A very chocolatey, moist Chocolate Fudge Cake that is similar to chocolate mud cake, but not as dense. Made with both melted chocolate and cocoa, AND topped with chocolate ganache, this one is sure to satisfying your chocolate cravings!
Super easy to make, very forgiving, no stand mixer or beater. Just one bowl and a wooden spoon!
Chocolate Fudge Cake
I may be disowned as an Australian for saying this, but I’m not the hugest fan of classic Chocolate Mud Cake. I find it too dense and doughy, and it gets stuck to the roof of my mouth. It’s very……erm…..mud-like.
Duh.
Creative writing isn’t my forte, is it?? Hey – I’m a food blogger. Not a writer! 😂
So this isn’t a classic Chocolate Mud Cake because it has a bit of lift in it, but it is still way fudgier and mud-cake like than 99% of other chocolate cakes, including my own everyday Chocolate Cake. Call it a Chocolate Fudge MUD CAKE if you want!! (Bit too much of a mouthful for me…. 🙂 )
Why I love this fudge cake so much
I know there are a LOT of chocolate cake recipes “out there”. But here’s why I love this Easy Chocolate Fudge Cake so much:
It’s intensely chocolatey – thanks to the use of both melted chocolate AND cocoa powder.
Beautifully moist and fudgy – hence the name!
Terrific flavour. It truly tastes of chocolate which, as odd as it sounds, is actually rarer than you might think.
You just need a wooden spoon. No stand mixer, no electric beater.
It’s virtually foolproof. I’ve cooked it on high for shorter periods of time, and low for longer. I’ve had to dash out of the house before it was fully cooked and left it in the oven (turned off) to finish cooking. And it always works out. Why? Because it’s so fudgey, it is actually hard to overcook so it becomes dry and it is not meant to rise very much so you don’t have to worry about that part either!
The Chocolate Ganache Frosting is crazy easy too. Cream + chocolate, melt, mix, cool. No beating!
Everyone goes mad over this. Chocolate on chocolate. Enough said!
How to make this fudgy moist cake
You would be forgiven for thinking you’re making a brownie when you start making this Chocolate Fudge Cake. Because that is in fact where the roots of this cake recipe is drawn from.
Did you know… The reason you see hot water in chocolate cake recipes is because it makes the cocoa “bloom”, making the cake taste more like chocolate!
↑↑↑ Crackage is normal! It’s kind of like that crinkly top of brownies – because this cake has lift in it from baking powder, it “bursts” through the crinkly top. But don’t worry, the cracks are less prominent once it cools (because it sinks a bit) and it’s completely hidden under Chocolate Ganache!
Difference between chocolate fudge cake and mud cake
I had someone on Instagram asking me what the difference is between Fudge Cake and Mud Cake so I thought I’d explain!! Chocolate mud cake is so dense that it cuts cleanly with perfect edges and virtually no crumbs.
In contrast, fudge cakes have more of a cake-like texture, like what you see in the close up of the slice at the top of this post.
Chocolate Ganache Frosting
I’m of the opinion that if we’re going to make a Fudgy Chocolate Cake, let’s really drive home the decadence and chocolate flavour by frosting it with chocolate ganache.
If you’re new to Chocolate Ganche, you’re going to really love this. Rather than beating icing sugar and butter for ages and ages like we do with Chocolate Buttercream, Chocolate Ganache is made simply with cream and chocolate that’s heated until the chocolate melts.
When hot, it’s a chocolate sauce you want to pour over everything.
When it cools, it has the consistency of peanut butter. Easy to spread and swirl on your cakes or cupcakes, and everything in between.
My everyday Chocolate Cake is beautifully moist and it’s the one I make most often.
But I figure we all need a blow out Chocolate Cake in our repertoire too. And this Easy Chocolate Fudge Cake is my blow-out Chocolate Cake recipe. It is rich. It is chocolatey. It is moist and fudgy. And I absolutely love it.
I hope you consider trying it! – Nagi x
Get your chocolate fix!
Everyday Chocolate Cake – try it decorated with Mirror Glaze!
Chocolate Cream Pie (outrageous!!!)
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
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Easy Chocolate Fudge Cake
Ingredients
- 125g / 4 oz dark chocolate chips (Note 1)
- 100g / 7 tbsp butter , salted (or unsalted butter + 1/4 tsp salt)
- 1 1/4 cups white sugar , caster / superfine best (Note 2)
- 1/4 cup oil (vegetable, canola)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 eggs , at room temperature
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder (Note 3)
- 1 cup flour , plain / all purpose (Note 4)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup boiling hot water
- 1 tbsp coffee granules , optional (Note 5)
Ganache
- 1 cup heavy / thickened cream , 30%+ fat (Note 6)
- 250g / 8 oz dark chocolate chips (Note 1)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 150C/300F (standard) or 130C/265F (fan). Grease a 22 cm / 9″ springform cake pan and line with parchment / baking paper.
- Melt butter and chocolate: Place butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Microwave 3 x 30 seconds on high, mix in between, until melted. Mix.
- Oil, vanilla & Sugar: Add oil, vanilla and sugar, mix to combine (this brings down batter temp).
- Eggs: Add eggs and mix until combined.
- Dry Ingredients: Sift cocoa, baking powder and flour (and coffee, if using) directly into the bowl. Mix until smooth, batter will be thin. Some small lumps is ok.
- Hot water: Add hot water. Mix until incorporated.
- Bake: Pour into the cake tin and bake for 1 hour or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out moist but clean. Check at 50 minutes. The surface will crack (sometimes badly!) but sill subside when it cools and gets covered with frosting so don’t stress!
- Cool: Remove sides from the cake pan and transfer to a cooling rack to cool. Cool completely before carefully handling to remove base (Note 7).
Ganache (Note 8)
- Place chocolate and cream in a heatproof bowl. Microwave 3 x 30 seconds, mixing in between, until chocolate melts. DO NOT let cream come to boil.
- Stir chocolate until smooth. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours or until thickened to a spreadable consistency like peanut butter.
- Spread over the cake – tops and sides. Use a teaspoon in a swirling motion to achieve the textured surface you see in the photos.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Chocolate Fudge Cake recipe published May 2016. Recipe slightly updated November 2018 with improved cake texture and a more streamlined process. New photos, new video, new words!
Let them eat cake! 10 classic cake recipes
LIFE OF DOZER
I shooed him outside thinking that brown smear on his head was 💩
Turns out it was ganache 😂 It was driving him crazy trying to figure out a way to get to it! {PS No I never give him chocolate! I have no idea how it got there}
I made this with orange essence instead of vanilla, OMG heaven yum yum. Very easy to make, not like anything i have made before but love it.
YUM! I love this idea Emma, kind of like a Jaffa cake! N x
Hi Nagi, have question on thesugar in Choc Fudge recipe.
1 1/4 cups is around.172g.Vs.275g.in the recope. Which should I use?
Hi Montip, 1 cup = 200g, so 1 1/4 cups equals 275g. If you’re ever unsure, use the gram weight listed on my website as that is universal no matter where you are in the world. N x
I’ve made this for my daughter’s birthday today, haven’t tried it yet but it looks amazing. As always I’m never quite sure how to store cakes that have cream in them. Should this be kept in the fridge or will it be fine in a cake tin for a few days? If it lasts that long haha
Sooo yummy 😋 & I didn’t even make the icing! It turned out very dense so the next night I cut it into little bite sized portions to pair with nibbles (wine, cheese, crackers & fruit). Delicious! Thanks Nagi!
Absolutely decadent! I’ve made this 4 times in the last month. It’s so lovely.
I’m so glad you love it Amna! N
Hi Nagi, I used cake flour and baking powder and no it doesn’t look like in the pics 😢. My cake did not rise. It’s quite compact. Very much like a tart haha
Hi Hanu, sorry you had issues here – sounds like your baking powder didn’t activate. Is it in date?
Hi there. I have done exactly as per your recipe to the letter and my cake turned out quite pudding like. Firm yet moist. It didn’t rise. Tastes good tho.
Hi Hanu, this one is a fudge cake, so it’s to supposed to be super light and fluffy. Does it resemble the pictures though and did you use baking powder? N x
Hi Nagi, I am looking to make this but I only have eating chocolate (milk, dark) would that be okay? The baking chocolate is all sold out in stores and online 🙁
Also, I’m unable to get my hands on heavy cream. I read online that a substitute of 3 parts milk and 1 part butter may work – what would you recommend?
Thank you!
Hi Dana, dark eating chocolate will be ok. I haven’t tried with a cream substitute though. Would love to know if it works! N x
This would have to be one of the most amazing cakes. I have made it twice now and both times it turned out great.
I’m so happy to hear that Claudia!! N x
Failproof indeed! And very decadent. We didn’t even have ice cream (or the ganache) & we still loved it. Can’t wait to try it with the ganache next time though!
That’s great Stephanie! N x
Hello! I made this cake yesterday and it was super easy 🙂 Just one issue, my cake didn’t turn out to be moist and fluffy looking like yours. Mine was rather dense and dry. What could be the reason??
Hi Michelle, sorry you had issues here, it should definitely not be dry! Did you add the hot water to the batter? N x
This was my isolation challenge because I’ve never made a successful cake before and I’m mid 40’s. Sad I know. Perfection. I’m going to gain 20kgs because of this recipe. It’s excellent. *****
Not sad at all Anne, there’s always time! I’m so glad you gave it a go and enjoyed it! N x
Love this recipe.Its easy and nice.My family loves it .The only thing is that when applying the Ganache topping , as bcos the wheather is abit hot here , it melts very fast , so i have to put the cake and the Ganache back into the fridge to chill it and apply again.
My cake turns out densed like mud cake.Is it normal , as i have to put inthe fridge before serving it
Hi, yes if the weather is super hot, the ganache will melt but you can always reduce the cream slightly to make a firmer ganache! This cake is slightly more dense as it’s a fudge cake. If you want a lighter chocolate cake, try this one – https://promotown.info/chocolate-cake/%3C/a%3E N x
Hi Nagi. Will cake flour be alright to use with this recipe? Also, any other topping recos instead of ganache? Will dusting with icing sugar or cocoa powder do? Thanks
Hi Jeannie, cake flour will be perfect. You can decorate any way you like, buttercream, ganache or dusting cocoa/icing sugar – you’ll love it! N x
Just made this for my dad’s birthday for the second year in a row. He isn’t supposed to eat sugar anymore so I replaced the sugar with 1 cup of honey, cut the water back by 1/4 cup and added 1/2 tsp of baking soda. It turned out just as good as when I made it last year. He loves this cake because it is super fudgy.
The cake is absolutely delicious and the ganache is simple yet tasty, it’s really smooth and chocolaty. The cake is rich and decadent. Definitely 10/10 and I’m making it again soon. My whole family loved it and it finished in less than a day.
Wahoo, that’s great to hear Yasmeen! N x
Is it ok if i use 8″pan instead 9″pan as i dont have
You sure can, the cake will just be slightly higher – N x
Made this twice. Mine gets a beige crust on top as if one of the ingredients comes to the top. I take it off and continue baking and the cake turns out great! Not sure why this happens!?
Hi Nagi. The cake looks fabulous. I know you had said not to use normal chocolate, only cooking chocolate. The thing is I have A LOT of eating chocolate in the cupboard (70% cocoa) that I really want to use up if I can. What do you think is the worst that would happen if I used it? I don’t mind if it changes the cake a bit but I’ll go get cooking chocolate if it makes it very different in taste or texture. Thanks.
Hi Liza, I have a stack too after Easter – it will be fine to use up in this recipe 🙂 N x
Hi Nagi
Thank you once again for an awesome receipe.
Quick question – how do I store the cake given that there is cream in the frosting/ganache?
this is a fab cake, so densy and fudgy, My daughter and i make it all the time, I love the icing and the fact its not too sweet as well ,the whole family love it !
Wahoo, that’s great to hear Deborah! N x