This is the most RIDICULOUS Chocolate Cake recipe I’ve ever made. It’s a seriously delicious cake, a super EASY cake, AND it’s topped with creamy chocolate frosting. Everyone goes crazy for this moist chocolate cake recipe!
The Easiest and BEST Chocolate Cake Recipe EVER!
You all know I am not opposed to using a cake mix from time to time. I, personally, look at cake mixes like any other ingredient. I don’t use them all the time, as I find making a cake from scratch is just as easy, but there are times when there is no substitute. Today is an example of that.
The base for this stupid-good cake is a chocolate cake mix. It’s not negotiable. There is a time and place for “from scratch” cakes, I totally agree, but not today. I mean, have you ever tried my Earthquake Cake?
Now that we are all on the same cake mix page, let’s talk a little more about this slice of perfection. The texture of this chocolate cake is so soft…I mean we add pudding mix, sour cream and a whole load of chocolate chips. You honestly could skip the frosting and dust it with a little powdered sugar if you feel so inclined, but since frosting-skipping is against my religion I won’t press the issue.
It’s the perfect little chocolate bundt cake to take to any party, or even whip up on a weeknight. And certainly you could make it in a sheet pan, or as a layer cake, just adjust your bake times accordingly.
Why is this the BEST chocolate cake?
The chocolate cake batter is really really easy. Please note, though, I add a box of chocolate pudding to the cake mix, so don’t buy the cake mix with pudding “in the mix”. I know this is confusing…like why couldn’t you omit the pudding and just buy the cake mix with it already added? Great question…
It’s not the same. I’ve tried it both ways and adding your own pudding mix is just BETTER. I don’t make the rules, folks.
Also add in 2 whole cups of chocolate chips to the cake. Seriously good.
Since the batter is fairly thick, the chocolate chips don’t sink at all!
The chocolate cake batter is so dreamy.
Just spread it into a heavily greased bundt pan…
And the cake is baked it will look like this…
Just invert the chocolate cake onto a cake pan and allow it to cool. OR if you aren’t frosting it (blasphemy) try it warm and die at how good it is.
But if you’re a rule follower, go ahead and make some super creamy chocolate frosting…
And spread it on top of your gorgeous chocolate cake.
AND if you’re feeling fancy add a few chocolate chips on top. I mean why not at this point!
And then EAT!
I can’t WAIT for you to try this Ridiculous Chocolate Cake recipe. It is the BEST chocolate cake and easiest chocolate cake recipe I have ever made!
PrintRidiculous Chocolate Cake
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Prep Time: 10 minutes - Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: serves 12 1x
- Category: Cake
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Dessert
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Ridiculous Chocolate Cake is the easiest and best chocolate cake recipe ever!
Ingredients:
Cake
- 1 (15.25 ounce) box chocolate cake mix
- 1 (3.9 ounce) box instant chocolate pudding
- 1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
- 3 eggs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Frosting
- 1/4 cup butter, room temperature
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
Instructions:
Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Liberally grease a 10- inch bundt pan with butter or shortening and lightly dust with flour. Set aside.
- In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment combine all the cake ingredients. Mix on low for 30 seconds until combined and then on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Stir in the chocolate chips and pour the batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 55-60 minutes, until the cake is set. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then invert the pan onto a cake plate. Cool completely before frosting.
Frosting
- In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on low speed beat the butter, cocoa powder and powdered sugar until combined. Add in the vanilla and cream and beat on medium speed for 1-2 minutes until creamy, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
- Frost the top of the cake and garnish with more chocolate chips if desired.
Keywords:: chocolate cake recipe, chocolate cake, cake mix, chocolate frosting
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Helpful tip… Out of sour cream?
and ps… if you’re wondering if you can make Ridiculous Chocolate Cake into a Ridiculous Vanilla Cake t, the answer is YES! I did it for you… CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE!
located at the bottom of the comment area.
Hi! I’m Shelly and I’m an addict. Of the buttercream sort. I started this site a few years ago as a way to justify my sugary, buttery obsession with desserts. It has worked out well for me so far, because as it turns out you guys all love sugary, buttery desserts too! It feels good to know you're not alone, doesn’t it?
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I made this cake yesterday for a “pick me up” for my family . Everyone loved it . So good and moist. Thank you for the yummy recipe !!
Kathy from OHio
★★★★★
Just made this tonight. Wow! Really good and very simple to make. Chocolate fix done for today.
★★★★★
Love hearing that!! We all need a little chocolate 🙂
I don’t have a stand-alone mixer with a paddle, only an electric hand mixer … will that work?
Yes, a hand mixer will work!
I only have 8 oz or sour scream will it still work?
Sorry no! But if you have yogurt you can addd that to get to 16- ounces 🙂
If I Make this in two 8″ pans, will the chocolate chips sink to the bottom of the cakes?
Made the batter, but want to use a sheet cake pan. What size should I use? Different time and temp?
You could use a 9×13 or 2 8- inch round pans. For a 9×13 I would bake it for 25-30 minutes, but check it! And for 2 8- inch pans I would bake for 20 and check!
How long should I cook it for and what temo should I put the oven at it I’m doing 2 8inch pans
350°F for 25 minutes, and then check it to see if it’s done! If it needs a few extra minutes, add 5 and check it again!
Can i substitute Milk for Water and Butter for Oil?
Yes you can. The cake will be a little denser due to the fat in the milk and butter produces a denser cake, but it will work!
Awesome thank you
Tried making it and it’s actually the most ridiculous chocolate cake
hahaha! it really is 😉
Absolutely love this and super easy. It’s my sisters favorite dessert. I have made this three times within the year and each time I forget how delicious it is!
★★★★★
We make this one a lot in my house too!
Not much flavor. It was very moist but the cake tasted like chocolate pudding cake. The frosting was good but again really needs more chocolate flavor. I used Betty Crocker chocolate cake mix and jello chocolate pudding. I followed the exact recipe.
★★
can you make it with only half the sour cream?
Nope, sorry!
Try deferent types of beans of chocolate cake. I originally used a basic chocolate cake, then I tried a Betty Crocker Chocolate fudge cake. It was super moist! Pudding already in the mix, but REALLY rich! Just try a flavor and a “super moist” or “pudding in the mix” cake and it’ll really help. It may also help if you slightly under cook it. JUST enough for a tooth pick to come clean. I know from experience that it’s easy to OVERCOOK this cake.
I hope this helps
★★★★★
The best chocolate cake recipe I have seen till now!
★★★★★
Thanks for sharing! How far ahead of time can I make it?
This looks so good! Do you use this frosting recipe in any other desserts?
Hi! thoughts on replacing water with coffee and freezing the cake part ahead of time and frosting when needed, once thawed?
Both of those ideas would work!!
Best way to describe it’s flavor/texture came from one of my guests: “Is it a brownie-cake?!” Yum! Minor changes: * 1c milk chocolate chips + 1c semi-sweet (instead of 2c semi) – I did this b/c I knew I wasn’t going to use frosting * Sprinkled with rock salt when I took it out of oven; again when I flipped it over I noticed the texture the chocolate chips gave, so the second time I made it I folded only some of the chips into the batter. I lined the pan with half of the remaining, and placed the rest… Read more »
This cake is definitely a crowd pleaser! I made it for a co-worker’s birthday last year and he requested another one this year! I also decided to try a lemon supreme version of it a couple months ago using lemon supreme cake mix, lemon pudding, and white chocolate chips, with a homemade cream cheese icing and it was also a hit!!
★★★★★
Ok. I’m am 56 yrs old and I am here to tell you that I have made a LOT of chocolate cakes in my lifetime, looking for the perfect one and this cake is the last one I will ever make. It’s PERFECT! This cake makes me wanna cuss because it’s so good!! ? You won’t be disappointed!! I have yet to find one person that didn’t freaking love it!! Thanks for this gem!!
★★★★★
ha!! love that! I should rename it…. “Wanna Cuss Cake”!! 🙂
Delicious! I made this over the weekend for my mother-in-law (She LOVES chocolate cake!)
Everyone LOVED it. I’m not a fan of chocolate cake but I loved this!
★★★★★
So glad you liked it!! It’s one of our favorites!
HOW COULD YOU MAKE THIS FOR VEGAN DIETS. WOULD THE TOFU SOUR CREAM WORK?NA
Great recipe easy to follow and delicious. I made as a layer cake with a buttercream filling and chocolate cream cheese icing.
★★★★★
I made 2 8″ square cakes. They looked beautiful when I pulled them out of the oven…then they fell and I have dense tough cakes….so sad because this was for my grandson’s birthday dinner which is today. Any idea why? The recipe and comments make this look SO yummy.
Also, a suggestion for those who change to a layer cake…double the recipe.
★★★
Help! I want to try this recipe but need to make a round cake. Do you by chance have directions/cook temp and time for this? It’s for a party so I can’t just wing it and hope it turns out.