Chocolate Fudge Cake with Chocolate Cream Frosting: My Mom’s Sunday Secret

Posted on June 28, 2025

Chocolate fudge cake with chocolate cream frosting on wooden cake stand

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Cooking time

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Article Introduction:

Chocolate fudge cake with chocolate cream frosting has always been my weakness. In today’s article, you’ll discover the story behind this cake, my simple approach to baking it rich and moist, the dreamy chocolate cream frosting that sets it apart, and answers to your most asked questions about fudge cakes and frostings. From the difference between chocolate frosting and fudge frosting to why depression cake became a household staple, I’ll walk you through everything with my Sunday kitchen warmth. By the end, you’ll have a reliable recipe and clarity to bake this chocolate fudge cake with chocolate cream frosting any time your heart craves.

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Slice of chocolate fudge cake with chocolate cream frosting

Chocolate Fudge Cake with Chocolate Cream Frosting: My Mom’s Sunday Secret


  • Author: Marina
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 12 slices 1x

Description

Moist, rich chocolate fudge cake topped with fluffy chocolate cream frosting. Perfect for birthdays or Sunday treats.


Ingredients

Scale

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 cups sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup boiling water

Frosting:

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate, melted

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

3/4 cup powdered sugar


Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 8-inch round cake pans.

2. In large bowl, whisk flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.

4. Slowly add boiling water while whisking. Batter will be thin.

5. Divide into pans. Bake 30–35 min. Cool completely.

6. For frosting: melt chocolate, let cool slightly. Whip heavy cream with powdered sugar to soft peaks.

7. Fold melted chocolate into whipped cream until combined.

8. Frost cooled cake layers and top with remaining frosting.

Notes

Add boiling water slowly to avoid splashing.

Ensure melted chocolate is cool before folding into cream.

Refrigerate frosting if too runny before spreading.

  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Category: Cake, Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice
  • Calories: 480
  • Sugar: 36g
  • Sodium: 360mg
  • Fat: 27g
  • Saturated Fat: 16g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 8g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 60g
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Protein: 6g
  • Cholesterol: 85mg

Keywords: chocolate fudge cake, chocolate cream frosting, easy cake

The Story & Intro – Chocolate Fudge Cake with Chocolate Cream Frosting

Memories of Chocolate Fudge Cake on Rainy Sundays

Growing up just outside Portland, Oregon, rainy Sundays meant one thing – my mom’s chocolate fudge cake with chocolate cream frosting. I remember sitting on the wooden stool near our small window, watching the drizzle blur the fir trees, while the scent of deep cocoa and vanilla butter wafted through the kitchen. She always believed that chocolate fudge cake with chocolate cream frosting had healing powers. If someone felt tired, sad, or even celebratory, she’d whisk it together without fuss.

I used to help measure cocoa powder, getting it all over my nose, and she’d say, “Don’t worry, fudge cake forgives everything.” That line stayed with me. When I first baked it alone at sixteen, I messed up the frosting by adding too much cream. But biting into the rich, moist, deeply chocolatey cake topped with that silky frosting made me realise – it doesn’t matter if it’s slightly runny or perfectly spread. This chocolate fudge cake with chocolate cream frosting always felt like a hug. The fudge cake itself is denser and richer than a standard chocolate cake, which is why it became my go-to recipe for birthdays, friends’ gatherings, and quiet weekends at home.

Why This Chocolate Fudge Cake with Chocolate Cream Frosting Is Always My Choice

When I travelled to Sicily in my twenties, I tasted many chocolate cakes in small village bakeries. None felt like home until I returned and baked my mom’s recipe again. The fudge cake layers are so moist that they almost cling to the fork, while the chocolate cream frosting melts with each bite. It’s simple, deeply chocolatey, and never dry.

On my blog, I often pair this chocolate fudge cake with chocolate cream frosting with a vanilla ice cream scoop or fresh raspberries. Both balance the richness beautifully. You can also find similar indulgent cakes like my Easy Chocolate Sheet Cake with Buttermilk Frosting and Classic Texas Sheet Cake recipes (internal links) that carry the same kitchen comfort vibe.

What makes this recipe timeless is its accessibility. No expensive couverture chocolate, no complicated sugar thermometers – just pantry staples and honest whisking. Whether it’s a Sunday afternoon treat or a birthday cake emergency, this chocolate fudge cake with chocolate cream frosting won’t fail you.

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Ingredients & Preparation Insights – Best Chocolate Fudge Cake with Chocolate Cream Frosting

The Pantry Staples That Make This Cake Shine

When it comes to baking the perfect chocolate fudge cake with chocolate cream frosting, the ingredients truly matter. I remember my mom always insisting on unsweetened cocoa powder instead of drinking cocoa. “You want pure cocoa, not cocoa with fillers,” she’d say, and she was right. For this recipe, you’ll need:

  • All-purpose flour
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder
  • Baking powder and baking soda
  • Granulated sugar
  • Eggs
  • Milk (whole milk makes it richer)
  • Vegetable oil
  • Pure vanilla extract
  • Boiling water (trust me, this creates the moist crumb)
  • For the chocolate cream frosting: heavy cream, powdered sugar, and melted semi-sweet chocolate
Ingredients for chocolate fudge cake with chocolate cream frosting
Ingredients for chocolate fudge cake with chocolate cream frosting

When I first learned to bake this cake, I didn’t understand why boiling water was added at the end. But once I mixed it in, the batter turned smooth and thin, baking into a fudge cake that stays moist for days. The frosting combines melted chocolate with whipped heavy cream and powdered sugar, resulting in a fluffy, creamy spread that’s not overly sweet.

If you love easy baking with reliable ingredients, you’ll also enjoy my Best One-Bowl Chocolate Cake Recipe and Simple Sour Cream Chocolate Cake (internal links) that require similar staples, keeping your kitchen shopping minimal.

Tips for Preparing Your Chocolate Fudge Cake with Chocolate Cream Frosting

Here are my mom’s kitchen tips that I still follow:

  • Always sift your cocoa powder and flour together to avoid lumps in the batter.
  • Don’t skip the boiling water. Add it slowly and whisk well. The batter will be thin but bakes beautifully.
  • For the chocolate cream frosting, use room temperature heavy cream. Cold cream will seize melted chocolate and form clumps instead of smooth frosting.
  • If your frosting becomes too runny, refrigerate it for 20 minutes and whisk again. It firms up quickly.
Mixing chocolate fudge cake batter in bowl
Mixing the batter for chocolate fudge cake

This recipe makes enough frosting to generously cover an 8-inch double-layer cake. I often reserve a little frosting to swirl over cupcakes or spread between graham crackers for my daughter’s snack box.

Baking & Frosting Step by Step – Chocolate Fudge Cake with Chocolate Cream Frosting

Mixing and Baking Your Fudge Cake Layers

I still remember the first time I baked this chocolate fudge cake with chocolate cream frosting by myself. I was nervous, thinking I’d mess it up like I did the first time with my mom. But when I followed each step calmly, it turned out perfectly moist and rich. Here’s how you can do it confidently too.

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 8-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
  2. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl: flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and a pinch of salt. Whisk well.
  3. Add wet ingredients: eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Beat until the batter is smooth and glossy.
  4. Slowly pour in boiling water while whisking. The batter will thin out, which is exactly what creates a moist crumb.
  5. Divide batter evenly into the prepared pans and bake for 30–35 minutes. Check with a toothpick; it should come out clean.
  6. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes before turning them onto a wire rack to cool completely.

For similar beginner-friendly cake steps with reliable results, check out my Moist Chocolate Mug Cake Recipe and Best Classic Chocolate Bundt Cake posts (internal links) that readers often pair with fudge frosting variations for weekday desserts.

Making the Chocolate Cream Frosting

Spreading chocolate cream frosting on fudge cake
Frosting the chocolate fudge cake with creamy chocolate frosting

While the cake layers cool, start your chocolate cream frosting. This frosting is lighter than buttercream and creamier than whipped ganache, making it the perfect companion for chocolate fudge cake.

  1. Melt semi-sweet chocolate (about 1 cup) in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 20 seconds until smooth. Let it cool slightly.
  2. Whip heavy cream (1 ½ cups) and powdered sugar (¾ cup) in a large bowl until soft peaks form.
  3. Fold melted chocolate into the whipped cream mixture. Whip gently until fully combined and fluffy.

If your kitchen is warm, refrigerate the frosting for 10–15 minutes before spreading it on your cake to keep it firm and easy to work with. My daughter loves using leftover frosting as a dip for strawberries while we clean up.

Once your cakes are completely cool, spread a thick layer of frosting over one cake, place the second cake on top, and cover the entire cake generously with the remaining chocolate cream frosting. The result is a dreamy, bakery-worthy chocolate fudge cake with chocolate cream frosting that looks as good as it tastes.

Slice of chocolate fudge cake with chocolate cream frosting
Slice of chocolate fudge cake with creamy frosting ready to eat

FAQs About Chocolate Fudge Cake with Chocolate Cream Frosting

What is the difference between chocolate frosting and fudge frosting?

Chocolate frosting usually has a lighter, whipped texture made from butter, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and milk or cream. Fudge frosting, like the chocolate cream frosting in this recipe, is denser and richer because it combines melted chocolate with cream or butter, resulting in a glossy, thick layer that sets slightly firmer than standard frosting. Whenever I make fudge frosting for this chocolate fudge cake with chocolate cream frosting, my family notices its deep chocolate flavour compared to airy frostings on my Chocolate Cupcake Recipe with Vanilla Frosting or Classic Devil’s Food Cake (internal links).

What kind of frosting goes well with chocolate cake?

Chocolate cream frosting pairs perfectly with chocolate cake if you want a rich, smooth finish without an overly sweet bite. Buttercream, ganache, and fudge frostings all work well, depending on your preference. For lighter cakes, a whipped chocolate buttercream adds fluffiness, while for dense cakes like this chocolate fudge cake with chocolate cream frosting, a creamy fudge frosting complements the moist layers beautifully.

What’s the difference between chocolate cake and chocolate fudge cake?

The key difference is texture. Chocolate cake tends to be lighter and fluffier, whereas chocolate fudge cake is denser, moister, and richer due to higher cocoa content and sometimes the addition of melted chocolate or boiling water in the batter. This chocolate fudge cake with chocolate cream frosting recipe creates a luxurious crumb that clings to your fork, unlike airy chocolate sponge cakes you might use for layered birthday cakes.

Why is it called depression cake?

Depression cake refers to cakes baked during the Great Depression when eggs, milk, and butter were scarce. These cakes used simple pantry ingredients like oil and water to remain moist without expensive components. While this chocolate fudge cake with chocolate cream frosting is not a true depression cake, it shares that simplicity by relying on pantry staples and boiling water for its moist crumb, just like my Eggless Chocolate Cake Recipe that readers love for its minimal ingredients and reliable results (internal link)

Conclusion: Why This Cake Is Always Worth Making

Chocolate fudge cake with chocolate cream frosting is more than just a dessert. It’s comfort on a plate, an old-fashioned recipe you can trust for every celebration or rainy Sunday at home. Whether you bake it for your kids, your friends, or simply yourself, each bite brings the warmth of honest kitchen love. Next time you’re craving something deeply chocolatey yet easy to make, remember this cake and my mom’s words – “Fudge cake forgives everything.”

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