Classic Christmas Chocolate Cake
⏱ Time & Yield
- Prep: 20 minutes
- Bake: 30–35 minutes
- Yield: Two 8-inch layers (or one tall 9×13 cake)
🧾 INGREDIENTS
🍫 Chocolate Cake
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- 1½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup buttermilk (or milk + 1 tbsp vinegar)
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup hot coffee (or hot water)
🥣 INSTRUCTIONS (STEP-BY-STEP)
🔹 Step 1: Prep
- Preheat oven to 175°C / 350°F.
- Grease and line two 8-inch round pans.
🔹 Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together:
- Flour
- Sugar
- Cocoa powder
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
🔹 Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients
- Add eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla.
- Mix until smooth.
- Slowly pour in hot coffee while mixing (batter will be thin — this is good!).
🔹 Step 4: Bake
- Divide batter evenly between pans.
- Bake 30–35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool in pans 10 minutes, then turn out onto racks to cool completely.
🎄 CHRISTMAS DECORATING IDEAS
- Frost with chocolate ganache for a rich look
- Add white buttercream snow on top
- Decorate with berries, rosemary, or gold sprinkles
- Use as base for Santa, Rudolph, or sleigh cakes
⭐ PRO TIPS
- Coffee enhances chocolate flavor (no coffee taste)
- For extra moist cake, brush layers with simple syrup
- Chill layers before frosting for clean edges
🧁 OPTIONAL FROSTINGS
- Chocolate Buttercream
- Cream Cheese Frosting
- Peppermint Buttercream (holiday favorite)
- Chocolate Ganache
🫙 STORAGE
- Wrapped unfrosted layers: 2 days room temp
- Refrigerated: 4–5 days
- Freezer: up to 2 months