Weeknights, date nights, birthdays, parties: this simple and easy single layer chocolate cake with chocolate ganache is perfect for them all. No butter, eggs, or mixer required! (Jump to Recipe)
True story: I was not planning to share this recipe on here. In fact, even after Brian and I made it together for my birthday this past 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 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.
We made this cake because I wanted a simple, unfussy cake for my birthday. Ever since I joined him in Chicago a few years ago, Brian has been making me a homemade birthday cake each year, and I try not to make it hard for him. He’s quite good as a baker, actually, but he requires very clear instruction and limited steps, or else he gets nervous. So I don’t like to give him difficult recipes to contend with in hopes he’ll make me cake more often 😉
Last year, we made a chocolate fudge bundt cake from King Arthur Flour, and man, was it good. Super dense, super fudgy, intensely chocolate. The only problem? It was a LOT of cake for two people. You know in the depths of February in Chicago, no one is leaving the house unless absolutely necessary — so it was just us, alone with a giant chocolate cake for days. Not a bad problem to have, some might say. We managed.
But I knew I could find something just as satisfying, just as chocolatey – in more appropriate portions.
For my 30th birthday — yes, 30th, I don’t even know how I got here — I wanted a single layer chocolate cake; something approachable and manageable, unfussy yet still a bit decadent. I didn’t want Brian to be bothering with multiple layers and frostings. I’m actually (*gasp*) not the biggest fan of fluffy cake frostings, anyway. I probably should have my baking blog license revoked.
I remembered seeing another chocolate cake recipe on King Arthur Flour’s site, one I’d also seen in a cookbook I have of theirs: the “cake pan” cake. Also called wartime cake or wacky cake, it’s an old cake recipe that relies on the reaction generated by combining baking soda (a base) and vinegar (an acid) to provide the rise and tender crumb we expect from cakes, rather than butter and eggs. When butter and eggs were in short supply during WWII, people would make this cake instead. I’d made this recipe a couple times in the past, and remembered liking it – and I knew I could make some tweaks to make it even better.
And make it better, I did. Let’s talk about the amazing properties of this single layer chocolate cake, which I’ve now made twice in one weekend with no regrets:
- No butter, no eggs. And you won’t miss them! The good news is that not only is this cake lighter while still having an amazingly fluffy yet dense texture, it’s also a great option for vegans or for those with egg allergies or intolerances. Chocolate cake for everyone!
- No mixer required. Because we’re not creaming butter and sugar and we don’t have to whip in air to create a rise, you don’t need any kind of mixer – just a bowl and a whisk! Speaking of…
- Only one bowl needed! Nope, I’m not kidding. Whisk the dry ingredients together, dump in the wet ones, and stir it all up. Done.
- Use coffee for the deepest chocolate flavor. There’s something about coffee that brings out the flavor of chocolate. Ever had a mocha? You know what I mean. You can use decaf, regular, whatever you want — and if you don’t like coffee, you can use milk or water too. No worries.
- Takes 45 minutes to make, including baking time. YES.
- Tastes better the second day. This is a cake that only gets better with time. The cake does NOT get dry as long as it’s well-covered, and the chocolate flavor just deepens with a day’s rest. It works around your schedule.
- Ganache. Everything is better with ganache on top. And it’s SO EASY. Can you use a microwave? You can make ganache.
Look how shiny and beautiful that ganache is. If you’ve made ganache before, you know how ridiculously easy it is, despite its fancy name. If you haven’t, here we go: heat heavy cream in the microwave or on the stove until bubbling, just before boiling. Pour it over chopped chocolate or chocolate chips in the bowl. Wait 30 seconds. Stir, continuously, until a smooth, shiny chocolate pool of happiness is formed, about 30 more seconds. DONE. Pour it over that cake!
This cake may be humble, but it is mighty. It’s just the kind of recipe we all need in our back pocket, whether it be for Valentine’s Day, a loved one’s birthday, or just a Monday. It’s exactly what I wish for you today.
Single Layer Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder (can use natural or Dutch process)
- Scant 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder (optional; brings out chocolate flavor)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup brewed coffee (regular or decaf, can be hot or cold)*
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar)
For the ganache:
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup chopped dark chocolate or semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
For the cake:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan (you can also use an 8-inch square pan). I also like to line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper, to give extra insurance that the cake will come out cleanly. Just trace the bottom of the pan on a sheet of parchment paper and cut it out, then place inside the pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients: flour, cocoa powder, sugar, salt, espresso powder, and baking soda.
- Pour in the wet ingredients: coffee, olive oil, vanilla, vinegar. Whisk it all together until a smooth batter is formed. You'll notice it might get a little foamy - that's the baking soda/vinegar reaction happening. Stop whisking when the mixture is combined and no lumps remain - don't overmix or the cake will be tough.
- Pour batter into prepared pan, and bake for 28-32 minutes, until cake springs back when touched and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. You might need a couple minutes more if you're using an 8 inch square pan.
- Let cake cool in pan on a rack for 10 minutes, then invert the pan onto the rack to release the cake, remove the parchment from the bottom, and flip back right side up onto a cake plate. Let cake cool while you prepare the ganache.
For the ganache:
- In a microwave-safe measuring cup or bowl, heat the heavy cream until bubbling but not boiling, about 30-40 seconds in my microwave. You can also heat it on the stove.
- While the cream is heating, place the chopped chocolate in a medium bowl. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and let stand for about 30 seconds. Whisk the mixture until a smooth and glossy ganache forms, about 30 seconds. Pour over top of the cake while warm! It will harden once it cools.
Notes
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Not feeling like cake? Want other chocolate recipes?? Here you go:
- My Favorite Fudgy Brownies. Dense, super fudgy, and ridiculously chocolatey. The brownie of my dreams.
- Molten Chocolate Cakes for Two. Valentine’s Day, handled.
- Baked Banana Donuts with Dark Chocolate Glaze. Banana + chocolate = MFEO.
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Sticks. Oh yeah, it’s a thing. A beautiful thing.
I love dark chocolate cake and coming across your recipe was a blessing! I made this and was so satisfied with the result. Some changes I did was used butter (i run out of oil), and added only 3/4 cup of sugar. Opted for 8″ square pan and baked it for exactly 34 mins. Came out perfect! Moist, soft cake and it’s day 2 now and the choco flavor is deep! For the ganache, i used half 100% cacao unsweetened & half 60% bittersweet chocolate. Thank you for sharing us your baking expertise, I am a fan.
Thank you so much for this amazing review, Jolina! So glad you loved this recipe 🙂
I made this today. While it was baking I suddenly realized I had mistakingly used baking powder instead of baking soda. It came out fine despite that! The came still rose nicely and had a nice texture. The only other change I made was to use evaporated milk instead of the cream for the ganache because that was all I had on hand. That also came out fine.
I will definitely make this again.
Yay! Thank you so much, Elle – glad it still worked despite the changes 🙂
I tried with measure-for-measure gluten-free all purpose flour for my mom with Celiac disease and it turned out great! I served it with some homemade whipped cream on the side, and my mom said it reminded her of old-fashioned snack cakes like Ho Ho’s or Hostess cupcakes. Will definitely make it again!
Yay! Thank you so much for letting me know about the GF flour – so glad you mom enjoyed it!
Hi Katie,
Please share whether 1 cup coffee details..As in what goes into it ??
Hi
What is shelf life of choclate cake filled and coated with chocolate ganache.
Please suggest.
In fridge too
Hi Pooja – it lasts about 4 days on the counter, well-wrapped in plastic wrap or foil. In the fridge it would last about a week!
Can I bake this in an 8″ round pan to get a taller cake?. I ll have to alter the baking time too I guess .
Thanks.
Hi Sharmila, I have not tried this in a 8″ round pan, but if you look at this pan conversion chart from the Joy of Baking, it seems you will be ok if your 8″ round pan has at least 2 inch high sides. You’re looking for the volume to be equivalent to a 9″ round pan (which is why an 8″ SQUARE pan works here too – the volume is the same). I would increase the baking time to 34-36 minutes, for both an 8″ square and an 8″ round. Let me know if you try it!
I made this cake for today…Christmas. Simply amazing! I did only bake my for 20 minutes and it was perfect. I also made it into a Turtle Chocolate Cake by adding my homemade Bourbon Caramel and Pecans. Simply DECADENT! This will be my go to recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for the wonderful review, Jesse! So glad it worked for you. Merry Christmas!
This cake is amazing! My parents absolutely LOVED IT! <3
I think it was delicious and I will use your recipes in the future. Thx Katie! ^_^
Yay! Thanks Sophia, so glad you and your parents enjoyed it.
We just shared this fantastic cake on our blog too! Such a terrific little number and one I go back to often. Guess us Chicagoans think alike!
We sure do! King Arthur Flour is the best!
So amazing!! Great job, Katie! We made with milk and it came out really good!!
Thank you so much Emily! I’m so glad it came out well for you. It’s one of my favorites.
This is A-MAZ-ING!!!!!!!!!!!!! We felt like we were having dessert at a high end restaurant. Kudos to you and King Arthur Flour for this terrific recipe.