Along with Ilse’s Mocha Nut Cake this is the other cake that was always asked for by Alex and Zoe each year in August.

And to show them how much I loved them, I admit, I always made two cakes.

Then in October, Manservant always requested this until one year when I made him this and then he thought we might have to make alternate each cake every other year.

My birthday is in December and I have always requested a chocolate birthday  cake.

But alas, no one has ever made me one. If I receive a cake it is of the store bought variety, but I can’t remember the last time that happened.

My father’s birthday was Christmas Day. He always received a cake. Or perhaps a trifle. 

My mother once gave me a lemon meringue pie for my birthday because one shouldn’t have two cakes so close to each other.

(No, she didn’t have twins!)

You know what? I hate lemon meringue pie. But guess who loves it? Yeah…my mom!

My mother always made my dad’s cake. And then she frosted it with canned icing doctored up with rum extract.

We still loved that icing but let me tell you, it is nothing compared to the frosting on this cake!

As I got older we often took the kids to visit their grandparents over the holidays and then I took on the baking of the cake.

Guess which cake I made?

I made it for my father when he turned 81 years and I believe I made it when he turned 86 and I sure wish I could make it for him now when he would be turning 89.

But sometimes when you blow out candles you don’t always get what you wish for.

Dad was adored by everyone and now on Christmas Day we have nothing to celebrate, unless of course Hanukkah happens to fall on December 25th.

However there is one thing I’ve learned and that is to celebrate each day.

Live it to the fullest and remember what Julia Child used to say, ” A party without a cake is just a meeting!”

I vote for parties. I vote for cake. I vote for chocolate cake!

This is a great from scratch, chocolate cake. It is a moist chocolate cake with a perfect crumb.

It’s not too chocolatey or rich and is perfect with vanilla ice cream or a large glass of milk.

Tips for Baking the Best Chocolate Cake:

Make sure the butter and eggs are at room temperature.

Do not substitute all purpose flour for cake flour. Cake flour creates a cake with a more tender crumb.

I love the unsweetened chocolate by Baker’s but if you have another favorite, use that instead.

Yes, this cake calls for boiling water. Do not cheat!

I find with many baked goods that the minute you smell it, often means they are done. Stick a toothpick in and find out.

Cake edges should pull away from the sides of the pan. Don’t overbake or your cake will be dry.

Because this cake is so moist you may have to rap a standard pan on the edge of a counter to get it to come out clean. My cake pans have removable bottoms. So worth it!

Flour the pans with cocoa, instead of flour.

To frost this cake, place one layer flat on the cake plate. Using an offset spatula or a knife, spread a thin layer of frosting on the top of this layer.

Turn the next layer over, so that the flat side is up. Frost again.

For the final layer, place the pretty rounded side up. Now frost all around the cake, turning as you go.

After that is finished, frost the top of the cake and decorate accordingly!

The best part of this cake, in my humble opinion, is the frosting. If you are a frosting lover please make at least 1 ½ times this recipe. You will use it.

My daughter informed me that she is now making this frosting to go with boxed cake mixes.

She decided it really is the icing on the cake!

Please note that I made this homemade chocolate cake recipe for many years with a handheld mixer. Yes, it really does need to be beaten for 5 minutes, but I promise the time goes fast.

Yes, time really does go fast. This is my best chocolate cake and it brings back many memories of happy times and  the many different kitchens I’ve made it in.

This easy chocolate cake recipe is one recipe I’ve stuck with. And boy, it has stuck to me too! (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.) 

 OK, regardless of your resolutions, make it a point to make this chocolate birthday cake at least once this year.

Perhaps it will become a new family tradition. Which is a really sweet idea!

Need More Chocolate?

Quick Chocolate Cake  (No mixer required!)

Nigella’s Fudge Loaf Cake

Chocolate Oreo Sandwich Cake

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