This easy chocolate bundt cake recipe is ultra, chocolatey, and a decadent cake. Made with key ingredients like Dutch process cocoa, coffee (trust me it doesn't taste like coffee!), sour cream and buttermilk! All to ensure you have an intense chocolate flavor but a super moist, rich cake crumb!

slice of chocolate cake on a stack of white plates next to another slice of cake and a white stripped linen on a light pink surface

A simple chocolate bundt cake is my dad's favorite dessert. Nine times out of ten he will request it for any special occasion. Growing up Sam's Club and Costco sold a chocolate bundt cake my mom would often get come a weekend. So there's definitely some nostalgia when it comes to a delicious chocolate bundt cake.

The truth is I have been making some version of this cake for years, but it was never quite right. Luckily I have learned along the way and finally perfected what I think is the best chocolate bundt cake ever.

The chocolate flavor is superb and I sometimes find a chocolate bundt cake to be dry. Not this recipe, so moist and delicious!

This cake is super easy you use one small saucepan and one large bowl to make the cake batter. No need for your stand mixer! I hope you love it as much as we do!

chocolate ganache frosted chocolate bundt cake served on a white plate next to a cup of coffee, knife, plates and forks

Gather Your Chocolate Bundt Cake Essentials

For this cake recipe you will need:

Dutch-process Cocoa Powder. I much prefer the taste of Dutch-process cocoa to natural cocoa powder. Dutch-process provides a much smoother, richer chocolate flavor. But most of the acidity has been stripped so for recipes that call for chemical leavening agents like this one, you should not just swap out natural cocoa.
Hot Strong Coffee. Coffee does not make the cake taste like coffee, it instead blends with the chocolate to enhance the chocolate notes for an ultimate rich, chocolate cake. If I don't have any coffee in the house, I will use a teaspoon or two of espresso powder mixed with hot water. We will bloom the cocoa powder with the hot coffee, most people use hot water but since coffee compliments chocolate so well I skip straight to a strong coffee!
Buttermilk. Like I said earlier this is used to help activate the baking soda but buttermilk also provides extra moisture to the cake.
Sour Cream. Sour cream also provides intense moisture and since sour cream is one of the fattiest dairy products it also helps create a rich texture.

If desired you could add ½ cup - ¾ cup mini chocolate chips for an extra chocolatey treat!

Key to The Cake Coming Out

Since we are baking this cake in a bundt pan you want to ensure that your bundt cake pan is fully greased and prepped so after baking the cake will release from the pan without ruining the design of the cake. My two favorites are Bakers Joy and Pam Baking. I make sure to spray each nook and cranny to ensure no problems!

two baking spray cans on a light pink surface

chocolate bundt cake slice on a stack of white plates next to a cup of coffee on a light pink surface

Let's Bake This Bundt-y Beauty!

The first cooking step is to bloom the cocoa powder in the hot coffee with the melted butter. This intensifies the chocolate flavor.

butter, coffee, and cocoa powder in a small pot on a light pink surface — In a small-medium saucepan over low-medium heat cook together the cocoa powder, hot coffee, and butter.

liquid chocolate coffee mixture in a white pot with a yellow spatula on a light pink surface — Let cook until all of the butter is melted. Remove from the heat and let cool for ten minutes or so, it may look separated like this, which is totally fine.

dry ingredients whisked together in a glass bowl on a light pink surface — In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt, make sure everything is evenly combined.

Mix to combine once fully incorporated add the eggs and whisk to combine. Make sure to scrape the bottom of the pan to ensure everything is evenly combined.

wet ingredients added to cocoa mixture and mixed together on a light pink surface — Once the cocoa mixture is cooled you can add the vegetable oil, sour cream, buttermilk, and vanilla.

wet ingredients poured into dry ingredients in a glass bowl on a light pink surface — Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix together until fully combined.

chocolate cake batter in a glass bowl on top of a white stripped linen on a light pink surface — You'll want to make sure there are no flour streaks left behind but don't over mix the batter or you risk a tough cake.

chocolate bundt cake before and after baking in a bundt pan on a light pink surface — Pour cake batter into the prepared bundt pan and bake. Flip onto a wire rack to cool completely.

chocolate bundt cake on a white plate next to plates and forks, coffee, and white stripped linen on a light pink linen

chocolate ganache with a whisk in a glass bowl on a light pink surface — Chocolate ganache whisked together.

I use a similar glaze on top of my marble bundt cake recipe, too! Make sure to see the round-up of the best bundt cakes.

chocolate ganache poured on top of chocolate bundt cake on a white plate on a light pink surface — When the ganache is thickened and ready to use I like to pour it into a measuring cup with a pour spout to easily drizzle it on the cake.

Store the cake in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you are in a very warm environment I would store it in the fridge but let sit at room temperature for 30-60 minutes before serving.

Don't miss my one bowl chocolate fudge cake recipe!

chocolate bundt cake slice on a stack of white plate next to a wooden knife on a light pink surface

More chocolate recipes

My thick and chewy brownies are absolute perfection, trust me when I say you will fall in love with them!
Snack, dessert, or breakfast this chocolate bread is perfect any time of the day.
If you want something that is creamy and chocolatey then check out my chocolate cheesecake bar recipe, so so good!
And if you are watching your gluten intake then check out my flourless chocolate cake recipe!

slice of chocolate bundt cake on a white plate on a light pink surface

★★★★★ Please let me know if you make this recipe by leaving a star rating and comment below!

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