Truly, Madly, Deeply: 12 Chocolate Cake Recipes to Fall in Love With

If you're craving chocolate, there's nothing like a homemade chocolate cake to hit the spot. And the 12 masterpieces in this gallery absolutely fit the bill. But don't for a moment think they're all just riffs on an old-fashioned chocolate cake.

Sure, there are layer cakes, perfect for birthdays, holidays, and other candle- and sprinkle-worthy occasions. Up for an adventure? Our Salted Caramel Six-Layer Chocolate Cake may be the showstopper you're looking for. Prefer something a bit more by the book (and predictably wonderful)? You'll find that our One-Bowl Chocolate Cake is just the thing.

There are a number of unique cakes here, too, such as a tower of crepes all bound together with a hazelnut filling, then covered in a chocolate glaze and garnished with toasted and candied hazelnuts. Beyond nuts, other classic chocolate partners are highlighted here, too. The aforementioned caramel appears, as does raspberry, with the tart fruit nicely offsetting the chocolate.

One pairing that never fails: chocolate and espresso. The Sour Cream-Mocha Bundt Cake shown here is one such example—it's baked with both instant powdered and brewed espresso. The coffee enhances and intensifies the cake's chocolate flavor (which comes from Dutch-process cocoa powder and bittersweet chocolate), but that's not the only thing this go-to cake has going for it. Sour cream in the batter ensures a moist texture, and springy texture. And as if that weren't enough to make you run to the kitchen, this crowd-pleasing cake doesn't just hold up for days—it even gets better with age.