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    Home » Recipes » Dessert » Cakes

    Chocolate Bundt Cake

    Published by Melissa on January 27, 2023 | Updated January 30, 2023 | 101 Comments

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    Chocolate Bundt Cake is a rich, dense, super-moist dessert that is drizzled with chocolate ganache. Cakes made in bundt pans seem already dressed up for a party. via @barbarabakesChocolate Bundt Cake is a rich, dense, super-moist dessert that is drizzled with chocolate ganache. Cakes made in bundt pans seem already dressed up for a party. via @barbarabakesChocolate Bundt Cake is a rich, dense, super-moist dessert that is drizzled with chocolate ganache. Cakes made in bundt pans seem already dressed up for a party. via @barbarabakesChocolate Bundt Cake is a rich, dense, super-moist dessert that is drizzled with chocolate ganache. Cakes made in bundt pans seem already dressed up for a party. via @barbarabakes

    Chocolate Bundt Cake A rich, dense, super-moist, sweet chocolate bundt cake drizzled with chocolate ganache. Cakes made in bundt pans seem already dressed up for a party.

    The really MVP of this recipe is the sour cream. I added sour cream to this chocolate bundt cake and it turned out to be super moist and extra delicious. Highly recommend!

    side view of the chocolate bundt cake with dripping ganache down the sides

    Chocolate Bundt Cake

    I love that bundt cakes are easy to make and they taste delicious. They make a perfect dessert for any occasion. I have served this cake for birthdays, holidays and even for a dessert on Sunday. There is really no wrong time to serve a chocolate dessert in my opinion.

    If you are new to baking bundt cakes, it is imperative that you coat the inside of the pan with a non-stick cooking spray. There are few things worse than tearing a beautiful bundt cake because it got stuck to the pan. 

    top view of the chocolate bundt cake

    Ingredients

    • Butter
    • Cocoa powder
    • Salt
    • Flour
    • Sugar
    • Sour Cream
    • Eggs
    • Heavy cream

    Recipe Instructions

    1. This is such an easy cake! Start by spraying your pan with baking spray with flour, this helps the cake to not stick.
    2. Combine the butter cocoa, salt, and water and heat it to melt the butter.
    3. Add the flour and sugar together and stir it into the melted butter mixture.
    4. Add the eggs and and combine. Add the sour cream and combine.
    5. Bake.
    6. Let it cool and top with a simple homemade glaze.
    7. Enjoy!
    close up of of pieces of the chocolate bundt cake served up on plates

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Do bundt cakes freeze well?

    Bundt cakes do really well in the freezer. I usually bake the bundt cake, let it cool and then store it in an airtight container up to 3 months in the freezer. When I am ready to eat the bundt cake, I simple thaw on the counter and then add the frosting.

    What is the difference from Bundt cake and cake?

    The biggest difference between a bundt cake and just a cake is the pan that is used to bake them in. A bundt cake pan is shaped like a donut with a hole in the center. The edges of the pan are fluted. Whereas regular cakes are just made in a typical cake pan. 

    Why is it called a Bundt cake?

    Bundt cake comes from the German word “bundkucken” which is translated to “a cake for a gathering.” Bundt cakes really live up to the definition. 

    Should you remove a Bundt cake from the pan hot or cold?

    After you have removed the cake from the oven, let it cool for a few minutes before removing from the pan. If you remove the bundt cake while it is too hot you run the risk of tearing the cake. 

    whole chocolate bundt cake with ganache chocolate sauce dripping down the sides

    More Recipes

    • Chocolate Bundt Cake with a Cream Cheese Swirl
    • The Best Ever Coconut Bundt Cake
    • High Altitude Classic Vanilla Bundt Cake
    • Lemon Bliss Bundt Cake

    If you’ve tried this Chocolate Bundt Cake or any other recipe on Barbara Bakes, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some pictures of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories.

    side view of the chocolate bundt cake with dripping ganache down the sides
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
    4.37 from 30 votes

    Chocolate Bundt Cake

    Prep Time25 minutes mins
    Cook Time50 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Course: Cakes
    Keyword: baking, Chocolate, Dessert, food, recipe
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 318kcal
    Author: Melissa Griffiths
    Prevent your screen from going to sleep

    Ingredients

    Cake

    • 1 cup unsalted butter
    • ¼ cup cocoa powder
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 cup water
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 ⅔ cup granulated sugar
    • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
    • 2 large egg
    • ½ cup sour cream
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

    Glaze

    • 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate finely chopped (I used half milk half semi-sweet chocolate)
    • 2 tablespoons corn syrup or honey or agave
    • ⅓ cup heavy cream
    • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

    Instructions

    • Preheat to 350º F. Spray a 12-cup Bundt pan with baking spray with flour and set aside. (You can also use butter and flour, but I've had better luck with bundt pans well coated with baking spray with flour.)
    • In a small saucepan, combine the butter, cocoa powder, salt, and water and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, just until melted and combined. Remove from the heat and set aside.
    • Combined the flour, sugar, and baking soda in a mixing bowl. Add half of the melted butter/chocolate mixture and mix until blended (it will be very thick). Mix in the remaining butter mixture. Add the eggs. Mix in the sour cream and vanilla until smooth.
    • Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 50-60 minutes.
    • Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes and then invert onto a rack. Let cool completely before making the glaze.

    For the Glaze:

    • Put the chopped chocolate and corn syrup in a medium bowl and set aside.
    • Combine the heavy cream and sugar in a small saucepan, cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the cream is hot and steaming and the sugar is dissolved.
    • Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. If it’s very runny, let it sit for a minute or so to thicken. Drizzle over the cake.

    Notes

    • If the glaze is too thick to drizzle, you can add cream, a tablespoon at a time and stir to combine until it’s a workable consistency. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 318kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 372mg | Potassium: 105mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 201IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 2mg
    close up of chocolate bundt cake with glaze

    Chocolate Bundt Cake is such a treat! It is rich, moist and will leave you wanting seconds of this delicious, decadent dessert. 

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    « Chocolate Glazed Yeast Donuts
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    about us

    About Melissa & Barbara

    As of June 2022 Melissa Griffiths now is the one adding recipes. So think of it as Barbara Bakes, and Melissa too! Melissa and Barbara have been blogging friends for over 10 years and when Barbara was ready to retire and spend more time with her family, Melissa took over the site. Read more...

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Susan

      January 29, 2023 at 7:22 pm

      Is it one cup or one stick? Two different amounts

      Reply
      • Melissa Griffiths

        January 30, 2023 at 8:10 am

        Just fixed it! So sorry, it’s 1 cup total or 2 sticks

        Reply
    2. Phyllis Geren

      January 29, 2023 at 5:12 pm

      In the chocolate Bundt cake, you say to use 1 cup 1 stick of butter. I’m confused. Do you mean 1 cup plus 1 stick butter?please clarify for me. Thanks.

      Reply
      • Melissa Griffiths

        January 30, 2023 at 8:10 am

        Just fixed it! So sorry, it’s 1 cup total or 2 sticks

        Reply
    3. Sharlana

      January 29, 2023 at 4:38 pm

      Am I reading the recipe correctly, that you are using 3 sticks ( 1 1/2 cups) of butter in the cake batter ? Just want to make sure before I try it. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Melissa Griffiths

        January 30, 2023 at 8:10 am

        Just fixed it! So sorry, it’s 1 cup total or 2 sticks

        Reply
    4. KATHY

      January 29, 2023 at 1:59 pm

      I would like to make this but am confused about the amount of butter. The list of ingredients call for 1 cup 1 stick. Is that 1 cup + 1 stick (3 sticks total)?

      Reply
      • Melissa Griffiths

        January 30, 2023 at 8:10 am

        Just fixed it! So sorry, it’s 1 cup total or 2 sticks

        Reply
    5. Abi

      November 21, 2021 at 2:19 pm

      Just made this today, and it was delicious!! Thank you so much for the recipe.

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        November 21, 2021 at 5:14 pm

        Great – thanks for the great review Abi!

        Reply
    6. Supriya

      May 28, 2021 at 1:23 am

      I made this yesterday and the flavour was incredible! Thank you for this recipe. I did rush to unmould it so it cracked a bit. Next time I’ll leave it in the pan a little longer and try. I’m going to make it again over the weekend with a white chocolate ganache for the contrast!

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        May 28, 2021 at 3:52 am

        Glad to hear you love it. That sounds like a great way to serve it. Enjoy!

        Reply
    7. Kathy Perticarini

      May 16, 2021 at 6:39 pm

      I have made the Bundt cake several times and is the most moist cake I have tasted. Would I be able to use this recipe to make a 9×13 cake with it. If so how long would I bake it and at what temp.  I want to make the cake for my husband’s birthday gathering. 

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        May 16, 2021 at 8:50 pm

        Hi Kathy – it should work well in a 9×13 pan – double the ingredients and cook it about 35 minutes until it starts to pull away from the sides of the pan, bounces back when gently pressed and has an internal temperature of about 210 degrees F. Let me know how it goes 🙂

        Reply
    8. TJ Bruno

      April 29, 2021 at 5:34 pm

      Hi Barbara,

      I can’t seem to find any recipes for 6 inch bundt pans. Six cup pans are too large for a bake sale and the minis are too small. How would you adjust your recipe (or any recipe for that matter) for a 6 inch bundt pan? I may try this in my 6 inch pans and see how it goes, but would love your input.

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        April 29, 2021 at 9:33 pm

        Hi TJ – I haven’t made it in 6-inch pans but it should work well. Fill the pans 2/3’s full and cook it until the cake pulls away for the edges of the pan and springs back when lightly pressed. If you have an instant-read thermometer, it should have an internal temperature of about 200° F. Let me know how it goes.

        Reply
    9. Josephine Mullane

      March 25, 2021 at 5:53 am

      This is, by far, the best recipe for a Chocolate Cake. I have made a LOT of cakes in my 80 years of living (including the 13 cakes for my daughter’s wedding) but this recipe was the easiest to follow with ‘absolutely fabulous’ results. Question: can this recipe be doubled? Thank you.

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        March 25, 2021 at 6:05 am

        Thanks so much Josephine! Yes, you can double this recipe and make two 6 cup bundts or a standard size 12 cup bundt cake.

        Reply
        • Josephine Mullane

          March 25, 2021 at 5:01 pm

          Thank you very much.

          Reply
    10. Jackie Stafford

      June 21, 2020 at 12:30 pm

      Do you have a recipe for a lemon Bundt cake?  (6 cup size). I’m tired of chocolate!

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        June 21, 2020 at 12:59 pm

        Hi Jackie – for a 6 cup bundt, divide this recipe in half https://www.barbarabakes.com/lemon-bliss-bundt-cake/ and use about a 20 minute cook time. Enjoy!

        Reply
        • Jackie

          June 22, 2020 at 12:16 pm

          Thank you so much for the lemon bundt recipe.  On the menu for this weekend!

          Reply
    11. Crystal Staley

      February 18, 2019 at 1:58 pm

      Thanks for a wonderful chocolate bundt cake recipe that worked perfectly in my smaller heart shaped bundt cake pan (Wilton) for Valentine’s Day! I just emailed you a photo of the yummy cake I made in the heart pan with your recipe. My whole family loved it!

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        February 18, 2019 at 6:45 pm

        How fun to make a heart shaped cake for Valentine’s Day! Thanks for sharing Crystal. Glad it was a hit.

        Reply
    12. Kathryn Ahmed

      August 28, 2018 at 1:15 pm

      Barbara….did you Dutch processed cocoa or natural?

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        August 28, 2018 at 1:27 pm

        Hi Kathryn – my favorite cocoa that I almost always use is King Arthur Flour’s triple blend https://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/triple-cocoa-blend-16-oz?gclid=CjwKCAjw5ZPcBRBkEiwA-avvk5Al5cYTW6_7_8UQMya_jKe-uWO-hAYVISDOcD44ZY5rGBgCGOB3ZRoCL44QAvD_BwE It is a blend of three cocoas, so it works in any recipe. Otherwise, I would use natural cocoa in this recipe.

        Reply
    13. Jody Spar

      May 20, 2018 at 1:43 pm

      Barbara, would the baking time be any different if I made this in the mini bundt pans?

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        May 20, 2018 at 1:48 pm

        Hi Jody – yes, depending on the size of the mini bundt pans? Are they the size of a cupcake? Do they have a hole in the center?

        Reply
    14. Sam

      January 25, 2014 at 9:16 am

      Hi Barbara! Awesome pics. Are the measurements listed correct? The directions seem to be a bit misleading… 1 cups of flour, add one egg at a time but your ingredient lists only one egg. My cake didn’t come out quite right and I’m thinking it may be either the amount of flour or eggs.

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        January 25, 2014 at 9:26 am

        Hi Sam – sorry your cake didn’t come out quite right. Were you using a half sized bundt pan? I checked the recipe against the original and the ingredients listed are correct for a half sized bundt. I did forget to eliminate the add the eggs “one at a time” reference when I halved the recipe – I’ve made that change in the recipe now. Thanks!

        Reply
    15. angela@spinachtiger

      March 20, 2012 at 6:45 pm

      Barbara I made this cake tonight for my neighbors. I was bringing dinner as her husband broke his leg. SO GOOD. AND fast, since I started cooking at 3:30 and hadn’t even thought of dessert. I also put some in individual bundt pan, a real cute way to do a dinner party.

      Reply
      • Barbara

        March 21, 2012 at 6:20 am

        Hi Angela – thanks for letting me know you made and liked the cake. So sweet of you to take dinner to your neighbor.

        Reply
    16. Kellie

      January 30, 2012 at 5:20 pm

      OK so I start by reading your recipe for applesauce, I’m a huge proponent of raw foods and then I see you Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake and I can’t help but click and comment 🙂

      Reply
    17. Asmita

      January 30, 2012 at 10:25 am

      Hi Barbara,
      The cakes look awesome! I love the idea of baking it in individual pans. I am totally craving the chocolate -peanut butter cake. Yummy!!!

      Reply
    18. Tina @ Babycakes Blog

      January 29, 2012 at 10:21 am

      Oh, wow! Both of those cakes look so amazing! I have not seen the half size bundt pans, I have a nice pampered chef bundt pan, but I hardly ever use it, probably because it is way too big! I also have a cute mini bundt type pan and I use that way more often. I might have to try the Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake in that pan sometime.

      Reply
    19. Traci

      January 26, 2012 at 6:32 pm

      This is absolutely beautiful! Happy Birthday!

      Reply
    20. zazacook

      January 25, 2012 at 6:46 pm

      Your pictures are very beautiful. It looks great to taste 😀

      Reply
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