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See the best cake recipes. Trusted recipes for chocolate cake, white cake, banana cakes, and carrot cakes with photos and tips from home cooks.

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Animalogic is a cross-platform digital brand that explores everything that is wacky and wonderful about the animal kingdom.

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This banana bread has been the most popular recipe on Simply Recipes for over 10 years. Thousands of people make it every day. Why?

Because it really is the best banana bread recipe, period. You can mix everything in one bowl, you can vary the amount of sugar or bananas. And the secret to its great flavor? Melted butter.

The beauty of this banana bread recipe is you don't need a fancy mixer! A mixing bowl, a fork to whisk the eggs, and a sturdy spoon to mix the batter are all you need. The sugar amount is flexible. The original recipe called for a cup of white sugar, but most people, including me, do just fine with 3/4 cup, and many are happy with 1/2 cup.

You can toss in a cup of chopped nuts, raisins, or chocolate chips if you want, or put the batter into muffin tins and make banana nut muffins instead. You can even go a step further and make chocolate banana bread.

I was given this banana bread recipe years ago from my friend Heidi H, who, many years before, had begged the recipe from a ski buddy's mother-Mrs. Hockmeyer. Thanks Heidi!

The Backstory on the #1 Banana Bread Recipe

All these years later, we were curious to know more about who Mrs. Hockmeyer is, and how Heidi got her recipe in the first place. You can read all about it in this story.

The Best Loaf Pan for This Recipe

This recipe calls for an 8x4-inch loaf pan, which produces a tall loaf. The recipe will also work in an 8 1/2x4 1/2-inch loaf pan, producing a slightly shorter bread. Since the pan is a bit larger, the bake time is shorter: 47 to 57 minutes. A 9x5-inch pan will yield an especially short but still delicious bread; bake for 45 to 55 minutes.

Adapt This Banana Bread Recipe

Swap out all of part of the sugar for light brown sugar.

Replace up to half of the flour with white whole wheat flour.

Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.

Mix in 1/2 cup of chopped nuts or dried fruit.

Add 1/2 cup chocolate chips.

More Banana Bread Recipes!

No need for a mixer for this recipe! Clean-up is easy, too. If you want, you can mix everything in one bowl.

This recipe calls for an 8x4-inch loaf pan. If you are baking in an 8 1/2x4 1/2-inch pan, bake for 47 to 57 minutes. If baking in a 9x5-inch pan, bake for 45 to 55 minutes. Note that the larger pan size will produce a flatter loaf.

The best bananas to use for banana bread are those that are overripe. The yellow peels should be at least half browned, and the bananas inside squishy and browning.

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C):

Butter an 8x4-inch loaf pan.

2. Mash the bananas and add the butter:

In a mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until completely smooth. Stir the melted butter into the mashed bananas.

3. Mix in the remaining ingredients:

Mix in the baking soda and salt. Stir in the sugar, beaten egg, and vanilla extract. Mix in the flour.

4. Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan.

Bake for 55 to 65 minutes at 350°F (175°C), or until a toothpick or wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. A few dry crumbs are okay; streaks of wet batter are not. If the outside of the loaf is browned but the center is still wet, loosely tent the loaf with foil and continue baking until the loaf is fully baked.

5. Remove from oven and let cool in the pan for a few minutes. Then remove the banana bread from the pan and let cool completely before serving. Slice and serve. (A bread knife helps to make slices that aren't crumbly.)

Wrapped well, the banana bread will keep at room temperature for 4 days. For longer storage, refrigerate the loaf up to 5 days, or freeze it.

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Bake the Number-One Banana Bread Recipe on the Internet

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Put those ripe bananas to use in the best banana bread recipe ever. Moist and delicious, it's easy to make-one bowl, no need for a mixer!

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learning more about cooking

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You haven't enjoyed an eclair until you've tried a fresh homemade eclair filled to the brim with pastry cream and topped with chocolate ganache. Watch the video tutorial and you will master this eclairs recipe in no time.

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Learn how to make classic "choux pastry" (the same pastry used for cream puffs) and a decadent vanilla bean pastry cream that will have you licking the spoon and the bowl.

We have included Amazon affiliate links for tools used to make this recipe.

Classic Eclairs Recipe:

Eclairs are best eaten the day they are made, but I do love that they can be fully assembled a day ahead.

Tools for Making Eclairs:

Pro Tips for Making Pastry Cream:

Pastry cream relies on corn starch and egg yolks to thicken and the end result is incredibly smooth - like a decadent vanilla pudding. Mixing the softened butter is the secret to the amazing texture - don't skip it!

Pastry cream can be made a day ahead which is perfect for holiday entertaining.

You can substitute the real vanilla bean for vanilla extract (see recipe notes)

Pastry Cream will thicken as it cools and to loosen it up for piping, whisk until smooth.

What is Choux Pastry?

Choux dough is a classic pastry made with super simple ingredients (milk, water, eggs, flour, butter, sugar and salt). It is a soft dough that gets piped onto a baking sheet.

Getting the baking temperature right is the key to success. Starting the oven at 425˚F allows the pastry to rise beautifully, creating a hollow center for the filling. Choux pastry is then baked at a lower temperature to dry out the center.

Learn How to Make Eclairs:

I'm so embarrassed that (due to my occasionally shaky hands), my eclairs looked mildly inappropriate when piped. I only realized it after the fact and I couldn't stop laughing. And for those of you who never would have noticed otherwise, I am doubly embarrassed!

Watch Natasha Make Eclairs:

More French Desserts:

Classic Eclair Recipe

You haven't enjoyed an Eclair until you've tried a fresh homemade eclair! Learn how to make Eclairs with choux pastry, pastry cream and chocolate glaze.

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

Ingredients for Choux Pastry:

Ingredients for Pastry Cream:

How to Make Choux Pastry

1. In a Medium saucepan, combine 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup milk, 8 Tbsp butter, 1 tsp sugar and 1/4 tsp salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat then remove from heat and stir in 1 cup flour all at once with a wooden spoon.

2. One flour is incorporated, place back over medium heat about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes stirring constantly (to release extra moisture and partially cook flour), or until dough comes together into a smooth ball and a thin film forms on bottom of pan.

3. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and beat using an electric hand mixer on medium speed for 1 minute to cool the mixture slightly. Add 4 eggs, 1 at a time, allowing each egg to fully incorporate between additions. Beat until dough is smooth and forms a thick ribbon when pulled up.

4. Pipe eclairs over baking sheet lined with silicone using a 1/2" round tip. Pipe 18-20 (4" long and 3/4" wide) strips, keeping them 1 1/2" apart.

5. Bake at 425˚F for 10 minutes. Without opening oven, reduce temp to 325˚F and, bake 30 minutes longer or until golden brown. Transfer to wire rack to cool while making pastry cream.

How to Make Pastry Cream:

1. In a medium saucepan bring 2 cups milk, vanilla bean and scraped seeds just to a boil, stirring to prevent film from forming.

2. In a separate large bowl, whisk together 3/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup corn starch and pinch of salt. Add 4 egg yolks and whisk until smooth, creamy and lightened in color - it takes a couple of minutes but it will get there.

3. Gradually (so the eggs don't curdle), while whisking constantly, add hot milk in a steady stream until all of it is incorporated. Pour mixture back into saucepan and bring to a boil while whisking constantly then whisk another 30 seconds until mixture is thick and pudding-like in consistency.

4. Transfer pastry cream to a medium bowl (whisk in 2 tsp vanilla extract if using). Cut butter into pieces and quickly whisk into the custard until fully incorporated Cover with plastic directly over the surface of the cream, let it cool slightly then refrigerate 30 minutes or until cool.

5. With a small pastry tip, poke 2-3 holes through the bottom of each cooled pastry. Pipe cream inside, scraping off excess. Refrigerate eclairs while making chocolate glaze.

How to Make Chocolate Glaze:

1. Place 4 oz of chocolate chips into a small heat-safe bowl.

2. Heat 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream (in a saucepan or microwave) until it is just at a simmer then remove from heat and pour over chocolate chips. Let rest 2 minutes then whisk from the center outwards until smooth sauce forms.

3. Dip the top half of filled and chilled eclairs into the chocolate sauce, allowing excess to drip off.

*4 oz chocolate chips by weight or 2/3 cup by volume.

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

If you make this recipe, I'd love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

Now go forth and conquer homemade eclairs!

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.
Read more posts by Natasha

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Classic Eclair Recipe (VIDEO) - NatashasKitchen.com

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You haven't enjoyed an eclair until you've tried a fresh homemade eclair filled to the brim with pastry cream and topped with chocolate ganache. Watch the video tutorial and you will master this eclairs recipe in no time. This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

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Inspired Taste - Easy Recipes for Home Cooks

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Making Vietnamese pho soup at home is not hard all you need is a straightforward recipe, a few secrets, and a nice big stockpot.

Watch the Video

You May Also Like: We love these hoisin sticky ribs!

Seven Secrets for How to Make the Best Pho

If you're sitting there and wondering "what is pho," it's a delicate (and delicious) Vietnamese noodle soup made from beef bones, ginger, onions, and lots of aromatic spices. It's nothing short of soup perfection. The way all the spices and flavors from star anise, cardamom, fennel seeds, and cinnamon come together is incredible, and the best part? You can customize; it's encouraged that you add any condiments you desire to make the soup your own.

The Best Bones to Use

We make this at least once a month and always make sure there is leftover broth to freeze for another day. While it takes a bit of time, most of that is hands-off, so let's get going towards amazing pho at home, shall we?

You can't make an excellent soup without great beef bones. So, look for knuckle and leg bones that contain marrow. We buy beef knuckles from a local Asian market and find them to be pretty inexpensive.
Substituting store-bought beef broth for this homemade beef broth just won't cut it. We know our process takes longer than some, but trust me, this homemade pho broth has so much more flavor. You won't regret it.
You may also like these Pho-inspired grilled chicken wings!

It's Best to Parboil and Rinse the Bones

When you simmer bones they release "scum" or impurities. If you don't get rid of this, you'll be stuck with a cloudy broth. Not good. We like our soup to be as clear and clean as possible, so we add an extra step.

Add the bones to a large stockpot, cover with cold water then bring to a boil. Boil for a few minutes, and then pour the water and bones into a strainer.

Discard the water then rinse the bones to get rid of all the impurities. Also, make sure you give the pot a rinse, too - there will be scum on the bottom and sides of the stockpot.

Char The Onion and Ginger

To create that distinctive and deep flavor of great Pho, slide onion and a sizable piece of ginger under the broiler. Broil until well charred. That's going to give you excellent flavor and color.

Don't Forget the Spices and Toast Them

Even though we're simmering the broth with spices for a few hours, we still like to give all the spices a quick toast before adding to the pot.

To toast the spices, throw them into a dry pan over medium heat, stay close and shake the pan a couple of times to make sure they toast. You'll know when they're ready when you start to smell them. It only takes two to three minutes.

Yellow Rock Sugar

Don't just use regular white sugar from your pantry. We know that buying yellow rock sugar seems pretty particular, but here's the deal: using plan old sugar sadly produces a sweet, flat broth, whereas the rock sugar rounds things out and brings everything together. Plus, you'll need that leftover rock sugar for the next time you make this recipe!

Use Fish Sauce

Buy some. You really can't make pho soup (or other Vietnamese recipes) without it. Our fish sauce sits within arm's reach of our stove. We use it in everything and absolutely will not make pho without it.

Andrea Nguyen of Viet World Kitchen suggests that when shopping for fish sauce, look for glass bottles, not plastic and allow price to guide you. Go for the mid-high priced fish sauce (which will run you $4 to $5).

Update: We have recently given Red Boat Fish Sauce 40°N a try and we prefer it over other ones we have tasted. We like the clean fish flavor it has over other brands.

The Best Pho Noodles and Condiments

Noodles - You can buy fresh noodles at Asian markets, which is a nice treat, but dried rice noodles work perfectly as well. Even if you use fresh or dried, never cook the noodles in the broth. If you do this, the broth will become cloudy. So, cook them in another pot (they only take a few minutes) and add the cooked noodles to your bowl just before adding hot broth.

Condiments - We're partial to Thai basil (you can substitute regular basil if you need to), fresh mint, crispy bean sprouts, a teeny tiny splash of fish sauce, and some Asian chili sauce.

Hoisin sauce is also pretty common, but we rarely add it ourselves - it can take over the delicate deep flavor of the broth.

Make Ahead Tip - Oh, and while it's not a "secret" make sure you have some freezer space to store some of that extra broth for the best make-ahead meal, ever!

More Easy Recipes

Our Best Homemade Pho

Making your own fabulous bowl of Vietnamese pho at home is not hard, all you need is a straightforward recipe, a few secrets and a nice big stockpot. We realize our recipe may look daunting, but this is quite simple to do and there is a lot of inactive time while you wait for the broth (we've just been extra tedious to share everything we know).

Makes approximately 3 1/2 to 4 quarts of broth (enough for 6 servings)

You Will Need

Broth

6 quarts cold water

2 medium onions, quartered

2 cinnamon sticks

1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves

1 tablespoon coriander seeds

Bean sprouts

Lime wedges

Fish sauce

Hoisin sauce

1 tablespoon fennel seeds

6 star anise

6 whole cloves

1 1/2 tablespoons salt

1/4 cup fish sauce
Assembly For the Table
Directions

Make Broth

1Add beef bones to a large pot that will hold at least 10 quarts. Then, cover bones with cold water. Place pot onto high heat and bring to a boil. Boil for 3 to 5 minutes. During this time, impurities and foam (or scum) will be released and rise to the top. Drain bones, discarding the water. Then, rinse bones with warm water and scrub stockpot to remove any residue that has stuck to the sides. Add the bones back to the stockpot and cover with 6 quarts of cold water.

2Meanwhile, move an oven rack to a high position then turn broiler to high. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place quartered onions and halved ginger onto baking sheet then broil for 10 to 15 minutes, turning onions and ginger occasionally so that they become charred or browned on all sides.

3Add cinnamon sticks, coriander seeds, fennel seeds, star anise, cloves and the black cardamom pod to a dry frying pan. Place onto low heat and cook, stirring occasionally until fragrant. About 5 minutes. Place toasted spices into a cotton muslin bag/herb sachet or cheesecloth then tie with butchers twine to seal.

4Bring stockpot with parboiled bones and water to a boil then lower to a gentle simmer. Add charred onion and ginger as well as the bag or sachet of toasted spices. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons of salt, a 1/4 cup of fish sauce and the rock sugar. Continue to simmer broth, uncovered, for 3 hours. If at any time foam or scum rises to the surface, use a spoon to remove it.

5Use tongs or a wide mesh spoon to remove bones, onion and ginger from broth then strain broth through a fine mesh strainer. The broth will have a layer of fat at the the top. There are two ways to remove this. First, if you plan to enjoy the broth now, skim the fat from the top of the broth using a spoon. If you do not mind waiting, you can also pour broth into containers then refrigerate overnight. As the broth cools, the fat will solidify, making it very easy to remove.

Assembly

1Bring the broth to a gentle simmer over medium heat.

2If you are using dried noodles, add noodles to a bowl then cover with hot water and soak for 15 to 20 minutes until soft and opaque. If you are using fresh, add to a colander then rinse with cold water.

3To cook the noodles, bring a medium saucepan filled with water to a boil. Place noodles into boiling water and cook for about 10 seconds or until they collapse. Drain noodles then divide between bowls. (We like to fill each bowl by 1/3 with noodles).

4Arrange slices of raw meat into bowls, and then top with the hot broth. Finish broth with onion slices and cilantro. Serve bowls with a plate of optional garnishes listed above.

Adam and Joanne's Tips

Black Cardamom Pod: Oddly enough, black cardamom is a member of the ginger family. It is quite powerful - providing a smoky aroma. You can buy black cardamom at Asian markets, however, if you have difficulty finding it, you may leave it out of the recipe.

Yellow Rock Sugar: This is also known as "lump sugar" and is sold at Asian markets. Look for it sold in a box. You will most likely need to break the rock sugar into smaller chunks. You can use a hammer or rolling pin to do this.

Noodles: You can usually find fresh noodles at Asian markets. If you cannot, simply use dried "banh pho" noodles. Follow directions on package for cooking. For the fresh noodles, you will most likely need to immerse the noodles into boiling water for a few seconds. For dried, you will need to soak the noodles in hot water for 15 to 20 minutes or until softened and opaque. Check the package for specific directions.

Raw Beef: Either ask your butcher to thinly slice the meat or if slicing at home, place beef into the freezer for 15 minutes to harden a little. Then, carefully thinly slice the beef across the grain into 1/16-inch thick slices.

Onions: Raw onion can be overpowering. So, thinly slice the onions then submerge them in some water. Set aside for 15 to 20 minutes then drain and rinse. This will tone down the "raw" flavor of the onion.

Recipe adapted and inspired by Andrea Nguyen of Viet World Kitchen and Jaden Hair of Steamy Kitchen.

Nutrition facts: The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. We have used the USDA Supertracker recipe calculator to calculate approximate values. We did not include any table condiments (example: hoisin sauce).

If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #inspiredtaste - We love to see your creations on Instagram and Facebook! Find us: @inspiredtaste

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Making your own Vietnamese pho soup at home is not hard, all you need is a straightforward recipe, a few secrets and a stockpot.

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passing cuz i need the credit

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I was thinking this would be fun and delicious!

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Everyone loves chocolate coated bananas, frozen into a sweet, compact treat.

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...food, learning new and yummy recipes and new tricks and tips.

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Apple Risotto

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Inspired by the anime Shokugeki no soma. My experiment to make a risotto that works well as a breakfast or brunch dish. If you have any ideas on how to improve the dish, write a review, I would love to get your ideas.

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Apple risotto with bacon Recipe by Andreas Wasa Gundersen

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Great recipe for Apple risotto with bacon. Inspired by the anime Shokugeki no soma. My experiment to make a risotto that works well as a breakfast or brunch dish. If you have any ideas on how to improve the dish, write a review, I would love to get your ideas.

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Learning new skills to help me be more efficient in the kitchen.

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Food

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Food

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America's best-loved brewery and beers, creating stronger communities and meaningful moments for over 165 years. Bringing people together for a Future with More Cheers.

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What Is a Master Muffin Recipe?

This is 1 muffin batter that can produce all sorts of different muffin varieties and flavors. These muffins are soft and buttery where the chunks and chips are just as mouth-watering as the muffin crumbs themselves. I've been using this base recipe for a few years already including for:

1. Cranberry Cardamom Spice Muffins

2. Blackberry Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

3. Peach Streusel Muffins

4. Apple Crumb Muffins

5. Blueberry Muffins

6. Strawberry Cheesecake Muffins

7. Cranberry Orange Muffins

And in addition to those 7 muffin recipes all stemming from the same starting point, I have 5 more variations pictured for you today. Plus 10 more variations listed out under the recipe.

That's 22 muffin flavors that all start from the same exact place.

What You Need

The muffin batter starts with basic dry ingredients like flour, baking powder + soda, and salt. More often than not, I add ground cinnamon. The only time I don't add it is when we're preparing a citrus-y flavored muffin. The wet ingredients are just as simple. Creamed butter and sugar, plus 2 eggs, vanilla, sour cream/plain yogurt, and milk. That's it. Based on the flavor of the muffin, I use brown sugar or granulated sugar. I use either plain Greek yogurt or sour cream based on what I have. Same with milk- whole milk, 1% milk, buttermilk, almond milk- honestly, it all works in this master muffin recipe.

That's 11 ingredients total including the cinnamon. And all 11 ingredients are baking staples, nothing new or difficult to find plus you have wiggle room with the sour cream and milk depending on what is convenient for you.

The Best Muffin Trick

I've been using this muffin trick for years and SWEAR by it. Fill your muffin cups/liners all the way to the top. Bake the muffins for just 5 minutes at a high temperature. Reduce the temperature for the remaining bake time. This initial hot burst of air lifts the muffins straight up, creating a solid dome. The rest of the time at a normal baking temperature cooks the center of the muffin.

NOTE: This only works with certain muffin batters. Muffin batter has to be thick and sturdy, like most of the muffin recipes on this site including today's.

Today's New Muffin Flavors

1. White Chocolate Raspberry Muffins

2. Apple Cinnamon Muffins

3. Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins (with lemon glaze)

4. Mixed Berry Muffins (with lemon glaze)

5. Chocolate Chip Streusel Muffins

Details for making each are in the recipe notes below. WHITE CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY MUFFINS: APPLE CINNAMON MUFFINS: LEMON POPPY SEED MUFFINS: MIXED BERRY MUFFINS:
PS: 10 more flavors below the recipe! And if you're looking for a chocolate base, try these double chocolate muffins.

10 More Muffin Flavors

1. Cinnamon Pecan Muffins: master muffin batter + 3/4 cups toasted chopped pecans + 3/4 cup cinnamon chips. With this crumb topping.

2. White Chocolate Nectarine: master muffin batter + 1 heaping cup peeled chopped nectarine + 1/2 cup white chocolate chips. With brown sugar nut streusel.

3. Blueberry Lemon Muffins: master muffin batter + zest and juice of 1 lemon + 1 and 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (leave out cinnamon)

4. Pear Spice Muffins: master muffin batter + 1 and 1/4 cups peeled chopped pear + 1/4 teaspoon each ground nutmeg, ground cloves, + allspice

5. Crumb Cake Muffins: master muffin batter + extra 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon + this crumb topping

6. Banana Nut Muffins: master muffin batter + 3/4 cup mashed banana + leave out sour cream + 1 cup chopped walnuts. Cheesecake filling would be delicious in these.

7. Ginger Peach Muffins: master muffin batter + 1 and 1/4 cups peeled chopped peaches + 2 Tablespoons freshly grated ginger. With brown sugar nut streusel.

8. Pineapple Coconut Muffins: master muffin batter + 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut + 3/4 cup finely chopped pineapple (fresh or canned)

9. Birthday Cake Muffins: master muffin batter + 3/4 cup rainbow sprinkles + 1 teaspoon almond extract (leave out cinnamon)

10. Cranberry Apple Muffins: master muffin batter + 1 cup peeled chopped apple + 3/4 cup fresh or frozen cranberries. This crumb topping would be great.

CHOCOLATE CHIP STREUSEL MUFFINS:

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1 Batter for Infinite Muffin Recipes | Sally's Baking Addiction

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This is 1 muffin batter that can produce all sorts of different muffin varieties and flavors. These muffins are soft and buttery where the chunks and chips are just as mouth-watering as the muffin crumbs themselves.

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Indulge in the ultimate chocolate experience with The Most Amazing Chocolate Cake. Moist, rich, and made in a single bowl, this chocolate cake has received thousands of rave reviews. Satisfy your chocolate cravings with the chocolate cake of your dreams.

Are you ready for the most heavenly chocolate cake you've ever tasted? After years of testing, we have finally perfected the ultimate chocolate cake recipe. This rich, fudgy chocolate cake will melt in your mouth with every bite. Its fluffy, moist crumb is coated in a thick layer of decadent chocolate frosting, making it a true indulgence for chocolate lovers. And the best part? It's so easy to make, with just one bowl for the batter.

Our recipe has been tried and loved by tens of thousands of people worldwide, all of whom agree that it is the most amazing chocolate cake ever. In fact, it has gained the nickname "The Matilda Cake" because it resembles the decadent cake eaten by Bruce Bogtrotter in the movie Matilda.

Substitution Options

What is buttermilk and can it be substituted?

Buttermilk is a liquid that is left over after churning butter. It is an important ingredient in this recipe due to the way it interacts with other ingredients. Buttermilk can be easily substituted with a mixture of milk and vinegar or lemon juice, or with almond or soy milk and white vinegar. You can also find more in-depth information on how to make a buttermilk substitute in this post.

Is it possible to make this recipe dairy-free?

Yes, you can make this recipe dairy-free. Simply add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar to almond or soy milk, let it stand for 5 minutes, and use the mixture in place of the buttermilk. You can also use a dairy-free frosting option for the frosting.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Yes, you can easily adapt this recipe to be gluten-free by using a "Cup for Cup" gluten-free flour blend in the same amounts as the regular flour called for in the recipe.

What can be used as a substitute for eggs in this chocolate cake recipe?

There are several options that work well as egg substitutes in this recipe:

1/4 cup of plain yogurt per egg

1 tablespoon vinegar+ 1 teaspoon baking powder whisked together per egg

1/4 cup mashed banana per egg

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce per egg

Adapting the Recipe for Different Sizes and Shapes of Cakes

This chocolate cake recipe yields approximately 9 cups of batter total, or 3 cups for each of the 9-inch layers. Here are some popular pan sizes and the approximate amount of batter needed for each individual pan:

9×2-inch round pan: 3 cups batter

8×2-inch round pan: 2 1/4 cups batter

13×18-inch jelly roll pan: 6 cups batter

9×13-inch pan: 6 cups batter

12 standard cupcakes: 3 cups batter

10-12 cup bundt cake pan: 8 cups batter

As a general rule, cake pans should be filled 2/3rds of the way full for cake baking, unless otherwise specified in the recipe.

It's always a good idea to check for doneness by inserting a toothpick or cake tester into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached, the cake is likely done. You can also gently press the center of the cake with your finger - if it springs back, it is probably ready to be removed from the oven.

Keep in mind that these are just general guidelines and the actual baking time may vary depending on factors such as your oven's temperature accuracy, the type of pan you are using, and the altitude at which you are baking. It's always a good idea to keep an eye on your cake as it bakes and to make any necessary adjustments to the baking time as needed.

Types of Cocoa Powder

Cocoa powder is an important ingredient in many baked goods and can affect the flavor and texture of the final product. It is important to use the type of cocoa powder specified in a recipe, as using the wrong type can alter the balance of flavors and sweetness. There are several types of cocoa powder available, each with its own distinct flavor and properties.

Hershey's Unsweetened Cocoa Powder was used in this cake recipe as it is widely available to readers. You can also use higher-quality cocoa powders such as Ghiradelli or those from specialty chocolatier shops, but they can be expensive. It is recommended to avoid using inexpensive store brands as they tend to not produce the best results. For the dark-colored frosting in these photos, Hershey's Special Dark Unsweetened Cocoa Powder was used.

Dutch-process cocoa powder is a type of cocoa that has been treated with an alkali to neutralize its acidity. It has a milder flavor and darker color than natural cocoa powder, and is also easier to dissolve in liquids. When using dutch-process cocoa powder in place of unsweetened cocoa powder in a recipe, it is important to consider that it may behave differently due to its lower acidity. However, in this recipe, dutch-process cocoa can be used without making any other modifications.

This cake recipe pairs well with the chocolate cream cheese buttercream frosting, but feel free to try other frosting flavors to create your own unique cake. Other frosting options include a chocolate buttercream, whipped chocolate ganache, ermine frosting, 7-minute frosting, sweetened condensed milk frosting, and a pourable chocolate fudge icing that's suitable for sheet cakes and 9×13 cakes. Simply click on the images below for more information about each of these frosting options.

If you like this recipe, be sure to check out my other amazing cake recipes:

Watch the video below where Rachel will walk you through every step of this recipe. Sometimes it helps to have a visual, and we've always got you covered with our cooking show. You can find the complete collection of recipes on , Facebook Watch, or our Facebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes.

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The Most Amazing Chocolate Cake is here. Moist, chocolaty perfection. This is the chocolate cake you've been dreaming of!