Moist chocolate cake for layer cake
Moist chocolate cake for layer cake is a medium French recipe that serves 8. 250 calories per serving. Recipe by Once upon a time pastry on YouTube.
Prep: 35 min | Cook: 1 hr 5 min | Total: 1 hr 55 min
Cost: $5.78 total, $0.72 per serving
Ingredients
- 150 g All-purpose flour (Sift with cocoa)
- 50 g Unsweetened cocoa powder (Sift with flour)
- 1 pinch Salt
- 1 teaspoon Baking soda
- 150 g Unsalted butter (Very soft, at room temperature)
- 200 g Granulated sugar
- 60 ml Grape seed oil (Does not have a pronounced taste)
- 3 units Egg yolks
- 200 ml Fermented milk (buttermilk) (Gives exceptional moistness)
- 1 teaspoon White vinegar (Activates the baking soda, no residual taste)
- 100 g Dark chocolate chips (Add at the end of the preparation)
- 3 units Egg whites (Whisk to stiff peaks)
- 40 g Sugar (for syrup) (Optional, to moisten the layers)
- 40 ml Water (for syrup) (Optional)
Instructions
Sift the dry ingredients
In a large bowl, sift the flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, salt and baking soda together to avoid lumps.
Time: PT5M
Cream the butter and sugar
In another bowl, beat the soft butter with the granulated sugar until the mixture becomes pale and fluffy.
Time: PT5M
Incorporate the oil
Add the grape seed oil to the butter‑sugar mixture and whisk briefly to homogenize.
Time: PT1M
Add the egg yolks
Pour the three egg yolks one by one, beating between each addition to fully incorporate them.
Time: PT2M
Mix half of the dry mixture
Fold in half of the reserved dry mixture, mixing until no flour traces remain.
Time: PT2M
Add the fermented milk
Pour the fermented milk (buttermilk) and mix gently until a homogeneous batter is obtained.
Time: PT1M
Incorporate the remaining dry, the vinegar and the chips
Add the remaining dry mixture, the teaspoon of white vinegar and the chocolate chips. Mix quickly.
Time: PT2M
Whip the egg whites
In a clean bowl, whisk the three egg whites until stiff peaks form.
Time: PT5M
Fold in the whipped egg whites
Add the whipped egg whites to the batter in three additions, folding gently with a spatula, lifting the mass from the bottom up.
Time: PT5M
Prepare the pans and preheat the oven
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Generously spray the three 15 cm pans with the greasing spray.
Time: PT5M
Temperature: 180°C
Divide the batter into the pans
Divide the batter into three equal parts and pour them into the prepared pans. Smooth the top with the spatula.
Time: PT2M
Bake the first disc
Bake the first pan for 20 minutes.
Time: PT20M
Temperature: 180°C
Bake the second disc
Repeat the bake with the second pan for 20 minutes.
Time: PT20M
Temperature: 180°C
Bake the third disc
Repeat the bake with the third pan for 20 minutes.
Time: PT20M
Temperature: 180°C
Cool the discs
Let the cakes cool in the pans for 5 minutes, then unmold onto a rack and let cool completely (about 25 minutes).
Time: PT30M
Prepare the syrup (optional)
Bring 40 g sugar with 40 ml water to a boil for 2 minutes, then let cool.
Time: PT5M
Temperature: 100°C
Assemble the layer cake
Stack the three discs alternating with the filling of your choice (ganache, mousseline cream, jam, etc.). If you prepared the syrup, brush each disc before adding the filling.
Time: PT10M
Nutrition Facts
- Calories
- 250
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbohydrates
- 30 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Fiber
- 2 g
Dietary info: vegetarian, contains gluten, contains dairy, low-calorie
Allergens: gluten, milk, eggs, soy (in chocolate chips)
Last updated: April 7, 2026






