Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Icing

Here’s a simple, moist single-layer chocolate cake with a rich chocolate icing—perfect for a small gathering or when you don’t want leftovers.

🍫 Single-Layer Chocolate Cake (8- or 9-inch)

Ingredients

Cake

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup granulated sugar

¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

½ cup water

¼ cup vegetable oil

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp white vinegar (don’t worry—you won’t taste it!)

Chocolate Icing

¼ cup butter

¼ cup milk

¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

Pinch of salt (optional)

🧁 Instructions

Make the Cake

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8- or 9-inch round cake pan.

In a bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.

Add water, oil, vanilla, and vinegar. Mix until smooth.

Pour into prepared pan.

Bake 30–35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool completely.

Make the Chocolate Icing

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter.

Whisk in cocoa powder and milk until smooth.

Remove from heat and whisk in powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt.

Beat until smooth and spreadable (add a splash of milk if needed).

🎂 Finish

Spread icing over the cooled cake. The icing will set slightly with a soft, fudgy finish.

Optional Add-Ons

Sprinkle with chocolate shavings or sprinkles

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream

Add a pinch of espresso powder to the cake for deeper chocolate flavor