Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake Recipe
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Do you have a birthday or other special occasion coming up? If so, this Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake may be just what you’re looking for! It is dense and full of flavor, just like Grandma used to make. This cake took me back to my childhood and all the scratch-made cakes my mom made for my birthdays.
Ingredients You Will Need
- Shortening
- Sugar
- Light Brown Sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla
- Unsweetened Chocolate Squares
- Cake Flour
- Salt
- Baking Soda
- Buttermilk
Equipment You May Need
- Mixer
- Double Boiler
- 9-inch Cake Pans
- Cooling Racks
Helpful Tips for Making Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake
- To sift flour, a whisk can be used in place of a flour sifter.
- For easier cake removal, line pans with waxed paper. Trace the outline of the pan on waxed paper and cut to fit perfectly inside the pan
Variations and Substitutes
- This batter can also be used to make approximately 24 cupcakes.
- For a cake flour substitute, check out these directions from Sally’s Baking Addiction – Cake Flour Substitute
- If you don’t have buttermilk, you can use 1 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar or lemon juice plus enough milk to measure one cup. Stir, then let the mixture stand for 5 minutes.
Other Recipes You May Like
You might also enjoy this Apple Coffee Cake or these Old-Fashioned Pecan Cake Bars. The Best White Cake Recipe, this Chocolate Loaf Cake, or these Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes are also delicious options. If you’re looking for something colorful and fun, you might like these Mermaid Cupcakes. For a gluten-free option, try this Gluten Free Vanilla Cake.
Final Thoughts on Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake
My whole family enjoyed this cake and asked that I make it again. I used homemade mocha frosting, which gave it a rich finish. For the filling, I used canned cream cheese frosting because I was in a bit of a hurry. If you prefer to make your own frosting, this Stabilized Whipped Cream Frosting would be perfect. This cake was very dense, so a small piece was the perfect size. Next time, I will probably make my own filling. Have you ever had Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake?
Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
- ½ Cup Shortening
- 1 Cup Sugar
- ½ Cup Light Brown Sugar firmly packed
- 2 Eggs well beaten
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
- 3 Squares Unsweetened Chocolate 1 ounce each
- 2 Cups Cake Flour sifted
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- ⅔ Cup Buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°.
- Grease 2 9-inch round cake pans and set aside.
- Cream shortening.
- Add sugar and brown sugar gradually.
- Cream shortening and sugars together thoroughly.
- Beat eggs well.
- Add vanilla to eggs and then add both to the first mixture; beat well.
- Melt unsweetened chocolate squares in top pan of double boiler.
- Cool chocolate slightly and then add to the creamed mixture; blend well.
- Sift cake flour, salt, and baking soda.
- Add alternately with buttermilk to creamed mixture.
- Mix until smooth.
- Pour batter into 2 9-inch greased cake pans.
- Bake at 375° for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool cakes in pans for 5 minutes before removing to cool thoroughly on cooling racks.
*Adapted from The American-International Encyclopedic Cookbook by Anne London, copyright 1972
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22 Comments
Mandy Applegate
We loved this chocolate cake, and it was a great tip about tracing the outline on the paper – delicious!
Heidi Bruaw
I am so glad you liked it and I’m happy the tip helped you out!
Erin
This does taste just like a cake my grandma made! Maybe it’s the shortening? 😆🤷♀️ It also brought me back to my childhood. I used fudge frosting and it was great with the cake! Thanks.
Heidi Bruaw
Ooh, fudge frosting would be amazing on this cake!
Lisa
My husband loves those little pre-packaged cakes. I made this for him instead and he said it was so much better than the pre-made ones. I’m going to make it into cupcakes next time to freeze some for later.
Heidi Bruaw
Freezing some for later is a great idea!
Vladka
Chocolate cakes are the most wanted in our family and I love to try new recipes. Thanks
Heidi Bruaw
Awesome! I’m always happy to share! 🙂
Jere Cassidy
There is nothing better than a good old fashioned cake and this recipe is super easy with ingredients I had on hand. Loved the chocolate flavor.
Heidi Bruaw
I’m glad that you already had the ingredients! 🙂
Camilla
I love chocolate cake and your recipe is amazing! Moist and delicious, everyone loved it! I will make this again!
Heidi Bruaw
Thank you!
Judith
I love chocolate cake! I like the use of real chocolate instead of cocoa powder.
Heidi Bruaw
Yes, that makes it taste so much better!
Christina's Bread Bakes
Chcolate cakes are my weakness, this one doesn’t disappoint with the cream center and ganach topping!
Heidi Bruaw
I’m glad you liked it!
Jess Selensky
A perfect chocolate cake!
Heidi Bruaw
Thank you!
Katie Jacques
This chocolate cake is such a dream! It’s the perfect classic sweet treat!
Heidi Bruaw
Thank you!
Lois
How do you make the white frosting in between the layers?
Heidi Bruaw
For this cake, I cheated and used canned cream cheese frosting. I hope this helps! Let me know if you make it and how it turns out. 🙂