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–+ servings
Frosted old-fashioned chocolate cake sliced into 16 square pieces.

Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cake

This easy old-fashioned chocolate cake is rich, moist, and made in one bowl with simple pantry staples.
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 9 slices

Ingredients

For the Cake:

  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1¼ cups granulated sugar
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder - sifted
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter - softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup hot water

For the Frosting:

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8x8-inch baking pan.
  • In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  • Add butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and hot water. Beat until smooth, about 1 minute, scraping sides as needed.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Let cool for 5 minutes, then transfer onto a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
  • For frosting: Melt butter in microwave or saucepan on stove. Transfer butter to a bowl and mix in powdered sugar, cocoa powder, milk, and vanilla. Stir until smooth. Add a splash more milk if needed until you reach desired consistency.
  • Spread frosting over cooled cake. Slice and serve.

Recipe Notes:

  • Always sift cocoa powder to avoid clumps
  • Use hot coffee instead of water for a deeper chocolate flavor
  • Store leftover cake covered in the fridge for up to 4 days
  • Freeze slices for up to 2 months—great for future treats
  • Let the cake cool fully before frosting to avoid melting

Nutrition Info

Serving: 9slices | Calories: 360kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 321mg | Potassium: 155mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 41g | Vitamin A: 377IU | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutritional information provided is an estimate and is per serving.

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