The Best Chocolate Loaf Cake Recipe

by becky
Created
Imported from addapinch.com

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

This easy chocolate loaf cake recipe is moist, tender, and delicious! No stand mixer required! Great with or without frosting!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder
  • 1/2 cup milk (whole, buttermilk, or plant-based milk substitutes at room temperature)
  • 1/4 cup oil (canola oil, vegetable oil, or melted coconut oil)
  • 1 large egg (room temperature)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup boiling water

Directions

  1. Prep. Preheat oven to 350º F. Prepare the loaf pan by buttering and lightly dusting with cocoa powder or flour or spreading with chocolate cake goop.
  2. Whisk together the dry ingredients. Add flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and espresso powder to a large bowl. Whisk until combined well.
  3. Stir together the wet and dry ingredients. Add the milk, oil, egg, and vanilla extract to the flour mixture and stir together. Carefully add boiling water to the cake batter until well combined.
  4. Bake the cake. Pour the cake batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center of the chocolate cake comes out clean. See my guide for how to tell when your cake is done for more tips.
  5. Cool the cake. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and cool completely.
  6. Frost the cake (optional). Frost cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting, if using.