5best2buy
The Recipe · No.182 · Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Cake, and where to source it

Chocolate Cake — 5best2buy.com 5BEST2BUY.COM Chocolate Cake American 5best2buy.com

Good cocoa and a bit of melted chocolate build a deeper flavor than a boxed mix ever manages. Blooming the cocoa in hot liquid before mixing amplifies the chocolate, and the batter should be thin and pourable, not thick.

By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026

Prep30 min
Cook35 min
Makes12 servings
CuisineAmerican
Cost$
Vegetarian
Contains  dairy · eggs · gluten
Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy, and a flax or aquafaba egg for the egg.
Make it gluten-free: swap in a gluten-free flour blend (check the other labels too).
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for 12 servings
All-purpose flour
The structure; sift with the cocoa to avoid lumps.
1 3/4 cups
Chocolate & cocoa
Cocoa for the crumb, a little melted chocolate for depth.
3/4 cup cocoa
Sugar
Keeps the crumb moist and tender.
2 cups
Eggs
Bind the batter and add richness.
2 large
Milk
Buttermilk or whole milk with a splash of vinegar tenderizes the crumb.
1 cup
Butter
Softened butter for a fudgy frosting.
1 cup (2 sticks)
Hot coffee
A cup of hot brewed coffee blooms the cocoa and deepens the flavor.
1 cup
The Rundown
Greedometer ●●●●● A fair little treat
A reasonable little indulgence.
EffortSome doing
Cook it with
Air fryerSheet pan
The Method
  1. DryWhisk flour, cocoa, sugar, 2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp baking powder, and 1 tsp salt in a large bowl.
  2. WetAdd eggs, milk, 1/2 cup oil, and 1 tsp vanilla; beat 2 minutes, then stir in the cup of hot coffee (the batter will be thin).
  3. BakeDivide between two greased 9-inch pans and bake at 350F for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean; cool fully before frosting.
  4. FrostBeat softened butter with 3 cups powdered sugar, 3/4 cup cocoa, and a splash of milk, then frost the cooled layers.
The Toolkit

Two 9-inch pans · Hand mixer · Offset spatula

Straight Answers
Can you make Chocolate Cake in an air fryer? — Yes

Yes — bake it in a small pan or dish that fits the basket, at about 25°F below the recipe temperature. Air fryers run hot and fast, so check it early; no flipping needed.

Can you freeze Chocolate Cake? — Yes

Yes — freeze it well-wrapped, then reheat or toast straight from frozen. Frost or glaze after thawing.

Can you make Chocolate Cake ahead of time? — Yes

Yes — bake it a day or two ahead; it keeps well-wrapped at room temperature and freezes cleanly. Add any frosting or glaze close to serving.

Is Chocolate Cake gluten-free? — Not as written

Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in a gluten-free flour blend (check the other labels too).

Is Chocolate Cake vegan? — Vegetarian, not vegan

It’s vegetarian but not vegan as written — it has dairy and egg. Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy, and a flax or aquafaba egg for the egg.

Community Notes

Cooked it? Changed something that worked? Leave a note for the next person — first-name basis, no account.

Loading notes…

Notes are public and posted as written. Be kind, no links. Spam and abuse get removed.

More American recipes
Rice PuddingBread PuddingLemon BarsBanana PuddingEggs BenedictBreakfast Sandwich
All American recipes →  ·  Browse all 1433 →
One list, with a link to where to buy each one.

Some ingredient and tool links are affiliate links — if you buy through one, 5best2buy may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never costs the maker anything, and it never decides who we recommend. The list is the list.
© 2026 5best2buy.com · Recipe No.182

Open data. Every maker on this site is published as a free dataset under CC BY 4.0 — use it in anything, commercial or not, as long as you credit 5best2buy. Browse the datasets →