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This is the easiest 9×13 chocolate cake recipe I’ve ever made. Adjusted from my Best Chocolate Cake that everyone absolutely loves, I’ve now made the cake even easier and sized for a 9×13 sheet cake!
One of the recipes that I receive the most emails about is my Best Chocolate Cake Recipe. Generally, the emails are asking me if they can omit the espresso powder, if they can substitute this or that, or if it can be made into either a major multi-tiered confection for an upcoming wedding or something similar. But last week, I received an email asking if the cake could be made into a 9×13 recipe.
Rather than simply responding with a quick, “Yes” to the email, I headed to the kitchen to make it so that I could show you.
Best Chocolate Cake (9×13 Recipe)
Truth be told, I was actually craving chocolate and decided that making the chocolate cake sounded like just the way to answer the craving and that the scaled down version would be just perfectly sized, too! LOL!
To make it, I scaled both the recipe and the chocolate buttercream frosting to work perfectly in a 9×13 baking dish. The cake still rises nicely so that you have a nice, thick cake that you then top with a nice, generous amount of the fluffy chocolate buttercream.
Talk about heavenly!
I love this size cake for taking to pot lucks, tailgating, baking, taking to friends or neighbors, and just for making a quick and easy cake! It transports beautifully in the 9×13 baking dish and I love that I don’t have to worry about a cake slipping or sliding on a cake plate!
When you cut into the cake, you’ll notice that it has that moist tender crumb like my original Best Chocolate Cake Recipe. It is seriously amazing!
As with any 9×13 cake recipes, you can cut the pieces as generous or as conservatively as you please. You can cut the cake into 2- inch x 2-inch pieces for 24 servings or into 2- inch x 3- inch pieces for 18 servings.
How to Make It
To make the cake, you just need a large mixing bowl and a whisk!
It comes together so quickly and easily and bakes into a beautiful 9 x 13 cake that everyone just loves!
I put together a quick little video to show you just how easy the cake is to mix together. Seriously the easiest and most delicious cake ever, I think! 🙂
Here’s the 9×13 Chocolate Cake Recipe. I think you are going to just love how simple it is!
Best Chocolate Cake Recipe (9×13 Recipe)
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake Recipe (9×13 Recipe)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder
- 1/2 cup buttermilk, whole milk, or coconut milk
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup boiling water
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting (9×13 Recipe)
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 3/4 cup butter softened
- 2 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon espresso powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F. Prepare one 9×13 baking dish by spraying with baking spray or buttering and lightly flouring.
- For the cake:
- Whisk together add flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt and espresso powder to a large mixing bowl.
- Add milk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla to flour mixture and mix together until well combined. Carefully stir the boiling water into the cake batter and pour into the prepared 9×13 dish.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting (9×13 Recipe)
- Add cocoa to a large bowl or bowl of stand mixer. Whisk through to remove any lumps.
- Add the butter and cream together butter and cocoa powder until well-combined.
- Add sugar and milk to cocoa mixture by adding 1 cup of sugar followed by about a tablespoon of milk. After each addition has been combined, turn mixer onto a high speed for about a minute. Repeat until all sugar and milk have been added.
- Add vanilla extract and espresso powder and combine well.
- If frosting appears too dry, add more milk, a tablespoon at a time until it reaches the right consistency. If it appears to wet and does not hold its form, add more confectioner’s sugar, a tablespoon at a time until it reaches the right consistency.
- Spread the frosting on top of the cooled cake. Cover and keep on the counter for up to 3 days for best taste.
Notes
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
If I want to make the full recipe in a 9 x 13 pan (for a thicker cake), how long would I bake it?
Carey, when you make this full recipe in a 9×13 pan, it would need to bake about 35-40 minutes. Hope you enjoy!
I’m about to bake my first ever cake and am so excited to try your recipe! As a complete newbie to baking, should
I place this cake on the top rack or bottom in the oven? Thanks!
Nisha, the best place for a cake is in the middle of the oven. Place the rack as close to the center of the oven as possible and the pan in the middle of the rack. Good luck with your first cake.
Hi again!
Would it be okay to use an immersion hand mixer to mix together the ingredients for the frosting?
I haven’t tried an immersion blender with the frosting, Nisha, but it probably would work.
Ate this cake a few mo than ago at a party and HAD to have the recipe! About to make it now for a group. What changes do I need to make for high elevation?
Emery, I live at 1000 feet so haven’t made it at a high elevation. The best site for baking at high elevations that has been recommended to me is the Colorado State University Extension. I hope that helps.
I want to use my 6“ pans. Will this recipe work? Thanks!
Kathy, I haven’t made the chocolate cake as a 6-inch cake but several people have commented that they have. Some said they bake the full recipe Best Chocolate Cake (Ever) Recipe in 3 6-inch pans at 350º for about 30 – 35 minutes. The 9×13 Recipe uses half the ingredients of the Best Chocolate Cake Recipe.
Robyn, I don’t usually write reviews, but this cake is AMAZING in all its shapes and sizes. Light, tender, moist and delectable! Had to thank you for sharing 😊 💕
Oh, thanks so much, Tamara. I’m so glad you love this cake!
Mighty Fine! Glad you included the 9×13 as I have only a toaster oven & it came out perfectly. I did this cake for my son’s 30th birthday & it didn’t disappoint. So good, in fact, I’m making another for my daughter’s 28th!
I love that you are making this cake for 2 birthdays, Sherry. I’m thrilled everyone loved it.
I must be missing something… for the frosting, step 8 says to “add the cream”… I don’t see cream on the ingredients list anywhere. How much do I use?
Denise, Step 8: Add the butter and cream together butter and cocoa powder until well-combined. This does not mean add the ingredient cream. It is a baking term meant to mix the butter and cocoa powder well until is creamy and well combined. Hope this helps.