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Updated on June 8, 2020 by · This post may contain affiliate links ·

Chocolate Cake Recipe (for Carving)

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This is a great chocolate cake with lots of yummy chocolate flavor but sturdy enough to use for sculpted and carved cake designs

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Cups of Batter Needed

8 cups

Cups of Frosting Needed

5 cups

Note: measurements are estimated based off the vanilla cake recipe using standard US cake pans and sizes. Measurements used are for 2" tall cake pans only. Your results may vary. Do not overfill cake pans above manufacturer's recommended guidelines.

Recipe

chocolate cake for sculpting

Chocolate Cake Recipe (for carving)

This chocolate cake has great flavor and texture but is sturdy enough to be used in carved cakes! This recipe makes two 8" rounds
Print Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 cups
Calories: 1375kcal
Author: Liz Marek

Ingredients

  • 8 oz unsalted butter room temperature
  • 14 oz granulated sugar
  • 15 oz AP flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 4 oz natural cocoa powder like HERSHEYS
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 large eggs room temperature
  • 16 oz water room temperature
  • 2 oz vegetable oil
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • NOTE: It is SUPER IMPORTANT that all the room temperature ingredients listed above are room temperature and not cold so that the ingredients mix and incorporate correctly. 
  • Heat oven to 335º F/168º C.
  • Add dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cocoa powder) together in a bowl, whisk to combine and set aside
  • Combine wet ingredients in a bowl and set aside
  • Add butter to stand mixer and beat at medium-high speed until smooth and shiny, about 30 seconds. Gradually sprinkle in the sugar, beat until mixture is fluffy and almost white, about 3-5 minutes. 
  • Add eggs one at a time, fully combining each egg before adding the next. 
  • With the mixer at the lowest speed, add about a third of the dry ingredients to the batter, followed immediately by about a third of the water mixture, mix until ingredients are almost incorporated into the batter. Repeat the process 2 more times. When the batter appears blended, stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
  • Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Smooth the tops with a rubber spatula. Bake cakes until they feel firm in the center and a toothpick comes out clean or with just a few crumbs on it, about 35-40 minutes.

Notes

Be sure to use natural cocoa powder or this recipe won't turn out.

Nutrition

Calories: 1375kcal | Carbohydrates: 171g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 75g | Saturated Fat: 46g | Cholesterol: 307mg | Sodium: 2187mg | Potassium: 740mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 104g | Vitamin A: 1685IU | Calcium: 221mg | Iron: 8.4mg
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About Liz Marek

Liz Marek is a professional cake artist, sweet and savory recipe developer, and the founder of Sugar Geek Show, where she teaches cooking, baking and cake decorating through detailed tutorials, food science explanations, and kitchen-tested recipes. She has been creating recipes and teaching baking techniques since 2008, helping bakers of all skill levels gain the confidence to make professional-quality desserts at home.

Liz is known for breaking down complex cooking and baking concepts into simple, approachable methods. Her work focuses on helping people understand not just how a recipe works, but why it works. Through Sugar Geek Show, she shares step-by-step recipes, cake decorating tutorials, and practical baking guides designed to make professional techniques accessible to everyone.

Over the years, Liz has taught thousands of students through online tutorials, classes, and educational content focused on real kitchen results. Her recipes are carefully tested and written to help people succeed the first time they make them.

When she’s not developing recipes or teaching baking techniques, Liz also hosts curated travel experiences for women through her travel brand Soul Sisters.

You can find Liz’s latest recipes, baking tutorials, and food science tips at Sugar Geek Show.

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