buttercream or ganache. To make chocolate buttercream, beat 1 cup of softened butter with 3 and 1/2 cups of powdered sugar and 1/2 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder until smooth and creamy. Add a splash of milk if needed to achieve the desired consistency. For ganache, heat 1 cup of heavy cream until simmering, then pour it over 8 ounces of chopped semisweet chocolate. Stir until smooth and glossy.

Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just craving a decadent treat, this homemade chocolate cake is sure to satisfy your chocolate cravings. So grab your apron and get baking – your taste buds will thank you!