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–+ servings
A close up of food, with Cake and Chocolate
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5 from 4 votes

Busy Day Chocolate Cake

Busy day chocolate cake is an old-fashioned dessert that is incredibly moist and tender. This baked from scratch cake is topped with a rich, homemade frosting.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Cool Time10 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12
Calories: 6784kcal
Author: Shauna

Ingredients

Homemade Chocolate Cake Ingredients

  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 2½ cups flour
  • 4 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 1½ teaspoons baking soda
  • 1½ teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs eggs room temperature
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 cup hot coffee
  • 1 cup vegetable oil

Homemade Chocolate Icing Ingredients

  • ½ cup butter softened
  • ½ cup cocoa powder
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoon coffee
  • ½ tablespoon vanilla

Instructions

Cake:

  • Heat oven to 375°F.
  • Grease and flour a 9x13-inch cake pan.
  • Using a large bowl combine the 2 cups white sugar, 2½ cups flour, 4 tablespoons cocoa powder, 1½ teaspoons baking soda, 1½ teaspoons baking powder, and 1 teaspoon salt. Whisk the dry ingredients together.
    2 cups white sugar, 2½ cups flour, 4 tablespoons cocoa powder, 1½ teaspoons baking soda, 1½ teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt
    A plate of food on a table, with Cake and Chocolate
  • Add the 2 eggs eggs, 1 cup buttermilk, 2 teaspoons vanilla, and 1 cup hot coffee, and 1 cup vegetable oil. Beat on medium speed for about two minutes, the batter will be thin.
    2 eggs eggs, 1 cup buttermilk, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 1 cup hot coffee, 1 cup vegetable oil
    A plate of food and a cup of coffee, with Cake and Chocolate
  • Pour batter evenly into prepared pans.
    A piece of cake on a tray
  • Bake for 30-40 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
    chocolate cake in a 9x13 dish after being baked in the oven
  • Cool 10 minutes in the pan before icing.

Icing:

  • In a medium saucepan on medium-low heat melt ½ cup butter . Remove from heat.
    ½ cup butter
  • Whisk in ½ cup cocoa powder.
    ½ cup cocoa powder
    A piece of chocolate cake on a plate, with Sugar and Flour
  • Return to stove on medium-low heat and cook until just begins to boil.
  • Remove from heat. Whisk in 3 cups powdered sugar (you can sift it to remove any lumps before adding).
    3 cups powdered sugar
    A piece of cake on a plate, with Chocolate cake
  • Add the ½ tablespoon vanilla and 2 tablespoon coffee and stir until mixed.
    2 tablespoon coffee, ½ tablespoon vanilla
    A chocolate cake on a plate, with Sugar and Cream
  • Let the frosting cool for 10 minutes to let it set up just a bit. Then ice the cake. Don’t let it cool too long or it will harden in your pan and not be as easy to spread.
  • Spread the icing over the cake.
    Cake and Chocolate

Notes

  • Rubbing cocoa powder on the pan instead of flour keeps the chocolate flavor going.
  • Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your cake as the suggested baking time approaches.
  • Don’t let the icing cool too long, or it will harden in your pan and not be easy to spread.

Nutrition

Calories: 6784kcal | Carbohydrates: 1267g | Protein: 115g | Fat: 159g | Saturated Fat: 84g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g | Monounsaturated Fat: 47g | Trans Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 2078mg | Sodium: 5763mg | Potassium: 3047mg | Fiber: 32g | Sugar: 918g | Vitamin A: 5857IU | Calcium: 993mg | Iron: 33mg