If you’re looking for a delicious chocolate cake for beginner bakers — this is it. This easy-to-make cake is moist and rich and made even more decadent topped with a chocolatey buttercream frosting.

Ingredients:

For the cake:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg, at room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup hot coffee or hot water

For the frosting:

• 1/2 cup salted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 cups icing sugar
• 1/4 cup whipping cream

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350F and grease an eight-inch round baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
3. Add in the oil, egg, vanilla and buttermilk. Mix until fully combined.
4. Slowly pour in the hot coffee or water and mix until smooth.
5. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in centre of cake comes out clean. Cool cake completely on wire rack before frosting.
6. For the frosting: Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler (or a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water) until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly.
7. Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a handheld mixer, whip the butter until light and fluffy. This should take about five minutes.
8. Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly add in the powdered sugar, scraping down the sides of the bowl often.
9. Add in the whipping cream and beat until fully incorporated.
10. Next, slowly pour in the melted chocolate chips. Beat frosting on high speed until light and fluffy — about eight to ten minutes.
11. Use an offset spatula to frost cooled cake.