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Frosting & Fettuccine

Home » Recipe Search » Chocolate Cakes

Jul 25, 2022(last updated March 3, 2023)

Moist and Easy Chocolate Loaf Cake

5 from 1 vote
BySam Adler
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This Chocolate Loaf Cake is easy to make and perfect for any occasion. It’s rich, moist, and packed with deep, chocolatey goodness. A gorgeous chocolate glaze is poured over the top, making this cake chocolate lovers’ favorite.

Two slices of chocolate loaf cake on a white plate.

A loaf cake is really any cake thats baked in a loaf pan. Today we’re focusing on this moist chocolate loaf cake!

It may look like bread, but this loaf cake is definitely dessert -a dessert that’s great any time of the day. Have a slice for breakfast, brunch, or anytime you’re craving chocolate (isn’t that always??).

When a chocolate craving hits you can also try these chocolate filled cupcakes, this light and fluffy flourless chocolate cake, (MY FAVE) or my chocolate bundt cake.

As a pastry chef, I know a good chocolate cake when I see one, and this chocolate loaf is moist, fluffy, and extra chocolatey thanks to an addition of easy to make chocolate ganache as a topping.

If you don’t want to make a ganache, you can frost this cake with whipped chocolate frosting. It only has 3 ingredients and tastes like a chocolate cloud!

WHY YOU SHOULD MAKE THIS RECIPE

  • It has a bread-like shape but a delicious chocolate cake taste and texture.
  • The fudgy chocolate ganache topping!
  • No loaf pan? No problem. The batter can just as successfully be baked in a different pan. Try an 8″ round to substitute.
  • It’s straightforward and great for baking beginners.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED

Ingredients for a chocolate loaf cake.
  • Sugar – Granulated white sugar to sweeten.
  • Flour – All-purpose flour acts as the structure of the loaf batter. It’s what makes its shape.
  • Cocoa powder – Gives the loaf cake rich chocolate flavor. You can use unsweetened cocoa powder, dutch-process, or dark chocolate cocoa powder.
  • Baking soda & baking powder – Leavening agents help loaf cakes and baked goods rise properly.
  • Kosher salt – Improves the texture and makes everything sweet taste pleasantly sweeter.
  • Eggs & vegetable oil – They help create an extra moist and tender loaf cake.
  • Vanilla Extract – Elevates the sweet, creamy-like flavors and makes loaf cake taste like dessert.
  • Buttermilk – To add moisture and subtle tangy flavor to the cake.
  • Warm coffee – Coffee brings out the chocolate flavor in the cake, but you won’t taste it at all. You can sub hot water for coffee. 
  • Chocolate ganache – You’ll need a 2:1 ratio of chocolate chips or chunks to cream for the ganache.

HOW TO MAKE Chocolate loaf Cake

Prepare for baking: Preheat the oven to 350° F and spray a loaf pan with baking spray.

Mix dry ingredients: In the bowl of a hand or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and kosher salt. Mix on low speed for 15 seconds.

Whisk wet ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla extract, coffee, and vegetable oil together until combined.

Make loaf cake batter: Add the wet mixture to the bowl with the dry ingredients, and mix on low- medium speed until fully incorporated (1-2 minutes).

Bake and cool: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes clean. Let cool completely.

Make chocolate ganache: In a small bowl, heat the cream in the microwave in 30-second increments until hot (or on the stovetop just until the edges start to simmer). Immediately pour the hot cream over a bowl of chocolate, and let it sit for 3 minutes without stirring. Then stir with a spatula until smooth. Smooth the ganache over the chocolate loaf cake once cooled. Enjoy!

Chocolate cake dry ingredients in a glass bowl.
Combine the dry ingredients.
Wet ingredients mixed together for a chocolate cake.
Combine the wet ingredients.
Chocolate cake batter in a glass bowl.
Mix the wet and dry ingredients
Chocolate batter in a loaf pan.
Pour batter into a loaf pan.
Chocolate and cream in a white bowl.
Combine chocolate and milk to make the ganache.
Chocolate ganache in a white bowl.
Finished glossy ganache topping.

What keeps this cake so moist

This loaf cake has a combination of vegetable oil and buttermilk which keeps the cake tender with a light crumb and incredible moist! Make sure not to over bake the cake or it can dry out.

TIPS FOR RECIPE SUCCESS

  • Make sure the refrigerated ingredients (egg and buttermilk) are set out in advance to bring to room temperature. If they’re too cold, the batter won’t combine as well and won’t bake evenly in the oven.
  • The best temperature to bake loaf cakes is 350. This ensures that the cake bakes evenly at the bottom, middle, and top. If the oven were at a higher temperature, the top and sides would bake first and leave the middle raw.
  • When cream reaches a boiling point, it curdles, so keep an eye on the cream as it heats in the microwave or on the stove. Once the liquid around the perimeter simmers, remove it from the heat.
  • Use a spatula and not a whisk to combine the chocolate and cream. A whisk will aerate the ganache and you don’t want bubbles inside!
A chocolate loaf cake on a small sheet tray.

STORAGE AND FREEZING

Storing: If you have any extra slices of chocolate loaf cake, they’re best kept in an airtight container at room temperature.

Freezing: Bake a loaf now and one to freeze and enjoy later. Let the loaf cool, then wrap it in a couple of layers of plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe bag. Keep frozen for up t2 months. If you are planning to freeze a loaf, don’t glaze the cake until you are ready to serve.

FAQ

What are the best loaf pans for chocolate bread?

The best loaf pans to use are light-colored metal because they distribute heat evenly, creating a perfectly baked loaf of chocolate cake.

How do you serve chocolate loaf cake?

Serve your chocolate loaf just as you would chocolate cake. It’s delicious served warm with a scoop of ice cream, drizzled with chocolate sauce, whipped cream, or topped with sprinkles.

What else can I top the cake with? You can pour chocolate chips on top of the batter and bake like that instead, or you can top with chocolate buttercream or cream cheese frosting.

More Chocolate Cakes

  • A chocolate coffee cake with a slice cut out on a wooden cake stand.
    Moist and Rich Chocolate Coffee Cake
  • A closeup of a slice of banana chocolate chip snack cake.
    Easy and Moist Banana Chocolate Chip Cake
  • A one bowl chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream and sprinkles sheet cake on a gray background.
    The Best Fluffy One Bowl Chocolate Cake
  • The top of a flourless chocolate cake with 2 slices cut out.
    Light and Fluffy Flourless Chocolate Cake
Two slices of chocolate loaf cake on a white plate.

Moist and Easy Chocolate Loaf Cake

This Chocolate Loaf Cake is easy to make and perfect for any occasion. It's rich, moist, and packed with deep, chocolatey goodness. A gorgeous chocolate glaze is poured over the top, making this cake chocolate lovers' favorite.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin SaveSaved! Rate
Course: Cake, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Diet: Kosher
Keyword: chocolate loaf cake, moist chocolate loaf cake
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes minutes
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 461kcal
Author: Sam Adler

Ingredients

For the cake

  • 1 ½ cups white sugar 300g
  • 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour 160g
  • 2 /3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 65g
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp kosher salt
  • 2 eggs large room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2/3 cup buttermilk at room temperature
  • 1/3 cup coffee warm
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil

For the ganache

  • 4 oz semi sweet chocolate
  • 2 oz cream

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350° F and spray a loaf pan with baking spray.
  • In the bowl of a hand or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1 ¼ cup flour, 2/3rd cup cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ tsp baking powder, and ¼ tsp kosher salt. Mix on low speed for 15 seconds.
  • In a medium sized bowl combine the 2 eggs, 2/3rd cup buttermilk, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1/3rd cup coffee, and ¼ cup vegetable oil. Whisk until combined.
  • Add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix on low- medium speed for 1-2 minutes until fully incorporated.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Cool the cake and make the ganache.
  • Add the 4 oz of chocolate to a heat safe bowl, preferably shallow. In another small bowl, heat the 2 oz of cream in the microwave (30 seconds at a time, 2 x should be OK) or over the stove top just until the edges start to simmer. Do not bring to a full boil or the cream will curdle. Pour the cream over the chocolate and let it sit for 3 minutes- Do not stir yet!
  • After 3 minutes. Stir with a spatula until smooth. Smooth the ganache over the chocolate loaf cake.

Video

https://youtu.be/mIiUqkaP6t0

Notes

You can also top this cake with cream cheese frosting or chocolate buttercream.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Moist and Easy Chocolate Loaf Cake
Amount Per Serving (1 slice)
Calories 461 Calories from Fat 180
% Daily Value*
Fat 20g31%
Saturated Fat 8g50%
Trans Fat 0.1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 5g
Monounsaturated Fat 5g
Cholesterol 52mg17%
Sodium 281mg12%
Potassium 479mg14%
Carbohydrates 74g25%
Fiber 10g42%
Sugar 44g49%
Protein 9g18%
Vitamin A 204IU4%
Vitamin C 0.04mg0%
Calcium 88mg9%
Iron 5mg28%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Filed Under: Chocolate Cakes Tagged With: Chocolate

About Sam Adler

Sam Adler is a Le Cordon Bleu professionally trained pastry chef, Saveur Blog Award winner, food photographer, and food blogger over on FrostingandFettuccine.com. She has been featured in numerous online and in-print publications including Taste of Home Magazine, Saveur Magazine, The Feed Feed, and Food Blogger Pro. Sam lives in Hollywood florida with her husband, two young kids, and french bulldog. When she’s not baking and dancing in her kitchen you can find her at her favorite yoga spot.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Joanne says

    October 23, 2022 at 8:10 am

    Making this today! It looks really moist. I’m intending to flavor one loaf with spiced rum and another with peppermint. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

    Reply
    • Sam Adler says

      October 23, 2022 at 4:53 pm

      Yay great, cant wait to hear how it comes out, those flavors sound delish!

      Reply

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Hi! Im Sam Adler,

I'm a professionally trained pastry chef and food photographer.
This is a place where you will find easy yet impressive looking desserts. I also share a ton of food photography resources too! What can I say, I love pretty & delicious baked goods! Learn more about me!

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