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Skillet Chocolate Cake

Skillet Chocolate Cake | Cookies and Cups

Sometimes you need cake. Sometimes?  All the time?

And really, having a simple chocolate cake in your arsenal for last minute cravings is essential.

Especially one you can do in your cast iron skillet. Seriously, any pan you can both fry bacon and bake a cake in is tops on my kitchen-essentials list.

And after the weekend that I’ve had (our AC fizzled out on a 93 degree day) a slice of chocolaty cake is the only remedy.

Eat your pain people.  It’s ok.

Skillet Chocolate Cake.

Skillet Chocolate Cake | Cookies and Cups

I started with a little cocoa powder.

Since I was having such a stinky day I broke out the fancy stuff.  But certainly use whatever cocoa powder you have…I will say, though, that a dark cocoa powder is best for this cake.

Cocoa powder in a measuring cup

Mix your cocoa powder with chocolate and hot water until it all melts together…

Chocolate cake batter in a mixing bowl with a whisk

Next up, cream your butter and brown sugar together…

Overhead view of butter and sugars creamed together in a bowl

Go ahead and pour in your melted chocolate mixture…

Chocolate cake batter being poured into a cake pan

Add a few other usual ingredients and your batter will be glorious and delicious…Spread your batter into a prepared skillet.

You don’t HAVE to use a skillet for this recipe, but it’s kinda fun and leaves the edges of the cake slightly crispy, which I love.

Chocolate cake batter on a stand mixer bowl and beater
Baked chocolate cake in a cast iron skillet

When it’s baked it will look like this…Then you should definitely frost it.

I used my new favorite Fluffy Chocolate Buttercream.  But if you’re trying to throw this together last minute, you can easily whip up my favorite Chocolate Fudge Frosting!

Skillet Chocolate Cake | Cookies and Cups

The cake is slightly dense, perfect for any chocolate lover. ME!

Skillet Chocolate Cake | Cookies and Cups
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Skillet Chocolate Cake

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  • Author: Cookies & Cups

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder (I prefer dark)
  • 1/3 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 3/4 cup water, brought just to a boil
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp butter, room temperature
  • 1 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp buttermilk
  • Frost with Chocolate Buttercream

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°
  2. Grease 10″ skillet with butter. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper, grease again and dust lightly with flour. Set aside.
  3. In medium bowl whisk together cocoa powder and chocolate chips. Pour hot water over top, let sit for 1 minute and then whisk until smooth. Set aside to cool.
  4. In another bowl whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
  5. In bowl of stand mixer, beat together butter and light brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add in eggs and vanilla beating until combined and smooth.
  6. Turn mixer to low and pour in melted chocolate mixture slowly until incorporated.
  7. Finally add the flour mixture and buttermilk in alternating portions, beginning and ending with flour.
  8. Stir until just combined, scraping sides when necessary.
  9. Pour batter into prepared skillet.
  10. Bake for 40 minutes, turning skillet halfway through baking.
  11. Remove from oven and allow to cool on wire rack for 15 minutes.
  12. Invert onto a wire rack to finish cooling before frosting.
  13. Frost with Chocolate Buttercream

Notes

heavily adapted from Baked Explorations

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39 comments on “Skillet Chocolate Cake”

  1. Billy @ Wagner Cast Iron

    I love using cast iron for desserts and not just savory main dishes. Great recipe!

  2. Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction

    This cake looks amazing… Love the idea of baking it in a skillet!

    I hope your AC is back in business soon. That happended to us a few years ago, so naturally I decided to heat the oven to 500 to make pizza. I don’t recommend it. 🙂

  3. Meagan @ Scarletta Bakes

    Woah, woah, WOAH. This is the stuff that dreams are made of. At least my dreams. I just LOVE baking in my skillet and this cake is a SERIOUS winner. That frosting?!? Ugh. I die.

  4. Elizabeth @ Confessions of a Baking Queen

    Chocolate cake is always necessary. I am baking a Guinness Chocolate Cake for dinner tomorrow night, just because. Your cake looks perfection!!

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