It isn’t too good to be true - this really is The Perfect Chocolate Bundt Cake. Soft and moist with a rich chocolatey flavor and a luscious ganache to top it off. Plus, we’ve included all our favorite tips so you have a guaranteed winner every. single. time.
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If you’ve been around for awhile, you’ve probably caught the drift that we love to serve crowds. Because really nothing else brings people together the way good food does! When it comes to desserts, bundt cakes are always a go-to choice - they are crowd-pleasing, easy, and can be made ahead.
The Perfect Chocolate Bundt Cake has passed through our kitchen countless times and never ceases to amaze us. It is moistened with buttermilk and oil, and just a bit of hot coffee perfectly enhances the chocolate flavor. Plus it’s a full size bundt cake (I’m not a fan of wimpy bundt cakes that come out 2 inches too short 😬). There is SO much goodness in this cake!
🍫 Ingredients
Brewed coffee: A darker roast will lend more flavor to the cake, but any brewed coffee will work well.
Cocoa powder: I usually use regular cocoa powder because that’s what I have on hand. But the cake also comes out great with dutch processed cocoa powder.
Sugar: Just simple granulated sugar.
Kosher salt: Always my salt of choice.
Baking soda: This will activate with the buttermilk to help the cake rise.
Eggs and egg yolk: The extra egg yolk will add an extra bit of moisture to the cake.
Buttermilk: Moistens the cake and rounds out the flavor.
Vegetable oil: The other key moistening ingredient.
Vanilla: Even in a chocolate cake, vanilla makes a big impact on overall flavor.
Flour: Just regular, all-purpose flour.
Chocolate chips: Dark or bittersweet. My favorite brand is Ghirardelli.
Heavy cream: The fat content here is important, so don’t substitute with half and half or milk.
🥣 Instructions
The cake can be boiled down to 6 simple steps.
1. Microwave the coffee and cocoa powder, stirring well until the mixture is smooth.
2. Combine the sugar, salt, baking soda, and eggs in a stand mixer or bowl with hand beaters.
3. Add the buttermilk, oil, and vanilla.
4. Add the flour and combine until just mixed.
5. Incorporate the coffee-chocolate mixture.
6. Pour into a greased 10-inch bundt pan and bake!
Next up is the ganache. It’s super easy. Simply microwave heavy cream for about 45 seconds, pour it over chocolate chips, and leave it be for 3 minutes. As it sits, the chocolate will melt. After 3 minutes, whisk until smooth and pour it over the cooled cake.
👨👩👧👦 For a crowd
Of all desserts, bundt cakes are naturally great for serving crowds. I find that they typically serve 15-16 comfortably, especially when you add a small scoop of ice cream on top. If you are serving this at a party, I highly suggest making it ahead and freezing (see instructions below).
🙋 Questions & Answers
Yes, that is one of the beautiful things about bundt cake! You can make it 1-3 months ahead and freeze it without the ganache (see freezing instructions below). Or you can make it 1-2 days ahead and refrigerate it. In this case, only ganache the cake if you have an airtight cake carrier to store in the fridge. Otherwise, wrap the cake tightly with plastic wrap and ganache it on the day of serving.
Yes - and you probably should! Cake becomes more moist after refrigerating or freezing, so making it ahead is a great option. To freeze the cake, allow it to cool fully and skip the ganache. Wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. Freeze for 1-3 months. Before serving, allow the cake to thaw at room temperature for 5-8 hours (keep it wrapped while thawing). Once thawed, ganache the cake and allow another 1-2 hours for the ganache to set before serving.
Use baking spray (not just non-stick spray) and use a generous amount. Baking spray has flour in the base, which helps prevent sticking. My favorite is Baker's Joy Original Spray.
After removing the cake from the oven, allow it to cool for 15 minutes. Then, using oven mitts, flip the pan in one quick motion onto a cooling rack (don’t be afraid to move quickly… moving slowly may cause the cake to crack or fall out before you’re ready). Gently lift the pan straight up, releasing the cake. Allow to cool fully before moving.
My favorite method is to use ganache because it is easy to make and falls beautifully on bundt cakes. Allow the cake to cool fully so that the ganache doesn’t melt off. Place the cake on a cooling rack, then place the cooling rack over a cookie sheet. Pour a thick layer of ganache onto the top of the cake, allowing it to fall down both sides. After you’ve gone around the whole cake, go back while it is still wet and add more ganache in any spots that are bare or look odd. Lastly, pick up the cooling rack and tap it gently, but firmly, on the cookie sheet. This will help the ganache fall evenly and smoothly on the cake.
Typically, a 10-inch bundt cake can comfortably serve 14-16 people. You can cut slices thinner to serve more if needed.
Because bundt cakes are tall, I always store them in a cake carrier like this one. You can store the cake on the counter or in the fridge for 2-3 days (I recommend the fridge to increase moistness).
📖 More dessert recipes
- Chocolate Lava Cakes - For real chocolate fans, these are heaven on earth. Make them for a crowd or eat them all yourself 😉.
- White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake - A classy flavor combination in a rich, creamy cheesecake.
- Fruit Pizza Bar - A sweet, summery dessert that everyone can assemble for their own personal treat.
👨🏼🍳 Tips & Tricks
- First, check out the Q&A section above - it’s full of helpful tips to make this cake a success!
- Make sure the coffee-cocoa powder mixture is cooled before mixing it into the batter. If it’s warm, you risk scrambling the eggs and ending up with a lumpy batter 😬.
- A secret to making any cake more moist is to refrigerate it overnight or freeze it. I highly recommend making this cake ahead to allow time for one of those options - it really does make a difference!
- Move the cake from the cooling rack to a cake plate using a cake lifter like this one. Makes moving cakes SO easy.
📋 Recipe
The Perfect Chocolate Bundt Cake, Every Single Time
Ingredients
Bundt Cake
- Baking spray
- 1 ¼ cups brewed coffee
- ¾ cup cocoa powder regular or dutch processed
- 2 ¼ cups sugar
- 1 ¼ tsp kosher salt
- 2 ½ tsp baking soda
- 2 eggs + 1 egg yolk
- 1 ¼ cups buttermilk
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla
- 2 ½ cups flour
Ganache
- ½ cup heavy cream plus 1-3 tbsp if needed
- 6 oz chocolate chips dark or bittersweet
Instructions
Bundt Cake Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 10-inch bundt pan generously with baking spray.
- Microwave coffee and cocoa powder in a microwave-safe bowl for 1 ½-2 minutes, whisking well every 30 seconds. Set aside to cool.
- In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or in a bowl with a hand mixer, combine the sugar, kosher salt, baking soda, eggs, and egg yolk on low speed for 1 minute. Scrape sides of bowl with rubber spatula.
- Add buttermilk, oil, and vanilla and mix on low speed for 1 minute. Scrape sides of bowl.
- Add flour and mix on medium for 2 minutes. Scrape sides of bowl.
- Add cooled coffee-cocoa powder mixture and mix on medium speed for 3 minutes. Scrape sides of bowl.
- Pour batter into prepared bundt pan. Bake on the center rack for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Allow cake to cool for 15 minutes in the pan. Invert the warm cake on a cooling rack and allow to cool fully.
Ganache Instructions
- Once the cake is cool, microwave heavy cream in a microwave safe bowl for 40-45 seconds until hot, but not boiling. Pour over the chocolate chips and let sit without stirring for 3 minutes. Then whisk until the ganache is smooth. (If the ganache is not smooth or is too thick, heat an additional 1-3 tbsp of cream in the microwave until hot, then pour into ganache and whisk. Do NOT microwave the ganache).
- Place the bundt cake on a cooling rack, and set the cooling rack over a cookie sheet. Pour the ganache over the top of the cake, allowing excess ganache to drip onto the cookie sheet (see more tips in the Q&A section of this post). Allow ganache to set 1-2 hours before serving.
Notes
- First, check out the Q&A section in the post - it’s full of helpful tips to make this cake a success!
- Make sure the coffee-cocoa powder mixture is cooled before mixing it into the batter. If it’s warm, you risk scrambling the eggs and ending up with a lumpy batter 😬.
- A secret to making any cake more moist is to refrigerate it overnight or freeze it. I highly recommend making this cake ahead to allow time for one of those options - it really does make a difference!
- Move the cake from the cooling rack to a cake plate using a cake lifter like this one. Makes moving cakes SO easy.
Martha Quintero says
Can I change the Buttermilk for another Milk ??
Danielle says
Hi, Martha. We have always had best results using store-bought buttermilk. However, you can try making your own. In a liquid measuring cup put 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon of white vinegar or lemon juice. Then fill with milk up to the 1 1/4 line. Allow to sit for 5 minutes. Let us know how it goes!
Julie says
I made this for Fathers Day and it went over so well! I made it the day before and refrigerated it overnight. It was so moist and the coffee gave it amazing flavor!
Misty says
Glad it turned out well!