53 Best Chocolate Cake Recipes to Make Any Week a Better Week
The right chocolate cake recipe can improve pretty much any situation. Nervous about cooking a Valentine’s Day dinner for a new love interest? Chocolate cake to the rescue. Throwing a kid’s birthday party? Do not proceed without chocolate cake. Just struggling a bit to get through the week? Absolutely chocolate cake. Below you’ll find the very best, most unique chocolate cakes on Epicurious, including classic layer cakes, luscious flourless cakes, easy sheet cakes, Bundt cakes, and more. There are enough recipes here to bake a chocolate cake every week without repeats—but if you fall in love with one, we won’t blame you for making it again and again.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by John Bjostad1/53Double Chocolate Layer Cake
Let's start our list of the best chocolate cake recipes with this beloved classic from Gourmet. This two-layer masterpiece is extra moist, thanks to the use of oil instead of butter, and tender, thanks to a pour of buttermilk. The silky chocolate ganache frosting is not to be missed.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova4/53Flourless Chocolate Cake
Sometimes you need a really deeply chocolaty chocolate cake, and you just don’t want flour to get in the way. This elegant and easy cake recipe isn’t kidding around. True chocolate obsessives will love this cake’s rich flavor.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Prop styling by Stephanie De Luca, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich6/53Everyday Cocoa Cake
Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova8/53Inside-Out German Chocolate Cake
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone11/53One-Bowl Milk Chocolate Cake With Chocolate-Caramel Frosting
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson12/53Double Chocolate Cake With Peppermint-Chocolate Frosting
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton13/53Deep, Dark Chocolate Cake
This incredibly dark, extra-moist cake gets its color from Dutch-process cocoa powder and baking soda. Top with any frosting you like—or some fluffy meringue.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell14/53Orange Chocolate Loaf Cake From Florida
This classic recipe from baking icon Maida Heatter is made with whipped cream instead of butter. That move guarantees rich, creamy flavor and a moist, fluffy texture.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kate Buckens15/53Chocolatey Chocolate Cake
Looking for a not-too-sweet cake that's impossible to mess up? You've met your new favorite chocolate dessert.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova18/53Christmas Bombe With Spiced Cake and Chocolate-Brandy Glaze
Photo by Johnny Autry21/53Chocolate Sour Cream Zucchini Cake with Chocolate Glaze
This chocolate cake doesn't have big shreds of zucchini. The vegetables just make sure this cake isn't the slightest bit dry.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi24/53Gooey Chocolate Microwave Mug Cake with Caramel Sauce and Peanuts
Peden & Munk25/53Chocolate-Rye Crumb Cake
Nutty rye flour, crunchy cocoa nibs, and cocoa powder make a delicious crackly topping that you may feel tempted to eat before it can make its way onto the cake.
30/53Chocolate Plum Cake
Erin Kunkel33/53The Pink Cake
This frosting gets its lovely pink color from puréed raspberry. We think it would make the perfect Valentine's Day dessert—or perhaps the ideal birthday cake.
Donna Hay Magazine, photography by William Meppem34/53Molten Peanut Butter and Chocolate Fondant Cakes
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton35/53Blackberry and Chocolate Ice Cream Icebox Cake
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne36/53Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
This moist and luxe chocolate cake has a secret: Mayonnaise works as an emulsifier and adds moisture. For more cake recipes sorted by texture and prep time—plus lots of cake history—check out our cake recipe matrix.
Photo by Kate Sears39/53Killer Chocolate Cake
Chocolate can benefit from savory partners to boost its complex flavor. The true secret ingredient in this luscious cake is the soy sauce in the frosting. It adds just a little salty note that really pulls the cake together.
Photo by Ditte Isager46/53Chocolate-Coconut Pound Cake
This pound cake gets a double whammy of moisture thanks to two ingredients: Coconut oil and buttermilk.
Photo by Con Poulos50/53Baked Chocolate Tofu Cheesecake
This vegan cheesecake has a chocolatey rich mousse-like texture that is absolutely amazing. Looking for non-vegan cheesecake recipes? We've got those, too.
