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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. Diane {Created by Diane}

    I just love skillet cake and this one is going on the list to MAKE! Hope your Z?C is fixed by the time you get another heatwave 🙂

  2. Laurie @ A Wiener Dog in the Kitchen

    Been there and done that with the a/c just two weeks ago… It was in the low to mid 90’s that weekend and very humid. Luckily, it was an easy fix, but it went out Friday evening and we had to wait til Monday, so I feel your pain. This skillet chocolate cake looks scrumptious, and I don’t even like Chocolate cake… BUT, I know that my husband and boys will, and I love to cook anything in cast iron.

  3. Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet

    I have seen so many skillet cakes lately but I think they are just the best! I haven’t tried it yet but definitely a must!

  4. Suzanne Whitney

    My A/C crapped out on me too. Really stinks, especially since I had to make multiple desserts for a family gathering but no way was I turning on the oven. One of the desserts I made was Blueberry Clusters. Make little clusters of well washed and dried blueberries on parchment paper (maybe 5 or 6 depending on size of berries), cover with melted dark chocolate. Let them set up. That’s it. Can’t wait to try this cake though when my A/C is fixed!

  5. Man, 93! That sound pretty nice to me! I need some heat in my life! Sorry about your A/c though, that does stink!
    I have never made a skillet cake, but oh my gosh your looks delicious! Moist and those crispy edges! Whoa, I want a slice!

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