Chocolate WASC is the chocolate version of our popular WASC recipe that with an addition of a few ingredients, your box cake will taste almost like scratch. The texture is light and fluffy but is still sturdy enough to carve a cake or stack into for a wedding cake. Chocolate WASC is a great option if you're not quite ready to take the plunge into baking a chocolate cake recipe from scratch.
Chocolate Sour Cream Cake
One of the ingredients that makes this cake so dang good is the sour cream. It adds a nice tang to the flavor and an extra level of moistness. Sour cream is a popular ingredient used in a lot of chocolate cake recipes giving it a similar flavor that you might get from using buttermilk or mayonnaise.
Chocolate Cake With Coffee
I like to use coffee as my liquid instead of water because the coffee brings out the chocolate flavor. Your batter will smell like strong coffee but don't worry, it won't taste like coffee. You don't have to use coffee, you can use water or even milk if you want.
How To Make Chocolate WASC
Chocolate WASC starts with a nice chocolate-y box mix. I usually use Duncan Hines chocolate fudge cake but devils food cake will also do nicely. Just pour the contents of the mix into a bowl and add in your extra ingredients. Just ignore the instructions on the back of the box and use the recipe below instead.
Mix all your ingredients together until combined and then mix vigorously for two minutes. I used a stand mixer with a paddle attachment but you can also just use a bowl and a spoon.
I tweaked this recipe to contain melted butter so that when you chill it the cake is a bit firmer and easier to handle.
Why not just make it from scratch?
I get this question a lot. A LOT. I get it. If you're going to go through all this trouble of adding so many ingredients to a box mix, why not just make it from scratch? I used to think the same thing. But over the years of teaching countless bakers of all skill levels, I have learned that a lot of people are super intimidated to bake from scratch. They have little to no knowledge of how to measure, how to mix or even what a good scratch cake should taste like.
The thing about box mix is it isn't just the same ingredients as a cake from scratch. A box contains emulsifiers that basically make the cake bake up perfectly no matter what you do to it. The problem? Those emulsifiers make the cake taste a bit fake. Like eating strawberry flavored candy. It's good but doesn't exactly taste like a real strawberry right?
So adding in these extra ingredients gives you the best of both worlds. A recipe that makes the baker do more than just opening a box but the emulsifiers still ensure that the cake bakes up successfully and the added ingredients make the cake taste more like homemade. Thus giving the baker much-needed confidence and a bit of a taste of what a homemade cake tastes like so if they choose to take a leap two baking from scratch, it's not so scary.
Chocolate WASC Cake For Cupcakes
This recipe works great for cupcakes and rise up perfectly. I get about 36 cupcakes from one box.
I like using my chocolate buttercream for this recipe. The yummy flavor pairs perfectly with the chocolate cake without it being too heavy. If you're looking for other yummy chocolate cake recipes, check out my guinness beer cake which is the epitome of decadent.
Other doctored box mix recipes you might want to try!
WASC (white almond sour cream cake)
Strawberry cake mix recipe
Cake Batter and Frosting Calculator
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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
Ingredients
Chocolate WASC Recipe
- 1 box Duncan Hines Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
- 5 oz Ap flour 1 cup
- 2 oz cocoa powder ½ cup
- 12 oz cold coffee 1 ½ cups
- 2 oz vegetable oil ¼ cup
- 4 oz melted butter ½ cup
- 3 large eggs
- 6 oz sour cream ¾ cup
- 7 oz sugar 1 cup
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Frosting
- 16 ounces Semi-Sweet Chocolate
- 16 ounces heavy whipping cream
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Chocolate WASC Instructions
- Preheat oven to 335℉. Prepare two 8" round cake pans. I prefer to use cake goop.
- Add all dry ingredients into the bowl of your stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Add in the rest of your ingredients and mix on low for 1 minute.
- Stop and scrape the bowl and then mix on medium for two minutes.
- Pour batter into your cake pans and bake for 30- 35 minutes until a toothpick comes out of the center with just a few sticky crumbs clinging to the toothpick.
- Let cool a few minutes in the pan before turning out onto a cooling rack. Let cool fully and frost.
Chocolate Frosting
- Place the heavy whipping cream into a medium-sized pot over medium-high heat. Whisk occasionally to prevent burning. Do not walk away!
- Heat cream until steam is rising from the surface but it isn't boiling.
- Pour hot cream over the chocolate and let sit for 5 minutes
- Add in salt and whisk until smooth. If you have any un-melted lumps, you can use an immersion blender to get them out.
- Pour chocolate into a shallow dish and cover with plastic wrap let cool at room temperature until a peanut butter consistency. If chocolate is too firm, you can microwave for 10 seconds and then stir with a spatula or whip with a hand mixer.
- Frost cake as desired.
Carolina says
I had the best chocolate recipe that I used for years.... until I tried this one!! This IS THE BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE EVER !! The texture, moisture and taste are divine and it's very easy to make.. perfect for carving, sturdy enough to stack and the best one to eat! ?
The Sugar Geek Show says
Thank you so much! If you wouldn't mind leaving a star review I would super appreciate it!
Fran says
What size cake mix are you using? 18.25 or 15.25??? Some recipes are older and they're using the 18.25 oz box mix. Cake mixes are 15.25 oz now.
The Sugar Geek Show says
I don't think it makes a difference. Funny how these cake box mixes are so full proof! I have even accidentally left out the eggs and it magically still baked up!
Michelle P. says
I must know, why the cold coffee?
The Sugar Geek Show says
Coffee makes the chocolate taste stronger and more flavorful
Jacqueline Pearson says
Hello Lis, thank you for sharing your yummy recipes 🙂 ... I am confused in the measurements in the flour and sugar says 4 oz and next to that 1 cup and the sugar says 5 oz -1cup ... are both a cup or is a 1/2 cup? I am not a pro but I thought 4 oz are more close to 1/2 cup ... thank you so much I tried already two of your recipes and are AMAZING!
The Sugar Geek Show says
Hi there. Flour and sugar have different volumes (cups) which is why I have listed the weight for accuracy. Example: 1 cup of water (8oz) is not the same as 1 cup of flour (4oz) because one is light and fluffy and one is liquid. Hope that makes sense.
Amy says
Do you recommend this for cupcakes? If so temp and time?? ?
The Sugar Geek Show says
Yes it works fine for cupcakes, same temp, usually about 18 mins
Shipra S says
Thank you so much,Liz for sharing your wonderful tried and tested recipes with us and taking all the hard work from our caking lives .. I can't wait to try this one, I always spend hours googling before I make a cake from a box mix on how to make it better ... tried instant pudding mix and what not but was never happy.. never knew that you have posted a recipe for this,now I can try this with out any stress and I am sure it would be great...
Just wanted to ask you if we can tweak the recipe other flavour box mixes like .. vanilla, toffee , carrot or red velvet .. any suggestions Liz
Many thanks ??
The Sugar Geek Show says
Yes you totally can use the same process to tweak other flavors of box mix 🙂
Shawn says
Alrighty, then. Who wants to decipher WASC for me?! Thank you, it's driving me crazy!
The Sugar Geek Show says
White Almond Sour Cream Cake
Patra says
Excellent! Very moist! Thank you for the recipe!
Stacy c says
I needed an easy quick recipe and made this. It was amazing! Super moist. Everyone loved it. Thanks Liz for sharing this, I will definitely be using this recipe again. I was wondering though, can I add more cocoa powder and if so how much do you think?
Karla Yahu says
I made this cake with your chocolate butter cream for a school staff and they loved it. Words like 'amazing','best cake I ever tasted', etc. were said. I got to try the trimmings with a bit of the butter cream and I love it, so moist and not to sweet. I am a chocolate cake lover and these recipes you shared just got put to the top of my list. Thank you!
Kim says
I'm new to your site and your cakes look AWESOME!!! I so want to make this cake. After reading the comments I am a little scared and I've been baking a long time. I am new to measuring in ounces utilizing a scale, assuming that you're using a scale to measure. I recently purchased a small scale for this purpose but am unsure how to accurately measure. What do I use as the "vehicle" to measure the ingredients and do I weigh that "vehicle" first and then remove it from the total to get my measurements accurate? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Kim
The Sugar Geek Show says
What is scaring you? Maybe I can help? Using a scale is very simple and really helps a recipe turn out better the first time. To measure your ingredients using a scale you put the bowl or measuring cup on the scale and push the "tare" or "zero" button to remove the weight of the container. Then you add in your ingredients until you reach the correct measurement. Thats it!
Shirl says
I just made this doctored box cake and it is good! Everyone loved it. I’m now confident I can use a box cake in a hurry. Thank you so much, Liz!
Delores Gipson says
Hi‼ thank you so much for sharing these life saving cakes!!!! Omg!!! Usually I try something from YouTube or pinterest it usually be a little off or not tasty! I have tried the white cake recipe it's so perfect! Thank you so much ‼
Lor says
Can you tell me how many cups of batter I need for 2 round 6” x 2” cake pans? I tried this recipe in a 13 x 9 and used all the batter and got a PERFECT CARVING cake. Today I tried to make 2 6x2 round Wilton pans and filled each pan with 2 1/4 cup batter, per Wilton pan directions and had two volcanos in my oven. Can you please help! Thank you!
The Sugar Geek Show says
Cake mix tends to dome so that is normal. Just cut it off after it's cooled.
Holly says
Try Wilton baking strips. Will produce a flat cake! I also weigh my batter rather than using cups. Try filling your pans only half full (that always works for me)
Liz says
Hi Liz, I'm making an engagement cake and the bottom tier will be a tall hexagon, chocolate flavour. I have a 12 inch hexagon tin and was wondering what temperature to bake it at and for how long? Also, how many times would I need to multiply this recipe? I'll b covering the cake in fondant and putting dowels through the cake for support as it'll be 4 tier. Do you think this recipe is suitable for this?
The Sugar Geek Show says
1 1/2 batch of batter will be enough to fill a 12" cake pan. I would use a flower nail or baking spike in the center. Can't say exactly how long it will take but I would start with 40 minutes.
Holly says
Tried your recipe last night (my 4th chocolate wasc cake recipe) and it is great! Very moist but not gummy (as some others I’ve tried). I did make a couple tweaks I added 3 Tbl of cocoa powder to give a more chocolatey flavor and I did not use oil instead I used a full cup of sour cream along with the butter. I Made an 8” took 38min at 325 in my oven. Thank you!
Nae says
I just made this cake, haven’t even frosted it yet! And it’s soooo good. I used a cold brewed coffee and added a couple extra tablespoons of cocoa powder, I also added about 3/4 c of zucchini. It’s seriously the best cake I have ever tasted. Imagining what it’s like with frosting!!!
Linda Isaacs says
I have been struggling with scratch cake for years. Don't know what I am doing wrong, but I have a 50% chance of it coming out right. An expensive and frustrating situation.
So I found this recipe and tried it. IT IS DELICIOUS and SUPER EASY. And it comes out right first try!
I added 3 T of cocoa powder and used all butter instead of oil/butter. I did used baking strips. I made 2 batches, baked 4 layers and stacked 3 into a unicorn cake. I frosted with vanilla SMBC and the cake held together for white frosting over chocolate cake! So happy I found this.
CHARLENE OLSEN says
How many batches of this would I need to make 2 - 12" rounds?
Thank you!
The Sugar Geek Show says
Double batch
Melody says
Hello Thank you for ALL that you do! I have been using this recipe for a while.. I just cane back to write it down again and it looked different. May I ask did you update this recipe with cocoa powder, more butter and more coffee. The recipe I had from you before was 10 oz coffee, 2 oz butter and no cocoa powder... just wondering have I been doing it wrong this whole time lol anyway I’m doing this updated version tonight THANK you a million times over for EVERYTHING!
The Sugar Geek Show says
Nope, just a little improvement 🙂
Trisha Fuller says
Hi! Would this also work in 3 6” pans??
The Sugar Geek Show says
There's a lot of batter, you'd probably have enough for four 6" cake pans
John says
A very novice guy baker needs some help! I came across your site earlier and have not been able to stop reading and learning. The one thing I have not come across is anything related to a bundt cake. I would like to incorporate your ideas and bake a bundt cake but would you use a box mix and beef it up using the WASC method and if chocolate the Chocolate WASC method? Love the site!
The Sugar Geek Show says
I did some research and it appears you can bake any cake recipe in a bundt pan, there is no special recipe. Good to know!
Leslie says
This is in my oven right now... and it’s taking way longer than the stated time... let’s all keep our fingers crossed that my cake won’t be burned on the bottom. Clearly I made a mistake somewhere ?
The Sugar Geek Show says
All ovens are different, just keep baking until they are done in the center 🙂
Emily S says
Help! I’ve made this recipe twice now and all I end up with are cake crumbles. All of my ingredients are room temp, I weigh all of them and cook at the lower temp than what’s on the box (and I have an oven thermometer). As soon as I touch the cake it just falls apart. Suggestions??? TIA!!
The Sugar Geek Show says
Maybe you're not mixing long enough? This is a box mix so it shouldn't crumble apart. It doesn't even matter if the ingredients are room temp or weighed.
Jill says
I made this cake in 3- 6" pans. It tastes amazing but I need your help! When I took the cakes out of the pans, they all broke in half. Any ideas why? The cake that's left in the pans isn't overcooked, and doesn't seem to be stuck to the top. Do I need a little more cake goop? Or was it too much batter in each pan that the cakes were too high and therefore split in half? Thanks for your help!
The Sugar Geek Show says
Maybe just be a little more careful? cakes are tender when they come out of the pan. I usually put the cooling rack on top of the cake pan, then flip both over so the cake doesn't get damaged, then let cool or pop into the freezer before handling.