This easy single layer chocolate cake with chocolate ganache is perfect for weeknights, date nights, birthdays, and small dinner parties. Only one bowl needed and so quick to make – no butter, eggs, or mixer required! Recipe can be made in an 8-inch round, 9-inch round, or 8-inch square cake pan.

Note: this recipe was originally published on February 12, 2018. As of March 2022, I’ve updated: (1) some of the photos, (2) the recipe itself to include a few different cake pan sizes you can use and a couple options for the ganache; and (3) a video. This is still one of my favorite recipes of all time and I hope you love it too! It was the first of my single layer cake recipe series.
I needed a small birthday cake.
True story: I was not planning to share this one layer, small chocolate cake recipe on here. In fact, even after Brian and I made it together for my birthday one weekend, and demolished nearly half of it in 24 hours, I still wasn’t planning to share it.
It’s…simple. Humble. Unassuming. Not really earth shattering – just a good, back-pocket smaller chocolate cake with a tender, light crumb. And chocolate ganache, because chocolate ganache may sound fancy, but it’s actually the easiest thing to make.
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