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Smoking Chimney

Recipes from a working kitchen · Cape Town

Moist Chocolate Cake

By Marna Ross Updated 12 August 2026 4.54 from 144 ratings
I am very happy to finally share my fantastic recipe of the moist chocolate cake. This is my most ordered item of my small little bakery at home privately for clients while also furthering my accounting studies as a distance learner- now temporarily on ice a bit due to the Covid–19 outbreak. Now I am happily using my time to share some more trusted recipes awaiting news on my studies.Another most ordered item are my Vanilla Cupcakes.
A rich, double-layered moist chocolate cake covered in deep chocolate fudge frosting.
Prep 35 min
Cook 45 min
Total 1 h 20 m
Serves 12

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Ingredients

Cake

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1¾ cups of cake flour
  • ¾ cup of cocoa powder
  • 1½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1½ teaspoon bicarb of soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs at room temperature
  • 1 cup milk
  • ½ cup oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla essence
  • 1 cup boiling water

Chocolate Icing

  • 8 Tablespoons butter
  • 160 ml cocoa powder
  • 1 kg icing sugar
  • 90 ml milk
  • 30 ml vanilla essence

Method

Cake

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 180 °Celsius

  2. Spray and cook the pans properly

  3. Place the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarb and salt in the bowl of the electric mixer

  4. Use the beater and beat together until well combined

  5. Add the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla essence and beat well for another 2 minutes on medium speed

  6. Add the boiling water and beat well, the batter must be runny

  7. Divide the batter in the prepared cake pans- usually 2 or 3 pans- depending on the seize

  8. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the skewer comes out clean

  9. Leave for 10 minutes in the pan, then remove carefully

  10. Let it cool

  11. If you are only using it the next day, carefully wrap them in plastic wrap and leave them at a safe spot overnight

Chocolate Icing

  1. Mix the softened butter, cocoa powder and icing sugar together with an electric beater

  2. Add the milk and vanilla essence and blend well

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