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    Home » Chocolate Cake

    Homemade Chocolate Cake Mix

    author bio
    Updated: Feb 12, 2026 by christina.marsigliese · 56 Comments
    Jump to Recipe

    Making chocolate cake just got easier! I've turned my most popular Moist Chocolate Cake recipe into a homemade chocolate cake mix so you can have it ready and waiting for any time you're in the mood to bake. It is also great for gifting during the holidays. As a Food Scientist I worked in Australia for 3 years developing boxed cake mix formulas for a popular brand called White Wings. I spent countless days in a cake mix factory supervising tons of flour, sugar and cocoa mixing in giant vats. I used this knowledge to create this cake mix so now you can literally dump in the bag of mix, add oil, eggs and other liquids, mix and bake. With this magic mix on hand, you'll be able to make delicious and super moist chocolate cake in no time at all!

    My recipe is already so quick and easy to make, and now you can make it even faster - literally as fast as a box mix, except it contains only simple pantry ingredients. It actually takes under 5 minutes and the cakes bake in under 30, so you can be on birthday, anniversary, or any occasion dessert duty on the fly. I always have a batch in the pantry because my family requests this cake for every special occasion, and even on a Friday night in. We make it at least once a month. My secret is out, and I can't wait for you to have this time-saving mix at the ready for when that chocolate craving strikes. If you prefer a smaller cake, try my single layer Ultimate Moist Chocolate Fudge Cake and you can also check out this One Bowl Chocolate Sheet Cake with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting.

    top view of perfect chocolate cake layer from homemade chocolate cake mix

    WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

    • Simple ingredients - stop buying boxed cake mix that is often lacking chocolate flavor. When you make homemade cake mix, you can control the quality of your ingredients.
    • SO EASY to make - just like store-bought box mix, this cake can be made all in one bowl with a whisk! You don't need a stand mixer, although sometimes I use my electric hand mixer to make it. Either way it works just as well!
    • Moist chocolate cake - the cake is SO super moist! It has the softest texture and stays moist for days without drying out.
    • Perfect crumb texture - the crumb structure on this cake is so even that it looks like a store-bought cake that is full of emulsifiers, except this is homemade with real, simple ingredients!
    • Rich chocolate flavor - you will love the smooth and rich chocolate taste that shines through these cake layers. The flavor gets even better by the second and third day.
    • Fudgy chocolate frosting - I use a rich chocolate ganache made with sour cream for the frosting. It is so easy to make and you don't need softened butter nor icing sugar. It's simple and so decadent and fudgy! Many people have told me this is the best frosting they've ever made!
    homemade chocolate cake mix in bags ready for baking
    top view of perfect chocolate cake layer from homemade chocolate cake mix
    slice of chocolate cake on a plate

    INGREDIENTS FOR THE BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE

    Here are some notes about the ingredients. For a full list of ingredients, check out the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

    • All purpose flour - you do not need specialty cake flour to make a wonderful chocolate cake. Just be sure to measure your flour correctly! Adding too much flour is the most common mistake and leads to tough and dry cake. The most accurate way to measure flour is using a scale. If you don't have one then fluff your flour with a spoon, spoon it into your measuring cup and use a knife to level it off. This batter is meant to be quite runny so refrain from adding more flour to make it thicker.
    • Granulated sugar - my original Best Moist Chocolate Cake recipe uses white sugar and brown sugar. However, to transform it into a shelf stable dry mix, I have omitted the brown sugar due to its moisture content. The moisture in molasses can cause the baking powder to react during storage, so in order to preserve the quality of the mix, it is important to eliminate sources of moisture.
    • Cocoa powder - you can make due with basic quality flour, sour cream, milk and oil but you should get your hands on some good quality cocoa powder! It's the main flavor and you want it to shine so use the best you can find. I love to use this Dutch Process cocoa powder for this recipe. Make sure you use unsweetened cocoa powder and not cocoa mix.
    • Baking powder - use a double acting baking powder. This means it will react and produce gas upon hydration when you mix in the wet ingredients to make the batter, and it will react again when exposed to heat in the oven during baking.
    • Baking soda - sodium bicarbonate is a pure, standard ingredient so any form will work.
    • Salt - salt is one of the most important ingredients to enhance the flavor of chocolate cake, so be sure to use the right amount.
    chocolate cake mix ingredients
    best moist chocolate cake mix
    • Eggs - two whole eggs will set the structure of this cake and help emulsify the batter.
    • Sour cream - one of the secrets to the best moist chocolate cake recipe is sour cream! And a lot of it. Sour cream contributes the dairy undertones, rich flavor and body (thanks to its high protein and fat content) that oil-based cakes lack. Full fat sour cream adds richness and dairy notes to this cake in the absence of butter.
    • Oil - this is an oil-based cake. Although I LOVE BUTTER, oil makes cakes ultra moist since it is an unsaturated fat that is liquid at room temperature. Plus, with this intense chocolate flavor and the sour cream, you won't miss the butter.
    • Pure vanilla extract - vanilla is not in the mix as it is a liquid ingredient, so you will add it with the other wet ingredients.
    • Hot coffee or water - my original recipe uses hot coffee in the batter. The hot liquid dissolves the sugar and activates the leavening agents so that the cake begins to rise and set instantly. It is also the reason why this cake is so moist. Coffee adds subtle roasted flavors that complement the chocolate (it will not taste like coffee), but you can also just use hot water.
    • Dark chocolate - you'll need pure dark chocolate to make this frosting. Anything between 50 and 70% cocoa solids will work, but I highly recommend dark chocolate with 60% cocoa solids. You can blend semisweet chocolate with my favorite bittersweet chocolate callets which are very convenient.
    top view of perfect chocolate cake layer from homemade chocolate cake mix

    HOW TO MAKE THE BEST MOIST CHOCOLATE CAKE FROM HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE CAKE MIX

    This recipe is SO EASY and you can make it all with a bowl and a whisk - no mixer required if you don't have one!

    • STEP 1). Make the dry cake mix. Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and baking soda into a large bowl.
    • STEP 2). Blend in sugar and salt. Add sugar and salt and whisk to blend very well. You can use a stand mixer and mix on low speed for 2 minutes so all of the ingredients are evenly blended, or you can put all of the ingredients into a sealed bag and shake it up so all ingredients are evenly dispersed.
    • STEP 3). Make the batter. Combine wet ingredients. Combine eggs, oil, sour cream and vanilla in a medium bowl and whisk to blend well, then add to the dry ingredients. In a pinch you can also add these ingredients directly to the bowl with the dry ingredients.
    • STEP 4). Mix wet and dry ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix with a whisk or an electric hand mixer on medium-low until blended. It will be thick and somewhat dry.
    • STEP 5). Mix in hot coffee or water. Add the hot coffee or water gradually in two stages to minimize clumps forming and beat until evenly combined and the batter smooth.
    • STEP 6). Bake. Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans and bake for 30-33 minutes until cakes spring back when pressed gently and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer pans to a wire rack and let cool for 15 minutes before inverting onto the rack to cool completely.
    angle view of perfect chocolate cake layer from homemade chocolate cake mix showing moist crumb

    STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS (watch the recipe video at the bottom of the page for a full tutorial)

    Add wet ingredients.

    Add oil, eggs, sour cream and vanilla. Whisk until mostly combined.

    Add hot coffee.

    When the batter gets thick, begin to add hot coffee or hot water.

    whisk batter until smooth

    Whisk in the coffee until batter is completely smooth.

    pour batter into pans

    Divide batter evenly into prepared cake pans.

    baked best moist chocolate cake
    Baked chocolate cake

    BAKING SCIENCE

    This cake is almost like magic because the batter is so fluid that you will be nervous that it won't work, but trust the process! There's science behind the proportions.

    • Sugar:flour ratio - there is more sugar by weight compared to flour in this recipe which is what allows it to be so moist. Sugar is hygroscopic which means that it strongly binds water and will hold onto all the liquid in this batter. Mixing sugar into the flour breaks up the flour particles interferes with gluten development. That's because sugar competes for water and will pull moisture away from flour to prevent gluten network formation during the mixing stage.
    • Cocoa particles - cocoa powder has some starch and does contribute some function of flour to provide structure to the cake, however it does not contain gluten proteins. When the cocoa is dispersed into the flour, it helps to break up the flour particles and also interferes with gluten development.
    • Low moisture mix - removing the brown sugar from my original recipe allows this to be a shelf stable cake mix. Brown sugar has some inherent moisture from the molasses and over time this moisture can enable reactions that can affect the quality of the cake.
    • Water:sugar ratio - there is a lot of moisture in the prepared cake batter and that wouldn't work if there was less sugar in the mix. The sugar binds the water to prevent it from evaporating out, and during baking the starches in the flour and cocoa powder slowly hydrate and swell. They eventually set into a gel network to create the soft moist crumb structure.
    slice of chocolate cake on a plate with fork

    WHAT CAUSES TUNNELING IN CAKES AND WHY ARE THERE HOLES IN MY CAKE?

    Large holes through the baked cake crumb can form for several reasons. This is called "tunneling" and it is often caused by too much chemical leavening, uneven distribution of leavening agents and/or over-mixing which creates tunnels through cakes. In this recipe, it is important to mix the baking powder and baking soda into the dry ingredients very evenly so there are no lumps and the particles are uniformly incorporated into the flour to ensure the cake rises evenly. It is also important not to over-mix the batter after the hot coffee or water is added. You can read all about what causes tunneling and learn how to prevent tunneling in cake in this article.

    tunneling in cake

    WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DUTCH COCOA POWDER AND NATURAL COCOA POWDER?

    Dutch cocoa powder is cocoa powder that has been treated with an alkalizing agent (a basic ingredient) such as potassium carbonate or sodium carbonate. This treatment, combined with certain parameters of pressure and temperature will increase the pH (decrease the acidity) of the cocoa powder to give it a less sour taste, darken the color and help it become more dispersible in water. My preferences for Dutch cocoa powder ones with a higher fat content and they are this Cacao Barry Extra Brute, Ghirardelli Majestic and Green & Blacks Organic.

    Natural cocoa has not been alkalized and is 100% cocoa powder. It has a lighter color and has a very lovely fruity flavor with some pleasant acidity and slight bitterness that is inherent to the cocoa bean. My preferences for natural cocoa are Ghirardelli 100% Cocoa and Hershey's Unsweetened.

    EXPERT BAKING TIPS

    • Sift the ingredients. It is important to evenly distribute the ingredients to ensure the proportions are correct when you are making this cake mix. I use a fine mesh sieve to sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and baking soda. This removes lumps and separates the particles as well as distributes the leavening agents. Add the sugar and salt after if they don't pass through the sieve.
    • Blend the ingredients thoroughly to make a uniform mix. You can use a stand mixer on low speed with the paddle attachment and mix for 4-5 minutes to ensure the mixture is blended evenly. Or, you can place all of the ingredients in a large bag, tie the bag closed leaving a big headspace at the top (i.e. keeping a lot of air in the bag), then tumble and shake up the bag to blend the ingredients like you are a human laundry machine.
    • Use a neutral tasting oil like vegetable, canola or pure sunflower oil for the cleanest flavor to let the chocolate taste stand out.
    • Do not reduce the sugar. The right amount of sugar will make cake moist because it binds water so that it stays tightly in the batter and doesn't evaporate excessively during baking.
    • Keep an eye on the baking time. Set a timer for the first time stated in the recipe and check with a skewer - it should come out clean.
    • Make cupcakes too! You can also use this recipe to make cupcakes. It makes about 18 cupcakes that will take 15-20 minutes to bake.
    • Use a kitchen scale. For best results, weigh your ingredients according to the measurements in the recipe card below using a kitchen scale. This is especially important when you are making a larger batch.
    slice of best moist chocolate cake on a plate with bite and fork

    RECIPE FAQ

    What type of oil is best for chocolate cake?

    Firstly - use a fresh oil! Do not use anything that's been opened for a long time and when you store oil, it should be in a cool dark place. Light and heat accelerate oxidation reactions that can make the flavor turn rancid. My oil of choice for baking is sunflower oil for its clean and neutral taste, but any other oil such as canola or safflower will do. You can even use olive oil, but keep in mind that it will add the taste of olive oil to the cake.

    Which cocoa powder is best for chocolate cake?

    This recipe works with both Dutch process and natural cocoa powder. For a darker color like in this photo, I use high fat Dutch cocoa powder. My preference is this one and this one. Natural cocoa has a wonderful fruity flavor and I like to use it as well. You can use Hershey's natural cocoa or this one that I love.

    What is a substitute for sour cream?

    Sour cream really makes this cake delicious, but if sour cream is not available to you where you live, you can also make this recipe using an equal amount of full fat Greek yogurt. I have tested this and it worked well! Another suitable substitution is crème fraîche which is a type of fermented dairy product somewhere between yogurt and sour cream.

    How hot does the water/coffee need to be for moist chocolate cake?

    The coffee or hot water should be very hot. If you brew fresh coffee, then use it immediately when you make the batter sot it is hot and if you use hot water, then bring a kettle to the boil, measure it out and then start making the batter. It's fine if it cools for 2-3 minutes. If you're making instant coffee, do the same as just mentioned and prepare the coffee fresh off the boil and then start preparing the batter.

    Can I make this recipe without coffee?

    Yes! You can use hot water if you cannot drink caffeine. Or, you can use decaf coffee. You can also make instant coffee instead of brewing a fresh pot, and for this I suggest using 1-2 teaspoons of instant coffee for 1 cup of hot water.

    Why is my chocolate cake batter so thin?

    This batter is supposed to be quite fluid from the hot coffee or hot water that is added in. It will bake up to create a wonderfully moist crumb.

    What is the secret to super moist cake and how do I make my cake more moist?

    It's not more fat! Moisture comes from liquid, not fat. So you can add more butter and more oil, but it will really just make the cake more dense and more tender by shortening the texture. Fat will not make a cake moist as only liquids can add moisture. This cake is moist because of the amount of liquid.

    How do you add moisture to a chocolate cake?

    I normally scoff at a cake recipe that uses only oil and no butter since butter is superior for its flavor. However, oil makes the texture very soft and in turn gives the perception of "moistness". That's because oil is made up of mostly unsaturated fats that are liquid at room temperature. Butter contains more saturated fats that are solid at room temperature, therefore the texture of a butter cake will be more crumbly and firm. 

    Why are my cakes flat?

    If your cakes baked up flat, it may be that your raising agents are no longer active, so be sure to use fresh baking soda and fresh baking powder. It may also happen if you let the batter sit out for too long before baking. In this case the leavening agents will react in the batter and release gases before the batter sets and the gas will escape through the surface of the batter instead of being trapped as air bubbles in the cake crumb structure.

    Can I make this chocolate cake recipe with a 9x13-inch pan?

    If you prefer to use a 9x13-inch pan, then try my One Bowl Chocolate Sheet Cake recipe! It is so fluffy, moist and fudgy with a dark chocolate cream cheese frosting.

    Can I use this recipe to make cupcakes?

    Yes you can! It works great. In this case, bake them for 18-20 minutes.

    STORAGE AND FREEZING

    How to store homemade chocolate cake mix?

    Store this dry mix in a resealable bag and then place the bag in an airtight container for storage in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Do not store it someplace hot as the heat will accelerate chemical reactions from the leavening agents.

    How long will this chocolate cake mix last?

    This chocolate cake mix will keep for up to 3 months when stored correctly.

    How to store moist chocolate cake?

    Store this cake at room temperature, covered or in an airtight container for up to 3 days. You can also store it in the fridge for up to 1 week and bring it to room temperature before serving.

    Can I freeze chocolate cake?

    Yes! I often make the cake layers in advance and freeze them for when I need them. To do this, let the cake layers cool completely on a wire rack. Once cool, wrap them individually in plastic wrap, and then wrap them in aluminum foil. Place them in a resealable plastic bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

    HOW TO MAKE THE BEST CHOCOLATE FROSTING

    Ohhhhh... this frosting. It, too, is made with sour cream and holy heaven! It is smooth, dense, fudgy and not too sweet. You can make it with just a bowl and a whisk - no mixer required. I highly recommend you top this cake off with this recipe for the BEST Chocolate Frosting. 

    If you love cake, check out these recipes!

    Ultimate Moist Chocolate Fudge Cake
    Lemon Pistachio Cake
    Sticky Toffee Date Cake
    Moist Lemon Blueberry Bread
    Olive Oil Chocolate Bundt Cake
    Best Vanilla Cupcake Recipe with Chocolate Fudge Frosting
    Chocolate Chip Banana Cake with Creamy Milk Chocolate Frosting
    Blueberry Peach Upside Down Cake

    For the love of chocolate

    Looking for more decadent chocolate recipes? Try these:

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      The BEST Moist Chocolate Cake Recipe
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      The BEST Chewy Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • bakery style chocolate chip cookies
      THE BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies (Bakery-Style)
    • salted pistachio chocolate chunk cookies
      Salted Pistachio Chocolate Chunk Cookies

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    Here are more delicious cakes to try:

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      Hostess Cake
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      Chocolate Texas Sheet Cake
    • milk chocolate cake with milk chocolate fudge frosting
      Moist Milk Chocolate Cake
    • molten chocolate lava cakes
      Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes

    Video

    Best Moist Chocolate Cake MIX

    Christina Marsigliese, Food Scientist MSc.
    homemade chocolate cake mix
    Making chocolate cake just got easier! I've turned my most popular Moist Chocolate Cake recipe into a homemade chocolate cake mix so you can have it ready and waiting for any time you're in the mood to bake. With this magic mix on hand, you'll be able to make delicious and super moist chocolate cake in no time at all!
    5 from 11 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Servings 2 8-inch layer cakes

    Ingredients
      

    NOTE: I highly recommend using a kitchen scale to weigh the ingredients for the most accuracy. This recipe makes a total of approximately 1260g (+/- 5g) of dry mix which is enough to make two batches of my Best Moist Chocolate Cake.

    Homemade Chocolate Cake Mix:

    • 3 ½ cups (500g) all-purpose flour
    • 1 ⅓ cups (112g) cocoa powder (I prefer this Dutch cocoa or this one)
    • 2 teaspoon (9g) baking powder
    • 2 teaspoon (11g) baking soda
    • 3 cups plus 1 ½ tbsp (620g) granulated sugar
    • 1 ½ teaspoon (9g) salt

    Ingredients to prepare the batter:

    • 3 ½ cups minus 1 tbsp (630g) Homemade Chocolate Cake Mix*
    • ½ cup (118ml) vegetable oil (I prefer sunflower oil)
    • 2 large eggs
    • ¾ cups (180ml) full fat sour cream
    • 1 teaspoon (5ml) pure vanilla extract
    • 1 cup (237ml) hot coffee or water

    1 x Recipe for The BEST Chocolate Frosting

    *I recommend using a scale to weigh out 630g of cake mix. If you use cup measures, then level off 3 ½ cups and remove 1 tablespoon. For reference, 1 cup of Homemade Chocolate Cake Mix is equivalent to 183g.

    Instructions
     

    • Make the cake mix. Use a fine mesh sieve to sift flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and baking soda into a large bowl. Add sugar and salt and whisk to blend very well so the ingredients are evenly combined. Preferably, use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment and mix on low speed for 2 minutes to evenly blend all ingredients. You can also place all the ingredients in a resealable plastic bag and shake it up very well for 30 seconds to distribute the dry ingredients evenly. You will need 630g of this mix to make one batch of cake (one two layer 8-inch cake).
    • Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease two 8-inch round cake pans, dust lightly with flour and line the base with rounds of parchment paper.
    • First prepare the coffee and keep it hot. If you are using instant coffee, add 1 tablespoon of instant coffee granules or 2 teaspoons of espresso powder to 1 cup of just boiled water and set it aside while you prepare the batter.
    • Combine eggs, oil, sour cream and vanilla in a medium bowl and whisk to blend well. Pour into the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix with an electric handheld mixer on medium-low until blended. You can also mix by hand with a wire whisk. It will be thick and somewhat dry. Add the hot coffee gradually in two stages to minimize clumps forming and mix until evenly combined and the batter is smooth. The batter will be quite thin.
    • Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans and tap the pans on the countertop to allow any large air bubbles to surface and pop. Bake for 30-33 minutes until cakes spring back when pressed gently and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer pans to a wire rack and let cool for 15 minutes before running a knife or offset spatula around the sides and inverting the cakes onto the rack to cool completely.
    • While the cakes are cooling, prepare my BEST Chocolate Fudge Frosting.
    • Assemble the cake. Once cakes are cooled, place one cake layer on a serving plate. Use a large offset spatula to spread about ¾ cup of frosting over the top, spreading it out to the edges. Place the other cake layer on top so it aligns with the sides of the bottom layer. Cover the entire cake with frosting and use the offset spatula to even out the sides and make swooshes and swirls on the top layer. Enjoy!

    More Chocolate Cake

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      Flourless Chocolate Hazelnut Torte

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Alex

      April 04, 2026 at 9:16 pm

      5 stars
      I forgot the cake box and needed it for a chocoflan. But the cake part with this recipe came out great. I used greek yogurt instead sour cream and it still turned out great. Easy to make. Thank you

      Reply
      • christina.marsigliese

        April 05, 2026 at 1:57 am

        You are welcome Alex! Glad you enjoyed the recipe 🙂

        Reply
    2. Maria

      April 03, 2026 at 11:33 pm

      Hello I love the red velvet box mix from white wings but I can no longer get it in NZ. Do you have a recipe for this?

      Reply
    3. Maryjane

      January 27, 2026 at 12:41 pm

      5 stars
      What if I have only cake flour,does it change anything and can how do I reduce this batch to a One cup or 2cups batch?
      Thank you

      Reply
      • christina.marsigliese

        January 29, 2026 at 2:52 am

        Hi Maryjane! You can use cake flour, however it will likely crack and be a little more firm.

        Reply
    4. gloria

      January 26, 2026 at 1:06 am

      hi! can i bake everything in one 8inch/9inch round pan then slice the cake in half to get the layers? how long should i bake for then?

      Reply
    5. Michelle

      January 17, 2026 at 1:32 pm

      Can I use black cocoa powder in this recipe?

      Reply
      • christina.marsigliese

        January 17, 2026 at 6:15 pm

        Hi Michelle! I would not recommend it as it will change the flavor.

        Reply
    6. Melanie

      January 11, 2026 at 7:57 pm

      5 stars
      This really is my go-to chocolate cake recipe and just made the birthday prep even easier.
      I ran out of enough eggs, so I subbed 2/4 for the full recipe with 2 Tbs. chia + 6 Tbs water, blended it with the oil and coffee and the cake/muffins turned out as soft and moist as the usual recipe.
      Thanks, Christina, for being my No.1 recipe source for 10+ years!

      Reply
      • christina.marsigliese

        January 12, 2026 at 2:18 am

        You are welcome Melanie! I'm so glad you enjoyed this cake recipe. Thanks for sharing your egg substitute 🙂

        Reply
    7. Izzy

      December 18, 2025 at 4:22 pm

      Can you please supply the ingredient amounts for a single layer cake using your "better than box" recipe?

      Reply
      • christina.marsigliese

        December 19, 2025 at 3:44 am

        Hi Izzy! For clarity and ease, it is best to see my Best Moist Chocolate Cake recipe which is for two layers. So for one layer, half the ingredients.

        Reply
        • Carrie

          February 03, 2026 at 11:58 am

          5 stars
          I have many recipes for cake mix cookies, etc. Do you think I could use this recipe in place of a box cake mix in those type recipes? Thanks!

        • christina.marsigliese

          February 04, 2026 at 3:08 pm

          Hi Carrie! I haven't tested it personally, but if you get to try it please let me know how it works out 🙂

    8. Karen

      December 08, 2025 at 10:45 am

      Hi, we don’t have all purpose flour in SA - could I use 500g of cake flour to get the same result? Thanks. 🌸

      Reply
      • christina.marsigliese

        December 09, 2025 at 2:20 am

        Hi Karen! You could try using a blend of cake flour and bread flour (50:50). If you must use cake flour, it will likely crack and be a little more dry.

        Reply
        • Jess

          February 22, 2026 at 3:09 am

          5 stars
          Kids absolutely loves it. Made cupcakes instead also did yogurt instead of sour cream. Baked for about 20 minutes. Makes 24 cupcakes per batch.

        • christina.marsigliese

          February 22, 2026 at 3:25 am

          Thank you Jess! Glad your kids love the them!

      • Amanda Dodd

        March 29, 2026 at 9:07 pm

        How much sour cream do I use? Thank you!

        Reply
        • christina.marsigliese

          March 30, 2026 at 3:52 am

          Hi Amanda! 3/4 cup or 180ml.

    9. judith judge

      December 08, 2025 at 12:51 am

      5 stars
      hiw long do i bake a 9x13 cake

      Reply
      • christina.marsigliese

        December 08, 2025 at 2:56 am

        Hi Judith! You may need bake 5-10 min longer. Check with a skewer.

        Reply
    10. Chelle

      December 08, 2025 at 12:17 am

      Hello! I’m glad to have found your recipe! One thing though. Unfortunately sour cream is not really a staple for us here in the Philippines. Though supermarkets have it, it’s also a bit expensive. Is there a substitute for it? If so, can you share at what measurement please?

      P.S. i love your blog and your recipes! 🤗

      Reply
      • christina.marsigliese

        December 08, 2025 at 2:54 am

        Thank you Chelle! I recommend a full fat Greek yogurt or similar yogurt. I love the Philippines 🙂

        Reply
    11. Diana Merhi

      November 30, 2025 at 2:39 pm

      5 stars
      Are we really surprised that I found yet another go-to recipe?! This really is the best chocolate cake. So moist and decadent even without the chocolate frosting! So good!

      Reply
      • Diana Merhi

        November 30, 2025 at 2:42 pm

        Forgot to mention I used a Bundt pan and baked it for 45 mins. It was excellent!

        Reply
        • christina.marsigliese

          December 01, 2025 at 1:38 am

          Nice! Thanks for sharing 🙂

      • christina.marsigliese

        December 01, 2025 at 1:38 am

        Thank you Diana! 🙂

        Reply
      • Julia

        February 20, 2026 at 9:54 pm

        5 stars
        Love your recipes and writing and will be making this tomorrow! I recently invested in a thermometer (and it’s changed my cooking) and wondering if there’s an ideal internal cake temperature to tell when it’s done, or testing with a toothpick in the center is the best bet?

        Reply
        • christina.marsigliese

          February 21, 2026 at 3:04 am

          Hi Julia! For most cakes I would look for min temperature of 200 degrees F, however I often just use the toothpick/skewer method.

    12. Theresa

      November 23, 2025 at 10:06 pm

      I’m looking for a great make ahead. Dry mix and trying to move towards weighing all my ingredients. I love how you explain what’s goin on and why. My question is regarding the weights. Your recipe is stating each cup of flour weigh 143 g but all my other references state a cup is 120g. I think your cocoa weight was also a little higher in your double batch dry recipe. I’m new to the weights so i wasnt sure if they could vary that much or if there was a standard. Thank you for all your help!!

      Reply
      • christina.marsigliese

        November 24, 2025 at 2:00 am

        Hi Theresa! If you are using sifted flour the cup weight will be around 120g, whereas unsifted flour will be around 142g. I test everything by weight so if you weigh all your dry ingredients according to the measurements in the recipe card, you should have good results. The cocoa powder weight is also correct at 112g for a double batch, as it is 56g for a single.

        Reply
    13. Andrew Helme

      November 23, 2025 at 9:14 am

      Hi

      Do you know the calories per 100g please.

      Many thanks

      Andrew

      Reply
      • christina.marsigliese

        November 23, 2025 at 6:18 pm

        Hi Andrew! Sorry I don't have that information, but there are free online resources/nutritional calculators that you can use by entering the recipe.

        Reply
    14. Meital

      November 23, 2025 at 6:21 am

      What is the percentage of fat in your full-fat sour cream?

      Reply
      • christina.marsigliese

        November 23, 2025 at 6:07 pm

        Hi Meital! Ours here is 14% MF.

        Reply
    15. Ash

      November 18, 2025 at 5:29 am

      Hi, my brother is allergic to eggs so I wanted to know if there is a substitute for it which will work with this recipe?

      Reply
      • Lauren

        November 18, 2025 at 5:51 am

        Has anyone used this to make cupcakes? Did it need any adjustments or substitutions? I confess I rarely make cupcakes and typically only do full sized sheet or small layer cakes. Give me advice?

        Reply
        • christina.marsigliese

          November 19, 2025 at 3:07 am

          Hi Lauren! Yes you can and it works great. Baking time will be approx. 18-20 minutes.

      • christina.marsigliese

        November 19, 2025 at 3:04 am

        Hi Ash! This recipe has only been tested with eggs, however a few readers have had success with egg replacer powders.

        Reply
    16. Alice Crochet

      November 17, 2025 at 7:48 pm

      I haven’t tried the recipe yet but wanted you to know how happy I am to have discovered your webpage. Thank you for your thorough explanations.

      Reply
      • christina.marsigliese

        November 18, 2025 at 2:26 am

        You are welcome Alice! Glad you like my site 🙂

        Reply
    17. Silvia

      November 16, 2025 at 3:12 am

      To make the cake mix it says 3.5 cups and about 1 cup cocoa. To make the recipe it calls for 3.5 cup cake mix, won’t the cake mix come out to be more than 3.5 cups

      Reply
      • christina.marsigliese

        November 16, 2025 at 3:26 am

        Hi Silvia! The measurements for the cake mix is for a double batch of batter or two (2 layer) cakes.

        Reply
    18. Aqsa Chhapra

      November 15, 2025 at 11:28 am

      Hey!
      Can I please get a substitute for sour cream? And the measurements for the same? Please!!

      Reply
      • christina.marsigliese

        November 15, 2025 at 1:30 pm

        Hi Aqsa! Please see FAQ section. Sour cream can be substituted in the cake recipe using an equal amount of full fat Greek yogurt.

        Reply
      • Zarah

        November 15, 2025 at 6:44 pm

        Hi, I cannot seem to get the measurements for oil hot water, sour cream and vanilla extract

        Reply
        • christina.marsigliese

          November 15, 2025 at 6:55 pm

          Hi Zarah, as per the recipe card: ½ cup (118ml) vegetable oil, ¾ cups (180ml) full fat sour cream, 1 teaspoon (5ml) pure vanilla extract, 1 cups (237ml) hot coffee/hot water.

    19. Janet

      November 15, 2025 at 4:07 am

      5 stars
      Can I make multiple dry cake mixes at one time or just one at a time! Thanks!

      Reply
      • christina.marsigliese

        November 15, 2025 at 4:26 am

        Hi Janet! You can double or triple the mix amount as long all the ingredients are measured accurately.

        Reply
    20. Aysh

      November 14, 2025 at 10:29 pm

      5 stars
      Literally made your chocolate cake fit my husbands birthday this evening - always a top request thank you!
      Is 4 eggs for this recipe correct, should it not be 2 eggs for a 2 layer cake?

      Reply
      • christina.marsigliese

        November 15, 2025 at 3:22 am

        You are welcome Aysh! Thanks for pointing that out! The recipe card was scaled for a double batch. I have corrected it for a single batch (2 layer cake).

        Reply
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