Death By Chocolate Cake (2024)

This death by chocolate cake is truly a chocolate lovers’ dream! Made with TWO kinds of cocoa powder, there is no butter, no eggs, and no milk needed!

Death By Chocolate Cake Recipe

When it comes to showstopping chocolate dessert recipes, I love making a chocolate mousse pie, chocolate tart, and this easy death by chocolate cake.

One of my favorite parts of entertaining and having friends over, is to ALWAYS serve a showstopping dessert. I’m affectionately known as the dessert king, and feel somewhat obliged to deliver something special everytime they come over. While I typically do brownies or blondies, I wanted to go back to basics and do a classic chocolate cake…with a twist.

I’ve been meaning to share a death by chocolate cake recipe for quite some time now. While I already do have several chocolate cake recipes on here (like a flourless one, a healthy one, and even a low carb one), none of them catered to those who are obsessed with chocolate…until now.

A friend of mine had a birthday recently and asked if I’d be okay to make a simple chocolate cake for them. Knowing that they are a massive chocoholic (and vegan), I agreed, and opted to make them this Death by chocolate cake.

Now, this cake may look incredibly fancy, but I promise you, it uses simple and easy ingredients and takes less than 30 minutes to whip up.

No eggs, no milk, and no butter are needed, but you’d never tell. The texture of the cake is moist, fluffy, and with a tender crumb. Flavor wise, it is loaded with chocolate flavor in every single bite.

When my friend served it at her birthday, people thought I had bought it from a cake shop! Even better, NO ONE knew that it was dairy free!

Ingredients to make a double chocolate cake

Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make this chocolate lovers cake. I typically use milk or plant based milk for the liquid but found using water to be perfectly fine! Try not to substitute out any of the ingredients unless specifically stated.

• All purpose flour– Plain flour, that has been sifted. If you’d like to make this a gluten free cake, use gluten free baking flour (gluten free flour with added xanthan gum).
• Dark cocoa powder– A rich and more potent cocoa powder, that is almost black in color. This intensifies the chocolate flavor. If you don’t have dark cocoa powder, you can just double the amount of cocoa powder.
• Cocoa powder– Use a good quality brand, and ensure it is unsweetened.
• Baking soda– Works with the vinegar to give the cake some fluffiness and rise. It also omits the need for any eggs whatsoever.
• Espresso powder– Optional, but intensifies the chocolate flavor.
• Granulated sweetener of choice– White sugar, brown sugar, or any granulated sweetener can be used. I prefer brown sugar, as it yields an even more moist cake.
• Vinegar– Either white vinegar or apple cider vinegar can be used.
  Vanilla extract– A must for any good cake or baked good.
• Oil– Use a neutral flavored oil, like canola oil, vegetable oil, or refined coconut oil.
• Water– To mix everything together!
• Chocolate frosting– Takes the chocolate up a notch! Use either a healthy chocolate frosting (pictured) or a keto chocolate frosting.

How to make a double chocolate cake

Start by mixing your dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Once combined, you’ll then add the rest of the ingredients and mix well, until a smooth batter remains. Transfer the batter into two greased 8-inch cake pan and bake for around 25 minutes, or until a skewer comes out mostly clean.

Allow the cakes to cool completely, before carefully slicing each cake in half, until 4 thin cakes remain. Layer the cake by adding frosting between each layer, before covering the top with it. Refrigerate the cake for 30 minutes, to firm up before serving.

Tips to make the best recipe

• Do not overbake the cake, as it continues to cook as it is cooling down. Once a skewer comes out mostly clean, the cake is ready!
• If you use gluten free flour, you MUST use one that contains xanthan gum, otherwise your cake will turn out gummy.
• Be VERY careful when slicing the cake in half. If you’d prefer a single layer cake, you can skip the slicing step.
• For an even more chocolate flavor, feel free to fold through some chocolate chips into the batter (1/2-1 cup) and bake for a further 5 minutes.
• Serve this cake with a scoop of chocolate ice cream or vanilla ice cream for the ultimate decadent dessert.

Storage instructions

• To store: If you intend to eat the cake within 3 days, you can store it at room temperature, covered. If you’d like it to keep longer, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
• To freeze: Place slices of the cake into a freezer friendly container and store in the freezer for up to 6 months. Thaw completely before enjoying it.

More delicious cake recipes to try

• Strawberry Cake
• Lemon Blueberry Cake
• Snickers Cake
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake
• Coconut Cake