Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze
There’s something timeless and deeply comforting about a rich, moist chocolate cake crowned with a silky chocolate glaze. Whether you’re baking for a birthday, a weekend gathering, or simply craving something indulgent with your afternoon coffee, this Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze delivers pure satisfaction in every bite. Deep cocoa flavor, tender crumb, and a glossy, decadent topping come together in a dessert that feels luxurious yet approachable.
This recipe offers two delicious variations: a classic butter-based cake baked in a springform pan with a simple two-ingredient glaze, and a smaller, ultra-moist fudge-style cake enhanced with hot coffee and finished with a tangy sour cream glaze. Both versions celebrate the richness of dark chocolate while offering slightly different textures and flavor profiles.
If you love chocolate desserts that are moist, balanced, and not overly sweet, this cake will quickly become a favorite in your kitchen.
Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze
Introduction
Chocolate cake is one of the most beloved desserts worldwide — and for good reason. It’s versatile, celebratory, comforting, and endlessly customizable. This Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze recipe stands out because it focuses on moisture, depth of flavor, and simplicity.
The first version uses softened butter and sour cream to create a tender, rich crumb. The chocolate shavings folded into the batter add small pockets of melted chocolate throughout the cake, enhancing texture and flavor.
The second version is more compact and intensely chocolatey. The addition of hot coffee (or hot water) blooms the cocoa powder, intensifying its richness. The glaze in this version includes sour cream and a touch of honey or corn syrup for shine and smoothness.
Both cakes are:
Incredibly moist
Deeply chocolatey
Easy to prepare
Perfect for beginners and experienced bakers alike
Whether you prefer a round celebration cake or a simple square snack cake, you’ll find your perfect match here.
Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze
Why This Recipe Works
This Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze succeeds because of carefully balanced ingredients and smart baking techniques.
1. Sour Cream for Moisture
Sour cream adds fat and acidity. The fat ensures tenderness, while the acidity reacts with baking powder or baking soda to create a light, soft crumb.
2. Proper Fat Choices
In the first cake, butter provides richness and flavor. In the second, oil ensures maximum moisture and softness, even after refrigeration.
3. Cocoa Blooming with Hot Coffee
In the second variation, hot coffee enhances the cocoa’s natural chocolate flavor without making the cake taste like coffee.
4. Balanced Sweetness
Both recipes avoid excessive sugar, allowing the deep chocolate flavor to shine.
5. Simple Yet Elegant Glaze
The glaze is essentially a ganache — dark chocolate plus hot cream. When poured over the cake, it creates a glossy, smooth finish that feels bakery-quality.
6. Texture Contrast
The tender cake base paired with silky glaze creates the perfect contrast in every bite.
Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze
What You’ll Need For This Recipe
For the First Cake (Springform Version)
Softened butter
Sugar
Vanilla sugar
Eggs
Sour cream
All-purpose flour
Salt
Unsweetened cocoa powder
Baking powder
Milk
Dark chocolate shavings
Butter for greasing
For the First Glaze
Dark chocolate
Heavy cream
For the Second Cake (Square Fudge Version)
All-purpose flour
Cocoa powder
Baking powder
Baking soda
Brown sugar
Granulated sugar
Salt
Egg
Oil
Sour cream
Vanilla extract
Hot coffee or hot water
For the Second Glaze
Dark chocolate
Heavy whipping cream
Honey or corn syrup
Butter
Salt
Sour cream
Choose high-quality cocoa powder and dark chocolate for the best results. Since chocolate is the star, quality truly matters here.
Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze
How To Make This Recipe
Version 1: Springform Chocolate Cake
Preheat the oven to 180°C (356°F).
Grease an 8-inch springform pan with butter.
Beat softened butter, sugar, and vanilla sugar until creamy and pale.
Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
Stir in sour cream.
In another bowl, whisk flour, salt, cocoa powder, and baking powder.
Gradually mix dry ingredients into the wet mixture.
Stir in milk.
Fold in dark chocolate shavings.
Pour batter into the pan and smooth the top.
Bake for about 45 minutes.
Cool completely before glazing.
Glaze:
Heat cream until just boiling. Pour over chopped chocolate. Let sit 2 minutes, then stir until smooth. Pour over cooled cake and spread gently.
Version 2: Fudge-Style Square Cake
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment.
Sift flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda.
Whisk in sugars and salt.
Mix egg, oil, sour cream, vanilla separately.
Combine wet and dry ingredients.
Slowly add hot coffee or water.
Mix until smooth.
Bake 20–25 minutes.
Cool completely.
Glaze:
Melt chocolate, cream, honey, butter, and salt gently. Remove from heat. Stir in sour cream. Chill 15–20 minutes. Spread over cake.
Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze
Tips + Tricks & More For Recipe Success
Use room temperature ingredients for even mixing.
Don’t overmix the batter — this keeps the crumb tender.
Always cool completely before glazing.
Use good-quality dark chocolate (60–70% cocoa).
For extra richness, add a tablespoon of espresso powder.
If glaze is too thick, warm slightly.
If glaze is too thin, chill briefly before spreading.
For extra decoration, add chocolate curls, berries, or a light dusting of cocoa powder.
Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze
How To Serve
This cake is best served:
Slightly chilled for clean slices
At room temperature for maximum softness
With freshly brewed coffee
With cold milk
Use a sharp knife warmed under hot water for smooth slices.
Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze
Serving Suggestions
Pair your Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze with:
Fresh strawberries or raspberries
A scoop of vanilla ice cream
Whipped cream
Caramel drizzle
Toasted nuts
A dusting of powdered sugar
For special occasions, add edible gold flakes or chocolate shards for a dramatic finish.
Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze
Time
Springform Version
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 45 minutes
Cooling Time: 1 hour
Total Time: About 2 hours
Serves: 8–10
Square Fudge Version
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 20–25 minutes
Cooling Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: About 1 hour 30 minutes
Serves: 9 squares
Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze
Storage Instructions
Store covered at room temperature for 2 days.
Refrigerate up to 5 days.
Freeze (unglazed) up to 2 months.
Let refrigerated cake sit at room temperature before serving.
Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze
Make-Ahead Options
You can bake the cake one day ahead and glaze the next day. The flavor actually deepens overnight.
Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze
Variations
Add orange zest for a citrus twist.
Stir in chopped hazelnuts.
Use milk chocolate for a sweeter glaze.
Add a layer of jam between cake and glaze.
Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I skip sour cream?
You can substitute full-fat yogurt.
Can I make it gluten-free?
Yes, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
Can I double the recipe?
Absolutely — just adjust pan size and baking time.
Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze
Final Thoughts
This Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze is the kind of dessert that never goes out of style. Moist, rich, elegant, and easy — it strikes the perfect balance between homemade comfort and bakery-worthy presentation.
Whether you choose the buttery springform version or the ultra-moist fudge square version, one thing is certain: every slice delivers deep chocolate flavor wrapped in silky glaze perfection.