Simple One Pan Chocolate Cake Recipe

This cake is so simple as you make it in the baking pan so there is no mess to clean up. Just mix it, bake it and frost it! A wonderful cake for when you are in a hurry to prepare a delicious dessert.

Ingredients

Cake:
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup cold water
1/3 cup canola or vegetable oil
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Quick Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 to 1 Tablespoon heavy cream or cream (or milk)

Optional Chocolate Drizzle:
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions

Cake:

Preheat the oven to 350F.

Have ready an 8-inch square baking pan.

Place the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt into the pan and stir to combine the ingredients.

Add the water, oil, vinegar and vanilla to the dry ingredients and stir with a fork or whisk to combine. Smooth out the batter.

Place into the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.

Remove from the oven and place onto a cooling rack.

Once completely cooled, frost.

Frosting:

Place the confectioners' sugar and butter into a small mixing bowl and using an electric mixer beat until combined. Add the vanilla and beat in. Add 1/2 tablespoon of cream and beat in. You want a nice spreading consistency. If you need more cream, then add and beat in.

Chocolate Drizzle:

In a small double boiler on low heat, melt the chocolate chips until smooth. Remove from heat and let cool a little then place into a piping bag and drizzle onto the iced cake.

Note: you can also use a baggie with a small tip cut off the corner to form a piping bag.

Assembly:

Spread the frosting on the cake.

Pipe on the chocolate garnish if desired.