This nake chocolate cake is the perfect balance of tender cake and decadent frosting. There's not too much or too little of each, making for a perfectly balanced bite with every forkful.

Moist, tender chocolate cake? Check. Rich buttercream frosting? Check. The perfect balance of both? You'd better believe it! This is one tasty cake.

Naked Chocolate Cake

I love cake, but I don't love when the frosting on it is the only thing I can taste. This naked cake allows me to enjoy the moist, tender cake along with the frosting in equal measure. It's perfect.

Ingredients

It only takes a few simple ingredients to make this cake. Most of them are already in your kitchen.

Cake Ingredients:

• brown sugar
• eggs
• butter
• cocoa powder
• boiling water
• flour
• baking soda
• sour cream

Frosting Ingredients:

• butter
• powdered sugar
• vanilla
• milk
• Hershey’s chocolate bar

Instructions

All the steps to this recipe are incredibly easy. Even beginners can make it.

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350ºF.

Step 2: Prepare three 8-inch round cake pans by spraying them with cooking spray and coating them with a fine layer of flour. Set aside.

Step 3: In a large mixing bowl, combine brown sugar, eggs, and butter with a hand mixer.

Step 4: Add cocoa powder.

Step 5: Slowly add boiling water while mixing.  Blend until smooth.

Step 6: Add flour and baking soda.  Beat again until smooth.

Step 7: Add sour cream. Beat again until smooth.

Step 8: Divide batter between the three prepared cake pans.

Step 9: Bake for 15 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Step 10: Allow cakes to cool for 15 minutes before flipping them out onto your work surface.  It may help to run a knife around the edges to release the cake.

Step 11: Allow cakes to cool completely before frosting.

Step 12: To prepare frosting, in a medium mixing bowl, cream butter and powdered sugar together.

Step 13: Add 2 tablespoons of milk and vanilla. Beat well. (If frosting is too thick, add more milk. If it is too thin, add more powdered sugar.)

Step 14: To assemble cake, place a layer of cake on a serving dish.

Step 15: Cover with 1/3 of frosting.

Step 16: Add another layer of cake followed by another layer of frosting. 

Step 17: Add the final layer of cake with the remaining frosting on top.

Step 18: If you choose to, top with shaved Hershey’s chocolate.

Equipment

It only takes a few basic pieces of kitchen equipment to make this recipe.

• Measuring cups and spoons
• Hand or stand mixer
• Mixing bowls
• Spoons

Substitutions

Dark Brown Sugar: Dark brown sugar will work if you don't have light brown sugar.

Greek Yogurt: If you don't have sour cream, use full-fat Greek yogurt.

Options

Looking for ways to change up this naked chocolate cake? Here are some suggestions.

Coffee: Add a tablespoon of strong black coffee for a deeper chocolate flavor.

Cayenne: Add a pinch of cayenne to accentuate the chocolate flavor. It won't make the cake hot.

Tips:

• Be sure your butter is fully softened to get the best results.
• Never frost your cake until it's completely cooled.
• If your frosting is too thin, add a little powdered sugar. If it's too thick, add a little milk.

More Cake Recipes

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• Christmas Tree Cake
• Rhubarb Coffee Cake

FAQ

Other Cake Recipes

Naked Chocolate Cake

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