Name: Best Matilda’s Chocolate Cake Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 2 cups granulated sugar; ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 cup buttermilk; ½ cup vegetable oil; 2 large eggs; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 cup hot water or freshly brewed coffee; 1 cup unsalted butter; 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 4 cups powdered sugar; ½ cup milk; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; pinch of salt

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If you’re searching for the ultimate chocolate cake experience, let me introduce you to the Best Matilda’s Chocolate Cake. This legendary dessert is outrageously moist, decadently fudgy, and blanketed in the silkiest chocolate frosting you’ll ever taste. Inspired by the famous film (and that jaw-dropping chocolate cake scene), this cake is pure joy for chocolate lovers and easily becomes the centerpiece at any celebration or family gathering. Whether you’re making it for a birthday, a special occasion, or just to treat yourself, this recipe promises unforgettable results!

Best Matilda’s Chocolate Cake Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

What makes the Best Matilda’s Chocolate Cake so spectacular are the thoughtfully chosen, no-fuss ingredients that come together for the perfect texture and bold chocolate flavor. Each element serves a delicious purpose in building bakery-worthy layers at home!

All-purpose flour: Provides just the right structure for a soft, tender crumb.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens and keeps the cake moist, giving every bite that melt-in-your-mouth magic.
Unsweetened cocoa powder: The chocolate hero—choose a good-quality cocoa for the deepest flavor and luscious color.
Baking powder: Ensures your cake rises beautifully for airy, light layers.
Baking soda: Works with the buttermilk to help the cake become fluffy and soft.
Salt: Enhances all the other flavors while balancing the sweetness.
Buttermilk: Adds moisture and a subtle tang that makes the chocolate pop.
Vegetable oil: Keeps the cake super-moist—even days later, it stays tender.
Large eggs: Bind everything together and give the cake structure.
Vanilla extract: Underscores the chocolate with a rich, fragrant note.
Hot water or freshly brewed coffee: Amplifies the chocolate flavor and results in an irresistibly light batter—go for coffee to add more depth.
Unsalted butter (for frosting): The foundation for a rich, creamy fudge frosting.
Powdered sugar (for frosting): Sweetens and thickens the frosting without any grittiness.
Milk (for frosting): Adjusts the texture, making the frosting spreadable and smooth.
Pinch of salt (for frosting): Brings out the flavors and curbs any overwhelming sweetness.

How to Make Best Matilda’s Chocolate Cake

Step 1: Prepare the Pans and Preheat

Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans, then line each base with parchment paper. This step is your secret weapon for cakes that release flawlessly and look stunning when layered.

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In your biggest mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This comprehensive dry mix ensures all your leavening agents and chocolate are evenly distributed for a uniform rise and intensely chocolaty crumb.

Step 3: Add the Wet Ingredients

Pour in the buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix until everything just comes together—don’t overwork the batter, as this ensures the Best Matilda’s Chocolate Cake stays soft and tender. The batter may look thick at this point, and that’s perfect.

Step 4: Incorporate the Hot Water or Coffee

Carefully stir in the hot water or freshly brewed coffee. Don’t be alarmed—the batter will become quite thin, but this is the secret to a cake that’s extra moist with a melt-in-your-mouth crumb. Using hot coffee brings out a deeper chocolate profile that’s hard to resist.

Step 5: Bake the Cakes

Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans. Gently tap them on the counter to remove air bubbles and bake for 30–35 minutes. You’ll know they’re ready when a toothpick comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Let them cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to finish cooling completely.

Step 6: Make the Fudge Frosting

While the cakes cool, melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in the cocoa powder until smooth, then remove from heat. Gradually alternate adding the powdered sugar and milk, mixing until the frosting is glossy and spreadable. The vanilla and pinch of salt go in last—taste and adjust as needed for fudge perfection.

Step 7: Assemble and Frost

Place one cake layer flat-side down on your serving plate, generously mound with frosting, and smooth to the edges. Stack the second layer on top and coat the sides and top with the rest of the fudge frosting. Take a step back and admire the glossy, glistening masterpiece you’ve just created!

How to Serve Best Matilda’s Chocolate Cake

Garnishes

The Best Matilda’s Chocolate Cake is jaw-dropping on its own, but feel free to get creative! Scatter chocolate shavings or curls over the top, dust with cocoa powder, or add a few fresh raspberries for a pop of color and zing.

Side Dishes

This show-stopper cake is rich, so pair it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or even a drizzle of bittersweet chocolate sauce. For a lighter touch, a few slices of fresh oranges or strawberries on the side work wonders.

Creative Ways to Present

For extra drama, chill the cake before slicing for ultra-clean layers. Serve on a vintage cake stand, cut into generous wedges, or turn individual slices into plated desserts with a swirl of fudge sauce and berries. This cake is ready for its close-up at any party!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you’re lucky enough to have any leftovers, cover the cake tightly with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container. It keeps perfectly at room temperature for up to two days, or in the fridge for even longer freshness.

Freezing

The Best Matilda’s Chocolate Cake freezes like a dream! Wrap individual slices or whole layers (unfrosted works best) in plastic wrap and then foil. Store for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or for a few hours at room temperature before serving.

Reheating

While this cake is scrumptious cold, you can gently warm individual slices in the microwave for about 10 seconds to bring back that just-baked tenderness and amplify the chocolatey aroma. Serve immediately for the coziest treat.

FAQs

Can I make the Best Matilda’s Chocolate Cake gluten-free?

Absolutely! Substitute a good quality gluten-free 1:1 baking flour for the all-purpose flour. The cake still leans fluffy and moist, so you won’t miss the original version one bit.

Can I use regular milk instead of buttermilk?

If you don’t have buttermilk, simply add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to a measuring cup, fill to the 1 cup line with milk, stir, and let it sit for five minutes. It mimics buttermilk’s tenderizing magic perfectly.

What’s the secret to an extra-fudgy frosting?

The keys are real butter, high-quality cocoa powder, and the right balance of milk for spreadability. For an even more intense flavor, use dark cocoa powder or add a tablespoon of espresso powder.

Why use hot coffee in the batter?

Hot coffee intensifies the chocolate flavor without adding an overt coffee taste. It also helps dissolve the cocoa for a smoother, richer cake texture—trust me, it’s a game changer for the Best Matilda’s Chocolate Cake!

How do I get clean layers when slicing?

For bakery-level clean slices, chill your frosted cake for an hour before cutting and use a sharp, warm knife (rinse in hot water and wipe clean between cuts). Each wedge will look picture-perfect!

Final Thoughts

Baking the Best Matilda’s Chocolate Cake isn’t just about making dessert—it’s about bringing a sense of occasion and pure joy to your table. With every decadent layer and swoosh of fudge frosting, you’ll see why this cake has become a legend in homes everywhere. Gather your ingredients and treat yourself or someone you love to the chocolate cake experience of a lifetime—you deserve it!

Best Matilda’s Chocolate Cake Recipe

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4.6 from 18 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 1 hour
Yield: 12 servings 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

Indulge in the decadent delight of Matilda’s Chocolate Cake, a rich and moist chocolate cake topped with a luscious fudge frosting. Perfect for any celebration or simply to satisfy your chocolate cravings!

Ingredients

Scale

Cake:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
½ cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup hot water or freshly brewed coffee

Fudge Frosting:

1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4 cups powdered sugar
½ cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
pinch of salt

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Instructions

Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Add wet ingredients: Add buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix until combined.
Add hot water or coffee: Carefully stir in hot water or coffee until the batter is smooth and slightly thin.
Bake: Pour the batter evenly into prepared pans and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool and frost: Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Make the fudge frosting by melting butter, cocoa powder, and gradually adding powdered sugar and milk until spreadable. Frost the cakes and stack them, covering with frosting.