Easy Chocolate Cake Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup (142g) all-purpose flour (scoop and level to measure)
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• 6 Tbsp (35g) Dutch process cocoa powder, plus more for dusting pan
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil or canola oil
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs

Chocolate Ganache (optional)

• 6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 3/4 cup heavy cream

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 by 9 or 8 by 8-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray then dust with cocoa. Shake out excess cocoa.
2. In a large mixing bowl whisk together flour, sugar, 6 Tbsp cocoa, the baking soda, and salt.
3. Add buttermilk, oil, vanilla and eggs.
4. Whisk mixture until very well blended (about 1 minute).
5. Pour into prepared baking dish.
6. Bake in preheated oven until toothpick inserted into the center of cake comes out clean, about 27 to 35 minutes.
7. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
8. Meanwhile make ganache. Place finely chopped chocolate in a medium heat proof mixing bowl.
9. Heat heavy cream in a small saucepan over stovetop on medium heat until just simmering.
10. Pour hot cream over chocolate chocolate then stir with a rubber spatula until melted and smooth. Let it cool until it’s a thicker consistency, about 30 minutes* then spread over cake and slice.