You'll find the ultimate dessert satisfaction in this chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting combo. Start by mixing your dry ingredients - flour, cocoa powder, sugar, and leaveners - then blend in eggs, buttermilk, and oil. The warm water addition brings out the chocolate's deep flavor. While your cake bakes, whip up a luxurious frosting by combining butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Once cooled, frost your layers with the creamy mixture, creating a beautiful contrast between rich chocolate and tangy cream cheese. This classic pairing holds many secrets to perfection.
Essential Ingredients and Equipment
Along with your passion for baking, you'll need specific ingredients and tools to create a perfect chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting. For the cake, gather all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
You'll also need eggs, buttermilk, and vegetable oil to guarantee your cake maintains its moisture and rich texture. Don't forget to use high-quality dark chocolate with 68% cocoa content to enhance the cake's depth of flavor.
For the cream cheese frosting, you'll want cream cheese, unsalted butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. These ingredients combine to create the perfect balance of sweetness and tanginess that complements your chocolate cake beautifully.
Your equipment list should include two large mixing bowls, a whisk or electric mixer, measuring cups and spoons, and a sturdy spatula.
Two 9-inch cake pans are vital for even baking. To guarantee precise temperature control, invest in an oven thermometer - it's essential for achieving the perfect rise and texture in your cake layers.
Making the Chocolate Cake
Creating a perfect chocolate cake starts with proper preparation and attention to detail. Before you begin mixing your ingredients, you'll want to preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare two 9-inch round cake pans by greasing and flouring them. This essential step guarantees your cake layers will release easily once baked.
To achieve a moist cake with rich chocolate flavor, you'll need to properly combine your ingredients in stages. Start by whisking together your dry ingredients in one bowl, guaranteeing even distribution of the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, and leavening agents.
In a separate bowl, blend your wet ingredients until they're well combined. When you merge these components, you're setting the foundation for your cake's texture.
The final step in preparing your chocolate cake batter, before it transforms into the base for your cream cheese frosting, is adding warm water. This step blooms the cocoa powder, intensifying the chocolate flavor.
Pour your batter evenly between the pans and bake for 23-26 minutes. You'll know your cake is done when a toothpick inserted comes out clean or with just a few crumbs.
Cream Cheese Frosting Preparation
While your chocolate cake layers cool completely, you can begin preparing the silky cream cheese frosting that will elevate this dessert.
Start by beating 1.5 cups of room temperature butter with 1 cup of cream cheese until you achieve a smooth, creamy consistency - this usually takes about 30 seconds. Then, gradually incorporate 7 cups of powdered sugar while mixing on low speed for roughly one minute.
To enhance the flavor profile, blend in 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon of fine salt.
- Beat butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy
- Add powdered sugar gradually while mixing on low speed
- Incorporate vanilla extract and salt for enhanced flavor
- Cover with plastic wrap to prevent crust formation
- Store properly in refrigerator or freezer
You'll want to adjust the consistency of your cream cheese frosting by adding small amounts of cream if it's too thick, or more powdered sugar if it's too thin.
To store frosting for later use, place plastic wrap directly on the surface to prevent crusting. You can keep it in the refrigerator for up to a month or in the freezer for three months.
Remember to stir well before using stored frosting.
Assembly and Decorating Tips
The most critical step in assembling your chocolate cake is properly preparing the layers before frosting.
You'll want to place your cake layers in the freezer for 20 minutes, which will make them easier to handle and prevent crumbs from mixing into your frosting during decoration.
Start by securing the first layer to your cake board using cream cheese frosting, creating a stable base for stacking.
Once you've positioned your layers, apply a thin crumb coat of frosting across the entire cake. This initial layer seals in any loose crumbs and creates a clean surface for your final coating.
Let the crumb coat chill until it's completely firm.
For the best presentation, invert the top layer before frosting - this creates sharper, more professional-looking edges.
After applying your final thick layer of cream cheese frosting, you can enhance the cake's visual appeal by creating texture with decorative swirls.
Use the back of a spoon or an offset spatula to make these artistic touches, working from bottom to top.
These finishing details will transform your cake from homemade to professionally polished.
Storage and Serving Suggestions
For ideal freshness, your chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting must be stored properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You'll keep its delicious taste and texture intact for up to 5-7 days while preventing any unwanted odors from affecting your dessert.
Before serving, let your cake sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes to enhance its rich flavors and achieve the perfect consistency.
- Store your chocolate cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator
- Allow 30 minutes at room temperature before serving
- Cover cut sections of leftover cake with a thin layer of cream cheese frosting
- Wrap uncut frosted cake in plastic wrap and foil for freezing up to 3 months
- Garnish with fresh fruits, chocolate shavings, or sprinkles when serving
For ideal moisture retention, don't forget to protect any exposed sections of leftover cake with an additional layer of frosting - this will help maintain freshness for up to 3 days.
If you're planning for long-term storage, freezing is an excellent option. When it's time for presentation, transform your chilled cake into an eye-catching dessert by adding creative garnishes that complement its rich chocolate flavor.
Conclusion
You've just mastered a timeless dessert that happens to be everyone's favorite at family gatherings. As luck would have it, this chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting is the same recipe your grandmother used to make. With proper storage in an airtight container, you'll enjoy this cake for up to 5 days - though it rarely lasts that long once people catch sight of those creamy swirls.