Moist Chocolate Loaf Cake
Print Pin VideoThis chocolate loaf cake is rich, moist, and super chocolatey—everything you want in a classic chocolate cake! Baked in a loaf pan for easy slicing, it's topped with a smooth, fudgy chocolate frosting that takes this loaf cake to another level.
IMPORTANT: For accuracy, I would recommend using the gram measurements provided, as those are the exact quantities I use. Cup measurements are given as estimates (based on US cup measurements) to make it easier for those who do not have a scale.
Ingredients
Chocolate Loaf Cake
- 1¼ cups (150 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (50 g) unsweetened cocoa powder - Dutch processed preferred
- 1¼ tsps baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup (150 g) soft light brown sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) white granulated sugar
- ½ cup (120 g) whole milk - room temperature
- 2½ tbsps (35 g) unsalted butter - melted
- ⅓ cup (70 g) unflavored vegetable oil - I use canola oil
- 2 large eggs - room temperature
- 1¾ tsps vanilla extract/essence
- ½ cup (120 g) strong hot coffee - made with ½ tbsp instant coffee in 120g hot water
Chocolate Fudge Frosting
- ¼ cup (56 g) heavy cream
- ⅔ cup (110 g) dark chocolate
- ¼ cup (56 g) unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup (42 g) powdered sugar - also known as icing/confectioners' sugar
- ⅛ tsp instant coffee powder
- ⅛ tsp salt
- 1 tsp cocoa powder - Dutch processed preferred
- ½ tsp vanilla extract/essence
Instructions
Chocolate Loaf Cake
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F) conventional (see note 1 if using a convection/fan-forced oven). Lightly grease an 8.5 x 4.5-inch loaf tin. Line the pan lengthways with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides to make it easier to lift the loaf. Set aside.
- Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Using a whisk, mix until well combined, then set aside.
- In a large bowl add in brown sugar, white sugar, milk, melted butter, unflavored vegetable oil, eggs and vanilla. Using a whisk, mix until well combined.
- Add in presifted dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix with a whisk until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Add in hot coffee and mix with a whisk until well combined. The mixture should be smooth, but avoid overmixing.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf tin. Lightly drop the pan on the counter to remove any large air bubbles. Bake for 55–60 minutes, or until a skewer or thin knife inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Allow the loaf to cool in the pan for 20 minutes, before running a thin knife along the edges not lined with parchment, then use the overhanging paper to lift the loaf out of the tin and place it on a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once fully cooled, carefully transfer the loaf to a serving plate and frost with chocolate fudge frosting (recipe below).
Chocolate Fudge Frosting
- Place a saucepan over a low heat and add in all the ingredients. Stir well.
- Allow the mixture to slowly melt, stirring frequently to prevent the bottom from burning. As soon as everything is fully melted and smooth, immediately remove the saucepan from the heat. Do not let the mixture simmer or boil (see note 2).
- Transfer to a heatproof bowl. (Optional: Run the mixture through a sieve to remove any lumps.)
- Allow the frosting to set until it is a thick, spreadable consistency. To speed up the process, place it in the fridge, stirring every 10 minutes until ready to use.
Video
Notes
Note 1. If using a convection (fan-forced) oven, bake at 160°C (320°F), as the fan function cooks faster.
Note 2. Overheating fudge frosting can cause several issues. It may turn grainy or gritty because the sugar doesn't crystallize properly. It can also become too thick or hard if too much moisture evaporates. Plus, overheating can burn the chocolate or butter, leading to a bitter taste and dull flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 451kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 288mg | Potassium: 249mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 411IU | Vitamin C: 0.04mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 3mg
Nutritional information are estimates only as they are automatically calculated by a third party application. Actual values may differ based on brands and types of products used.
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