If you’re looking for a dense, tender, rich, and chocolatey cake, then this chocolate mayonnaise cake is for you! This moist cake is packed with rich chocolate flavor, thanks to the secret ingredient – mayonnaise. It’s a combination that will have you reaching for a second slice!
The best part about this homemade chocolate cake is that it is straightforward to make. It uses pantry staple ingredients with a simple recipe to deliver big on taste. Plus, the mayonnaise adds a special touch, keeping the cake moist and rich, ready to be devoured straight from the oven.
But the magic doesn’t stop at the cake – this recipe also features a homemade chocolate frosting that’s equally delicious. It’s a creamy, sweet, and rich topping that perfectly compliments the moist cake. And if you’re looking for other delicious cakes and desserts, I highly recommend my caramel cake, old-fashioned chocolate apple cake, and Reese’s peanut butter cake bars!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
Who doesn’t love uncovering a well-loved recipe like this one. You know it’s going to be good!
- Quick and Easy: This chocolate mayonnaise cake recipe is a cinch to prepare. With the use of a large bowl and an electric mixer, the ingredients blend perfectly into a rich, moist cake batter that goes straight into the oven. No complicated steps or techniques required!
- Family-favorite: The secret ingredient, mayonnaise, gives this cake a rich chocolate flavor and moist texture that’s loved by all. It’s a dessert that consistently earns rave reviews from both kids and adults alike.
- Versatile: This cake is extremely versatile. Feel free to experiment with different types of frosting like cream cheese frosting or chocolate frosting to suit your family’s preference.
- Crowd pleaser: Whether it is for a birthday party, a family gathering, or a casual dinner, this chocolate mayonnaise cake always hits the spot. It’s a dessert that’s sure to impress your guests and leave them asking for your secret recipe.
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Key Ingredients
- Mayonnaise: This is the secret ingredient in our chocolate mayonnaise cake. It is what makes the cake super moist and tender. It also enhances the rich chocolate flavor, making every bite delicious!
- Hot Water: Not boiling, just hot tap water is fine. This helps to dissolve the cocoa powder, resulting in a smooth cake batter. It also helps to activate the baking soda, giving the cake its perfect texture.
- All-purpose Flour: The backbone of our cake, giving it structure. This flour is perfect for cakes as it is finely milled and light, helping to create a beautifully soft and moist cake.
- Cocoa Powder: This is what gives our cake that deep, rich chocolate flavor. It also adds a lovely dark color to our cake.
- Baking Soda: This is what makes our cake rise. It reacts with the cocoa powder and hot water, making the cake fluffy and light.
- Granulated Sugar: It helps sweeten our cake. Plus, it also helps to create a tender crumb by weakening the gluten strands in the flour.
- Butter: The fat in our frosting, giving it a luscious, creamy texture. It also adds a beautiful buttery flavor to the frosting.
- Powdered Sugar: This sweetens our frosting and gives it a smooth, spreadable consistency. It also helps to stiffen the frosting, making it easier to spread on our cake.
- Milk: This helps to thin out our frosting, making it easier to spread. It also adds a little bit of richness to the frosting.
- Vanilla Extract: This enhances all the flavors in our frosting. It provides a sweet, creamy backdrop that lets the chocolate shine.
Equipment
- Square Baking Pan – A square 9×9 inch baking pan is essential for this chocolate mayonnaise cake. It’s the perfect size to make sure the cake cooks evenly and comes out with the right texture.
- Large Bowl – You’ll need a large bowl to combine your ingredients. It’s important to use a large enough bowl to allow room for whisking and mixing without spilling.
- Electric Mixer – An electric mixer is a must-have when making the frosting. It helps to properly blend the butter, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract together to achieve a smooth, creamy consistency.
How to Make Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
Preparation
Before starting with the cake, preheat your oven to a temperature of 350˚ F. Make sure to grease a square baking pan of dimensions around 9×9 inches.
Step 1 – Blend the Mayonnaise and Hot Water
In a large bowl, start by whisking together the mayonnaise and hot water. This creates a smooth consistency as the foundation of your cake batter.
Step 2 – Mix in the Remaining Ingredients
Stir in the remaining ingredients, making sure that they are well incorporated. The ingredients should include cocoa powder, all purpose flour, sugar, baking soda, eggs, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Once your cake batter is ready, pour it into your greased square baking pan.
Step 3 – Bake the Cake
Bake the cake in your preheated oven at a temperature of 350˚ F. This should take approximately between twenty-five to thirty minutes. You will know the cake is ready when a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, and the edges begin to pull away from the sides of the pan.
Step 4 – Cool the Cake
Let the cake fully cool before moving to the frosting stage. This is crucial for a perfect, moist cake as it allows the cake to set and the flavors to blend. Plus, if the cake is still hot when you frost it, the frosting will melt off.
Step 5 – Prepare the Frosting
To make the rich chocolate frosting, melt butter and stir in the cocoa powder. Add the powdered sugar and cream, alternating between each while beating until you reach the desired consistency. If you find your frosting is too thick, add a bit of cream to thin it out.
Step 6 – Frost the Cake
Once your frosting is ready, spread it onto your cooled, homemade chocolate cake. Your chocolate mayonnaise cake with chocolate frosting is ready!
Expert Tip
- Let the cake cool completely: Before applying the frosting, make sure that the cake has fully cooled. A cooled cake will take hours, which is why I recommend making this cake the day or morning before you will need it. A cooled caked prevents the frosting from melting and ruining the cake’s appearance.
Recipe Variations
- Add a Chocolate Glaze: The delicious frosting works beautifully, but you can also try a chocolate glaze on top. I have a simple, easy, and delicious homemade chocolate glaze recipe that I highly recommend you try.
- Double Chocolate: For those who can’t get enough of the rich chocolate flavor, try adding a cup of chocolate chips to the cake batter. This will give your homemade chocolate cake an extra layer of chocolatey goodness that will definitely satisfy your sweet tooth.
- Add Nuts: If you’re a fan of nuts in your desserts, this variation is for you. Simply add a cup of chopped walnuts or pecans to the flour mixture. The nuts will add a delightful crunch and take your chocolate mayonnaise cake to the next level.
- Try Fruits: For a holiday twist, try adding a cup of dried cherries or cranberries to the batter. The tartness of the fruits will balance the rich chocolate flavor, giving your chocolate cake a unique and delicious twist.
What to Serve With
- One of the best ways to serve this moist cake is with a dollop of homemade vanilla ice cream. The cold ice cream contrasts beautifully with the warm, rich chocolate flavor of the cake. It’s a classic combo that never disappoints!
- Another delicious classic option is to enjoy a slice of this moist chocolate cake with some whipped cream. The creamy texture goes beautifully with the tender, rich chocolate cake.
- For a luxurious twist, try serving your chocolate mayonnaise cake with a sprinkle of powdered sugar on top. It adds a delightful sweetness and a beautiful, professional-looking finish.
- For those who love multi-layered desserts, slice the cake horizontally into two layers and spread a thick layer of chocolate frosting in the middle. This gives an extra dose of chocolaty goodness and makes the cake even more delicious.
- If you’re serving this at a party or gathering, consider making a cake buffet. Offer a variety of toppings like whipped cream, fresh berries, and nuts. Guests can customize their cake slice to their taste and it is a fun interactive dessert option.
Recipe FAQs
No! The mayonnaise is a key ingredient adding moisture and fat to the recipe. However, if we didn’t tell you, you would never know there is mayonnaise in the cake.
Hot water is used in this recipe to intensify the flavor of the cocoa powder, resulting in a deeper, richer chocolate taste in the finished cake. Just make sure the water is hot, but not boiling.
You can check the doneness of your cake by inserting a toothpick in the center. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is fully baked. Also, the edges of the cake should start to pull away from the sides of the pan.
Yes, while this recipe uses a chocolate frosting made with butter, cocoa powder, and powdered sugar, you can also use a cream cheese frosting or a homemade chocolate glaze.
Storing and Reheating
- Refrigerate: Once your homemade chocolate cake has cooled down, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container and place it in the fridge. It will keep well for up to three days, retaining its moist cake texture and rich chocolate flavor.
- Freeze: This moist cake freezes really well. When freezing, make sure the cake is completely cooled, then wrap each layer in plastic wrap and foil. It can be stored in the freezer for up to three months.
- Thawing Instructions: When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen cake, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Once it’s at room temperature, you can add the chocolate frosting if you haven’t done so before freezing.
- Reheat Instructions: There’s no need to reheat this delicious chocolate mayonnaise cake.
More Cakes You’ll Enjoy
Serving Size
- What to Expect: This chocolate mayonnaise cake recipe makes one 9×9 cake that serves an average of 12 people.
- How to Scale: If you want to make a larger cake, double the recipe to make a 9×13 cake and follow the rest of the instructions as directed. Make sure your mixing bowl is large enough to handle the increased quantity of ingredients. If not, you can mix the ingredients in two batches to get the same delicious results.
Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
Ingredients
Cake:
- 1 Cup Mayonnaise
- 1 Cup Hot Water (not boiling)
- 2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 5 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
Frosting:
- 1 Cup Butter melted
- ⅔ Cup Cocoa Powder
- 3 Cups Powdered Sugar
- ⅓ Cup Milk
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
Instructions
Cake Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350˚ F and grease a 9×9 square baking pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise and hot water. Stir in the remaining ingredients until well incorporated. Add to square baking pan.
- Bake in 350˚ F preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick entered into the center comes out clean and the edges are just starting to pull away from the sides. Let the cake fully cool.
Frosting Instructions:
- Melt the butter and stir in the cocoa powder. Add the powdered sugar and milk alternating between each beating until the desired tendency. If you need it to be thinner, add a little bit of milk. Spread onto a cooled cake.
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