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Say hello to the chocolate cousin of my beloved Kentucky butter cake—and the new star in your holiday dessert lineup: my decadently rich chocolate Bundt cake. It’s a surefire hit for any occasion—be it a cozy brunch, a casual coffee with friends, or as the centerpiece dessert at your holiday feast. The cake is soaked with a vanilla-scented butter syrup that makes it ultra-moist, and the literal icing on the cake is a luscious, shiny chocolate glaze that takes the flavor to the next level. This isn’t just any cake; it’s the kind you keep on your counter and sneak a slice of every time you walk by. Whether you’re sharing it with friends or keeping it all for yourself, this chocolate Bundt cake is a classic.
Chocolate Bundt Cake Ingredients
Step-by-Step Instructions
Make the Cake
Preheat the oven to 325 F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Spray a 10-inch (12-cup) Bundt pan generously with nonstick cooking spray with flour, such as Baker’s Joy or Pam with Flour.
In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine the coffee and chocolate. Heat in the microwave on high power in 20-second intervals, stirring in between, until the chocolate is about 75 percent melted. Stir, allowing the residual heat in the bowl to melt the remaining chocolate, until the mixture is smooth. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, add the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla.
Whisk to combine and set aside. (Note that the mixture may start to look curdled as it sits; that’s okay.)
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or beaters, combine the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
Beat on low speed for 30 seconds to combine.
Add the softened butter and half of the buttermilk mixture.
Mix on low speed until moistened but still a little crumbly, about 1 minute.
With the mixer running on low, gradually add the remaining buttermilk mixture until incorporated, then increase the speed to medium and mix for 3 minutes, stopping once to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. The batter should look creamy. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl again, making sure the batter is evenly mixed.
Add the chocolate/coffee mixture.
Mix on low speed until smooth.
Transfer the batter to the prepared Bundt pan.
Smooth the top with a spatula.
Bake for 70 to 75 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean or with just a few crumbs.
Make the Soaking Syrup
While the cake bakes, make the soaking syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the butter, sugar, water, and vanilla.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute.
Set the cake pan on a cooling rack. Using a skewer or toothpick, poke about 40 holes in the bottom of the still-hot cake, going about three-quarters of the way down.
Spoon or brush half of the syrup evenly over the bottom of the cake. If the syrup starts to pool on the surface, poke more holes to help it absorb. Leave the cake on the rack to cool for 30 minutes.
Invert the cake onto a serving platter. Brush the remaining glaze evenly over the top and sides of the cake, letting it soak in as you go. Let the cake cool completely, at least a few hours.
Make the Chocolate Glaze
Add the butter to a small saucepan and melt over low heat. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the chocolate and whisk until melted.
Add the confectioners’ sugar and 2 tablespoons of the hot water.
Whisk until completely smooth.
Using a small spoon, drizzle the glaze over the top of the cake, letting it drip down the sides. Allow the glaze to set before serving, at least 30 minutes. Slice the cake with a serrated knife. The cake will keep well in a covered container at room temperature for up to four days.
The glaze should be the consistency of warm honey so that it coats the top of the cake evenly and then cascades slowly down the sides. If the glaze is too thick, whisk in the remaining tablespoon of water, little by little, until you get the right consistency. If the glaze is too thin, whisk in a bit more confectioners’ sugar.
Allow the glaze to set before serving, at least 30 minutes. Slice the cake with a serrated knife. The cake will keep well in a covered container at room temperature for up to four days.
Chocolate Bundt Cake
Prep Time: 45 Minutes
Cook Time: 75 Minutes
Total Time: 2 Hours, plus a few hours to cool
Ingredients
For the Cake
- ½ cup coffee (any temperature is fine)
- 4 oz semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled off
- ½ cup natural cocoa powder, such as Hershey’s
- 2½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
For the Soaking Syrup
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the Chocolate Glaze
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1½ ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
- ¾ cup confectioners’ sugar
- 2 to 3 tablespoons hot water
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 325 F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Spray a 10-inch (12-cup) Bundt pan generously with nonstick cooking spray with flour, such as Baker’s Joy or Pam with Flour.
In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine the coffee and chocolate. Heat in the microwave on high power in 20-second intervals, stirring in between, until the chocolate is about 75 percent melted. Stir, allowing the residual heat in the bowl to melt the remaining chocolate, until the mixture is smooth. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla. Set aside. (Note that the mixture may start to look curdled as it sits; that’s okay.)
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or beaters, combine the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds to combine. Add the softened butter and half of the buttermilk mixture and mix on low speed until moistened but still a little crumbly, about 1 minute. With the mixer running on low, gradually add the remaining buttermilk mixture until incorporated, then increase the speed to medium and mix for 3 minutes, stopping once to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. The batter should look creamy. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl again, making sure the batter is evenly mixed.
Add the chocolate/coffee mixture and mix on low speed until smooth.
Transfer the batter to the prepared Bundt pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 70 to 75 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean or with just a few crumbs.
While the cake bakes, make the soaking syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the butter, sugar, water, and vanilla. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute.
Set the cake pan on a cooling rack. Using a skewer or toothpick, poke about 40 holes in the bottom of the still-hot cake, going about three-quarters of the way down. Spoon or brush half of the syrup evenly over the bottom of the cake. If the syrup starts to pool on the surface, poke more holes to help it absorb. Leave the cake on the rack to cool for 30 minutes.
Invert the cake onto a serving platter. Brush the remaining syrup evenly over the top and sides of the cake, letting it soak in as you go. Let the cake cool completely, at least a few hours.
Make the chocolate glaze: Add the butter to a small saucepan and melt over low heat. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the chocolate and whisk until melted. Add the confectioners’ sugar and 2 tablespoons of the hot water and whisk until completely smooth. The glaze should be the consistency of warm honey so that it coats the top of the cake evenly and then cascades slowly down the sides. If the glaze is too thick, whisk in the remaining tablespoon of water, little by little, until you get the right consistency. If the glaze is too thin, whisk in a bit more confectioners’ sugar. Using a small spoon, drizzle the glaze over the top of the cake, letting it drip down the sides. Allow the glaze to set before serving, at least 30 minutes. Slice the cake with a serrated knife. The cake will keep well in a covered container at room temperature for up to four days.
Make-Ahead/Freezing Instructions: The cake keeps well for up to four days. Once cool, store in a cake dome (or cover with plastic wrap if it has the soaking syrup but is not yet glazed) at room temperature until ready to serve. The soaked, unglazed cake can be frozen for up to 3 months. After it is completely cooled, double-wrap it securely with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place it in a heavy-duty freezer bag. Thaw overnight on the countertop before adding the chocolate glaze and serving.
Nutrition Information
Per serving (16 servings)
Calories: 495, Fat: 22 g, Saturated fat: 13 g, Carbohydrates: 72 g, Sugar: 51 g, Fiber: 2 g, Protein: 6 g, Sodium: 254 mg, Cholesterol: 91 mg
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