Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon espresso powder
1 cup milk (you can use substitutes like buttermilk, almond milk, or coconut milk)
1/2 cup vegetable oil (options include canola oil or melted coconut oil)
2 large eggs (room temperature works best for even mixing)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
Instructions
1-First, preheat the oven to 350º F and get two 9-inch cake pans ready by spraying with baking spray, buttering and lightly flouring, or using a pan release.
2-In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 cups sugar, 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon espresso powder until everything mixes well.
3-Next, add 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 2 large eggs, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract to the dry mixture, then mix on medium speed until combined.
4-Reduce the speed and carefully stir in 1 cup boiling water; the batter will be thin, but that’s what makes the cake so moist.
5-Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes, checking with a toothpick to ensure it comes out clean.
6-After baking, let the cakes cool for 10 minutes in the pans before removing them to a wire rack for full cooling.
7-Once cooled, frost with chocolate buttercream for the finishing touch.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
☕ Espresso powder enhances the chocolate flavor; substitute with half the amount of instant espresso if unavailable.
💧 Adding boiling water creates a thin batter that results in a moist texture.
🌱 This recipe adapts well to gluten-free, dairy-free, or egg-free versions with simple substitutions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 124 kcal
- Sugar: 27 g
- Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g