What is buttermilk? Is there a substitute for buttermilk?
Buttermilk is necessary for this recipe. It has to do with the way it interacts with other ingredients. Buttermilk is the liquid leftover after churning butter. Check out my more in depth post about how to make buttermilk substitute.
Can I make this a dairy free chocolate cake recipe?
Yes! Add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar to almond or soy milk. Let stand 5 minutes and use in place of the buttermilk. For the frosting, use a dairy free frosting option.
Can I make this a gluten-free chocolate cake recipe?
Yes! Use “Cup for Cup” gluten-free flour blend in this recipe in the same amounts.
Can I make this an eggless chocolate cake recipe?
Yes! There are several options that work well when substituting for eggs in this recipe.
- 1/4 cup of plain yogurt per egg
- 1 tablespoon vinegar+ 1 teaspoon baking powder whisked together per egg
- 1/4 cup mashed banana per egg
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce per egg
Can I make this recipe into only two layers? Can I make this recipe in a 9×13 pan?
Yes you can, for both you’ll need to divide the recipe by 2/3rds. I realize that there are 4 eggs in this recipe so that’s the hard part. Just use 3 eggs.
What kind of cocoa powder did you use?
I used Hershey’s Unsweetened Cocoa Powder in order to use a brand that is most widely available to my readers. I’m also fond of using higher quality cocoa powders like Ghiradelli’s or cocoa powders from specialty chocolatier shops, but those are pretty pricey. I don’t recommend using cheap store brands.
How did you get your frosting so dark?
I used half Hershey’s Special Dark Unsweetened Cocoa powder to achieve the dark looking frosting.
If you like this recipe, be sure to check out my other amazing cake recipes:
- The Most Amazing White Cake
- The Most Amazing Vanilla Cake Recipe
- The Most Amazing Red Velvet Cake
- Funfetti Birthday Cake
Watch the video below where Rachel will walk you through every step of this recipe. Sometimes it helps to have a visual, and we’ve always got you covered with our cooking show. You can find the complete collection of recipes on YouTube, Facebook Watch, or our Facebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes.
