Buttermilk Chocolate Cake Recipe for All Events

February 14, 2026

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By Lynne on February 13, 2026 » Depart a assessment

This Buttermilk Chocolate Cake is completely moist, has a young crumb, and includes a wealthy chocolate taste. The addition of buttermilk makes the cake a lot moister than a typical chocolate cake. This cake is extremely straightforward to make, utilizing simply 2 mixing bowls and a whisk, so let’s get baking!

I like chocolate cake, however truthfully, generally they’re means too dense and heavy, and even too wealthy! I like that this cake has that decadent chocolate taste, however even when completed with a chocolate buttermilk buttercream frosting, it’s gentle, fluffy, and never too candy. The frosting enhances the cake completely!

Chocolate Cake Utilizing Buttermilk

Why must you use buttermilk in cake batter? Effectively, buttermilk has the next fats content material than common milk, leading to a wealthy, extra flavorful cake. On the similar time, it tenderizes the cake and helps it to rise, which suggests a young, fluffy cake.

Gear Wanted

You want all of your normal baking instruments to make this delicious chocolate cake:

Substances for Buttermilk Chocolate Cake

Collect all these pantry fundamentals to make this do-it-yourself chocolate cake recipe:

All-purpose flour – I examined the recipe with all-purpose flour, however you could possibly use cake flour, too.
Granulated white sugar – you could possibly additionally use brown sugar, or a mixture of 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup of brown sugar.
Unsweetened cocoa powder – Use a great high quality selection for greatest outcomes
Baking powder
Baking soda
Salt – The quantity of salt added could be elevated or decreased to swimsuit preferences.
Buttermilk – Use a whole-fat buttermilk. The buttermilk could possibly be changed with complete milk; nonetheless, it will have an effect on the style and texture of the cake. The buttermilk within the frosting could possibly be substituted with milk or heavy cream.
Oil – Use a light flavored oil, reminiscent of vegetable oil, canola oil, or further delicate olive oil. You might additionally use ¾ cup melted butter.
Giant Eggs
Pure Vanilla extract
Scorching water – Use sizzling however not boiling water.

Chocolate Frosting Substances

Butter – Both unsalted butter or salted butter will work, although you would possibly wish to omit the salt in case you select salted butter.
Powdered sugar
Unsweetened cocoa powder
Buttermilk
Vanilla extract
Salt

Be sure to scroll all the way down to the recipe card on the finish of the publish for an in depth record of components and directions!

First set of process photos for Buttermilk Chocolate Cake.

Second set of process photos for Buttermilk Chocolate Cake.

The way to make my Chocolate Buttermilk Cake Recipe

First, preheat the oven to 325°F. Line a 9×13-inch sheet pan or baking dish with parchment paper and set it apart.
Add the dry components (all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt) to a big mixing bowl. Whisk till nicely mixed and put aside.
Add the buttermilk, oil, egg, and vanilla extract to a different giant bowl. Whisk till nicely mixed.
Pour the moist components into the bowl with the flour combination. Whisk till simply mixed. Add the new water and whisk till simply mixed, beginning the whisking gently to make sure the new water doesn’t splash out of the bowl.
Pour the cake batter into the ready sheet pan. Bake for 35 minutes or till cooked via. Set the nice and cozy cake apart on a wire rack to chill utterly within the pan.

Process photos for Chocolate Buttercream to top the Buttermilk Chocolate Cake.

The way to Make Chocolate Buttermilk Frosting

Now comes my favourite half– the frosting!

To make the buttermilk frosting, add the softened butter to the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat utilizing a wire whisk attachment on a excessive velocity for two minutes or till clean.
Add the powdered sugar to the butter, 1 cup at a time, beating on a low velocity, then growing to excessive velocity till nicely included. Repeat with the cocoa powder.
Add the buttermilk, vanilla extract, and salt, and beat on a medium velocity till nicely mixed, scraping the edges of the bowl as vital. Improve the velocity to medium-high and beat for 1-2 minutes or till clean and fluffy.
Unfold the frosting over the cooled cake earlier than slicing and serving.

Squares of chocolate buttercream frosted chocolate buttermilk cake.

Recipe Notes

This cake batter is also baked in spherical cake pans; merely regulate the baking time as vital. The variety of cake pans required for this amount of cake batter will depend upon the scale of the cake pans.
It’s greatest to let this cake cool within the pan utterly earlier than eradicating, or the cake could also be too delicate and break aside.
The frosting could be made utilizing a big mixing bowl and an electrical mixer rather than a stand mixer.
Choose a distinct frosting? Substitute it together with your favourite frosting recipe, this Marshmallow Frosting or my Peppermint Frosting when the vacations roll round!
Add Chocolate chips to the cake batter for further chocolate taste.
In case your frosting is just too thick, add extra buttermilk as required for a extra spreadable consistency.

FAQs

How do I do know when my cake is completed?

The cake is cooked via if it springs again when frivolously touched within the heart. Alternatively, insert a skewer or toothpick into the middle of the cake. If the skewer or toothpick comes out clear or with a number of moist crumbs, the cake is completed!

How do I retailer this Buttermilk Chocolate Cake?

Retailer this cake in an hermetic container at room temperature for as much as 3 days, or within the fridge for as much as 5 days.

Chocolate Buttercream frosting on top of a Chocolate Buttermilk Cake.

Can I freeze it?

I like to recommend freezing it earlier than you frost it. Freeze in an hermetic container for as much as 3 months. Thaw at room temperature, then frost it earlier than having fun with.

You might additionally slice the frosted cake into particular person slices, flash freeze them for quarter-hour, then wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and retailer them in an hermetic container within the freezer. Thaw in a single day within the fridge.

Can I take advantage of bitter milk as a substitute of actual buttermilk?

Sure, you may! Make your personal “buttermilk” (bitter milk) by including 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice per cup of milk. Let it sit for five minutes earlier than including it to the recipe as directed.

What ought to I serve with this chocolate cake?

We like consuming our cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of do-it-yourself whipped cream and a few recent berries!

Easy cake made with cocoa and buttermilk for a moist crumb.

Extra Scrumptious Chocolate Cake Recipes You’ll Love

Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake brings collectively wealthy chocolate and juicy cherries in a single straightforward dessert recipe. Solely 4 components and one baking pan wanted!
Tremendous straightforward and scrumptious, this Chocolate Peanut Butter Pudding Cake will please these chocolate peanut butter lovers in your life and have them coming again for extra!
Double Chocolate Coconut Cream Stuffed Bundt Cake – a moist and wealthy chocolatey bundt full of a scrumptious coconut cream.
It’s Oreo Cake with a shock inside! Layers of moist chocolate cake are sandwiched with a cream filling, coated with a thick layer of do-it-yourself chocolate frosting, and full of complete Oreos.
Mississippi Mud Cake – a wealthy chocolate cake with pecans and coconut, topped with a layer of marshmallow cream, chocolate frosting, and extra pecan items.

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Created by: Lynne Feifer