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

By Lynn Andriani
Updated October 29, 2020
Con Poulos
Get your fix of rich and intense chocolate with a dozen of our top treats.
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Credit: Con Poulos

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.

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Flourless Chocolate Espresso Cake

Credit: Jonathan Lovekin
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This rich and delicious cake is surprisingly easy to make, and gets an extra punch from instant espresso powder, which is incorporated into the cake and to the glaze. It's conveniently gluten-free, too!

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Salted Caramel Six-Layer Chocolate Cake

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You'll want to break out the candy thermometer for this cake, but keeping a careful watch on the temperature of the caramel will pay off. You'll achieve the perfectly gooey caramel texture—and the ideal spreading texture for the chocolate frosting.

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Dairy-Free Chocolate-Raspberry Cake

Credit: Yuki Sugiura
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This showstopping holiday dessert comes together from a one-bowl batter and three-ingredient frosting. And it happens to be dairy free, thanks to almond milk in the batter and coconut milk in the frosting.

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Chocolate-Coconut Sheet Cake

Credit: Chris Court
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Everyone needs an unintimidating, foolproof cake like this one. A generous amount of coconut topping, poured over the moist cake while it's still warm, provides richness and a deliciously gooey texture.

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Molten Chocolate-Espresso Cakes

Credit: Yuki Sugiura
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These little cakes are fast and easy (though they don't look it), and are delicious plain or topped with a bit of ganache and a sprinkling of pistachios or flaky sea salt.

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Chocolate-Flecked Layer Cake with Milk Chocolate Frosting

Credit: Chris Court
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This, tall, tender beauty is sophisticated yet uncomplicated to make. The secret to keeping the lush milk chocolate frosting from being cloying? The addition of tangy sour cream.

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Darkest Chocolate Crepe Cake

Credit: Dana Gallagher
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Give yourself the time to make this cake, and you'll be rewarded with an incredible dessert that's part crepe, part cake and over-the-top delicious.

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One-Bowl Chocolate Cake

Credit: Dana Gallagher
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Whether you're looking for something to serve at a birthday, anniversary or going-away party, this is the cake for you. It's super-easy to make, requires just one bowl, and is wonderfully chocolate-y.

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Flourless Chocolate-Date Cake with Salted-Caramel Sauce

Credit: Marcus Nilsson
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Dates and bourbon cook down to a gorgeous purée that adds subtle sweetness and depth to this excellent dessert.

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Vegan Chocolate Cake

Credit: Bryan Gardner
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Any chocolate lover, vegan or not, will adore this indulgent cake, which features a bottom layer covered with mocha icing, and a top blanketed with ganache.

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Chocolate Zucchini Sheet Cake with Cream-Cheese Frosting

Credit: Ryan Liebe
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Got too many zucchini and just can't take another loaf of zucchini bread? This cake is just the ticket. It's a party-ready sheet cake topped off with tangy cream cheese frosting.

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