If I were stuck on an island and could only have one recipe, it would be a cake recipe – a good, simple quick to put together cake recipe.
Luckily for me, I already have a good one in my recipe repertoire and I don’t have to break a sweat making it.
This cake is so good that lil’ man could not wait and I don’t blame him!
One of the ingredients that makes this cake so light is the vegetable oil. That makes it a “healthy cake” right? Joking. I have tried making this with melted butter but prefer vegetable oil.
If you’re baking this for someone with allergies, I have a few variations for you:
Lactose intolerant? Use almond or hazelnut milk instead.
For a gluten-free cake, replace the flour with a gluten-free flour mix
Egg allergy? An egg is replaced with 1 tbsp ground flax seeds and 3 tbsp water
This cake works for everyone! I love it!
Moist Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups All purpose flour
- 2 cups caster sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 2 Eggs
- 1/2 Cup Cocoa powder
- 1 cup black coffee 2 tsp instant coffee in a cup of hot water
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup Milk
Chocolate ganache
- 250 g Chocolate chips
- 230 ml Heavy cream
Video
Did you try this recipe out?
How did it go? Comment below and if you took a pic, tag me @swahilifood on Instagram and hashtag it #swahilifood.
Let me know whether you inhaled the whole cake alone. I won’t judge you.
Hi love this easy recipe u r doing great work but just wanted to ask if I can use plain water instead of coffee as am not a big fan of coffee😘
Hi there, yes you can
You could use less coffee, as it is simply to enhance the chocolate flavour, but water works just as well too!💓
Hi there Vanessa thanxs for the great recipes. How do you makw or mix the icing ?
Hey Sumi, i just added warmed heavy cream 230 ml to 250 gms Chocolate chips and mixed. Hugs
Hai good recipe thanks
This was a really good recipe, my cake came out great!
Hi there Vanessa thanxs for the great recipes. How do you make or mix the icing ?
Hi Sumi, I melt the chocolate in a microwave (about 2 min) i then add warmed cream and mix the two
hello! what is the heavy cream? or what is the brand name of that?
and also, what kind of milk is that condensed or evaporated?
i used regular milk
Heavy cream is available at the dairy products at local supermarkets
I love this cake it’s so easy to follow & came out so soft will be doing this again for sure. Great work Vanessa love your recipes xx
Just seen this now! So glad it worked out. hugs
I have tried this recipe two times now and it is one of my favourite cakes; So delicious and easy to prepare.
I love it! 🙂
Thumbs up for this 👍🏾👍🏾
Hi, so happy to hear that 🙂 A good easy cake recipe is crucial! Want to know what i do? I make two in advance and i freeze one! Without the icing. So when i need cake fast, i just pull it out of the freezer and let it thaw out
Hi vanesaa, i would love to try your recipe, but can you convert this recipe to gram? I really have no clue about cup you write here. I’ve tried the cup measurement before and convert it myself with google but 😢😢😢😢
Hi Rosy, i need to sit and add a conversion for all recipes 🙂
Heres the weight measurements for this cake:
All purpose flour 256 gms
caster sugar 400 gms
cocoa powder 68 gms
black coffee 236ml
milk 256ml
vegetable oil 118ml
I hope this helps.
Hugs
I also wanted it in grams. Thank you so much.
I’ll make a point to measure in grams when I next make it.
Hi Vanessa, can you please help me with why we shouldn’t use olive oil in the recipe
Hi Benedicta, Olive oil has a strong taste.
I don’t have caster sugar, can I use granulated? And can I use canola oil?
Hi, yes you can use regular sugar as well as canola oil or even coconut oil
Does the cake taste like coffee
Not at all, the coffee enhances the chocolate flavour
Hi can i use normal sugar instead
absolutely fine
Thanks for the recipe. Can’t wait to try it. Please advice if the oven temperature is for an electric or a fan oven. Many thanks.
Hi there, i use a gas oven, no fan.
Hi Van,
can i use Hershey’s choclate syrup in place of coca powder ?? if yes then what changes required in the receipe
You know what, i have never tried it! Maybe reduce by half? Let me know how it goes. hugs
Hello,
Just came across you through Instagram today! Where has this been all my life???!! I am Kenyan born Ugandan living in Botswana…ha ha 🙂
Anywho back to the important things, can l use self-raising flour?
Thanks
P.s
Love the youtube channel & will definitely try as many of the dishes as l can…
Hi Christine, Thank you so much for your message. Wow, Kenyan born Ugandan in Botswana what a combo! So much culture you’re exposed to! To answer you, yes you can use Self raising flour. hugs
I love the recipe so easy.. i hope one day to try it.. but i just wanted to know how long can a cake stay without getting spoiled?
i say 1-2 days on a counter if you’re in a cool environment and up to 4 days in the fridge. Whenever i make this cake it only lasts a few hours before theres no more left 🙂
Hello lovely Vanessa
Tried your moist chocolate cake today and am sitted now on my sofa with a cup of coffee “am in heaven” never have i ever baked a successful chocolate cake without it being a disaster.. saw you on “the sewist” snapchat videos and live on instagram and feel in love with your passion of food and happy cooking. May you be blessed abundantly
Hello! So happy to hear that 🙂
This recipe is SO EASY YET THE CAKE IS SOOOO DELICIOUS & SUPER MOIST! Thank you for sharing!😍
yay! glad you like it 🙂 Its been my go to recipe for years! I like having ice cream with this cake
I want to make a large Cake.
can I just double the Ingredients ?
Hi Shilpa, I’ve doubled this recipe with no issues. Baking would take longer depending on the size of the cake tin. Hope this helps
Thanks for the Reply !! 🙂
hey vanessa, is there any way you could break down the recipe ingredients to accommodate fewer people. let’s say if i just want to make the cake for 4 people. i saw an option yesterday when i opened this website, can’t find it right now.
hello, yes there is. Im trying to work on the site to rectify the problem
Hi Vanessa!
I dont have Caster sugar. Can i use regular sugar? 🙁
yes sure
Hey Vanessa .. should the heat be top and bottom ??
That would be best. That said, i now have an over that only heats up from the bottom and it works just fine. Be sure to preheat your oven
Hi there Vanessa thanxs for the great recipes
you’re welcome 🙂
I am going to try this recipe put soon.
Thanks for sharing it
I tried this recipe twice! And every time it turned out so amazing!!!! Thanks so much!!!
Really glad to hear that 🙂 thank you for letting me know
Hey Vanessa.. can you tell me what’s the tin size needed for this recipe? I’m planning to bake this for my husband’s birthday 🙂
Hi Vanessa,
I couldn’t find the recipe for the icing!, can you let me know..
Thank You in advance!!
Hi Neena, I add equal amounts of melted chocolate and cream. So, if you use 250gms chocolate add 250ms cream and mix well. You can reduce the cream to make a thicker ganache
Great recipie my first choco cake and it’s half way gone. Yummy yummy Mimi penda sana. Thanks dear for sharing .
Hehe, I’ve decided i will bake 2 cakes at the same time and freeze one because its eaten very fast 🙂
Hey this is 1 of the best recipes I’ve ever discovered. I am going to always use this recipe to bake my chocolate cake. This chocolate cake that I made was very moist, soft and very delicious. Thanks sharing this amazing recipe.👌😄😄❤️
Happy to hear that 🙂
This is my go to recipe for a quick chocolate cake! It turns out amazing every single time! Keep up the good work 🤗
Glad you like it 🙂
Very easy recipe.Can’t wait to try it.I love baking.👍👍
It looks delicious!I want to try this recipe but i was wonsering if i can substitute buttermilk with ordinary milk .i know buttermilk is added to make the cake more moisten .
Hi yes you can 🙂
Hi can I use full cream milk or whipping cream instead of heavy cream for the ganache?
Yes you can
Hi venessa
Can I use 9 inch baking tray for this ingredients?
Yes you can
Can i replace the heavy cream with cocinut crean?
Yes you can. You might have to put it in the fridge to firm a little then whip it
Hi Madam
Can I use buttermilk instead of just milk. Thank you.
Yes you can. You are after all the master in your kitchen. Just stick the the quantities and you will be fine
Easy and simple chocholate cake.
Thanks for the feedback 🙂
Great recipe.Thanks
On Pinterest it didn’t say baking powder?
Not sure why it was left out. Its definitely an essential component
Hi the cup measurement you used, is for all the ingredients right ? Same cup but different amount of milk and oil. Is that right?
The cups i use are part of a set that come in 1 cup, 1/2, 1/4 and 1/3
can you tell me how will we bake this cake in a pot
Add baking paper to the bottom of the pan to avoid the cake sticking and make sure you butter the sides of the pan well.
Hi Vanessa,
Which brand of heavy cream do you use?
Hi Farrah, i use Almarai
Hi, I cannot see the ingredients on this chocolate cake recipe.
Hi Asma, they are in a recipe card when you scroll down and the steps are in the video
Pls specify size of pan
This one simple and awesome recipe. Everyone at home loved the cake. It turned out super yummy. Love from Sri Lanka
Also can I know the cup measures in grams please
can i use brown sugar? or granulated white sugar? don’t have caster sugar or a grinder.
Best to replace with regular white sugar
Flax seeds or apple sauce as a egg substitute
What ratio
Hi Vanessa. Will the coffee in cake keep my 2 year old awake
I would give any cake past 5.00pm to a 2 year old 🙂 or any sugar for that
Hi…am surely gonna try this but am concerned wit the hot coffee an eggs at the same time. Will it cook the eggs?
H Davika, it doesn’t cause any problems. Good luck and let me know how it goes
hi can u tell me at what temperature and how many minutes for a fan forced oven.
I would set the oven temp to 165ºc for a fan forced oven and bake for 20 minutes then check.
I made a two tier cake with this recipe and oh my god! This was amazing! Thanks so much for this godsend of a recipe!
Reeeeeeeally loved this cake. Easy and quite delicious
Glad to hear that Amina 🙂
This is such an easy and yummy recipe
Thank you Janet 🙂
Can Icing sugar replace castor sugar
You said I to set oven temp to 165ºc for a fan forced oven and bake for 20 minutes then check. BUT I have a regular stove with regular oven. What temprureis the correct one and how long do I cook it for! PLEASE!!!
Hey Vanessa! Really love your recipes!!
So I was wondering if I could substitute the sugar with honey, maple syrup or coconut sugar?
Hi Joyce, so glad you like the recipes 🙂
I have managed with both maple syrup as well as sugar. I would say use about 1/2-2/3 cup so it isnt too over powering.
Hey Joyce, you can sub with other alternatives, reduce to 1/2 a cup if using maple or honey
Turns out perfect everytime
Dear Vanessa,
This has been coming for a long time and I am in fact disappointed by myself for taking so long.
Vanessa, I have used your recipe so so many times. For birthdays, events, just because friends wanted cake and you name it. No i am not a baker in fact I can not bake to safe my life. But this one makes me an chocolate cake master.
I’ve done some many twists and turns by adding chocolate and nuts etc and replacing the ganache with caramel treat or just cream. And every time it is a win.
Yes. As i am typing this my cake is in the oven and my daughter already pestering me on when will it be done. Well this is merely me being grateful to you for sharing this recipe with me, and the word.
Thank you so much for your kind words! Reading your message truly made my day. I’m so glad to hear that the recipe has been such a success for you and your loved ones. It’s amazing how you’ve made it your own with all the fun twists and variations, you’re definitely a natural in the kitchen, even if you don’t consider yourself a baker! 😊
Thank you again for taking the time to share this with me. It means more than you know.
Wishing you many more delicious chocolatey masterpieces in the future!
Hugs,
Vanessa