This chocolate bundt cake is so supremely chocolatey and decadent. It’s beautifully soft and fudgy, with a delectably moist crumb, too. Perhaps best of all, it’s really easy to make! Want to unleash an indulgent dessert that’s sure to inspire your friends? Read on!

Chocolate Bundt Cake with Ganache Topping
Just about everybody loves chocolate. Just about everybody loves cake. It’s no wonder that chocolate cake is such a surefire hit! This chocolate cake is covered in an absolutely irresistible melted chocolate ganache glaze. It’s a phenomenal treat with plenty of chocolatey goodness to go around. It’s definitely better than anything you can get at the store!

We’re loading up our cake with a rich, flavorful power trio of cocoa, butter, and sour cream. It’s a decadent, layered, experience all designed to give you the perfect slice of a delicious cake.
The cake’s medium amount of density and high moisture in every single bite is an experience you just have to try. No dry crumbs here!
The topping for this cake is amazingly easy, too, and it only needs three ingredients. You don’t even need to wait that long for the cake to cool before you ice it.

Chocolate Bundt Cake Recipe Ingredients
Our chocolate bundt cake demands a few important ingredients.
- All purpose flour: We recommend unbleached all purpose flour for this recipe, as the cake won’t get as high of a rise with bleached flour.
- Granulated sugar: We’re using quite a bit, but this is a dessert, right? If you can’t go overboard with sugar for a decadent dessert, what’s the point? You can reduce the quantity a little, but not too much. That will make the cocoa too strong, and your cake won’t be as tender.
- We’re using baking soda and baking powder to help give the cake a lift.
- Salt: It is so important to baking the perfect chocolate bundt cake. Don’t forget it because without the salt the cake tastes really flat and lifeless. You’ll need quite a bit because of the quantity of sugar and chocolate in this recipe.
- Butter: We’re using unsalted butter for this recipe, but salted butter is OK too. You’ll just need to remove salt from the recipe as each stick of salted butter has a quarter teaspoon of salt in it.
- We’re using warm coffee water to help the chocolate flavors really bloom.
- Cocoa powder: We’re using unsweetened cocoa powder for this recipe.
- Sour cream is important to the taste and texture of this cake. However, if you don’t have any, Greek yogurt is just fine as a substitute.
- Eggs work as our binder for this recipe. Definitely use the eggs as recommended to help your cake rise and maintain structural integrity.
- Vegetable oil helps to make the cake super moist.
- Vanilla extract is for the best results in this recipe.
- Bittersweet or semisweet chocolate is best for this recipe. Use semisweet if you prefer a less intense chocolate flavor.
- Finally, heavy cream is important to this recipe’s consistency. It also helps prevent the chocolate from rehardening.

How to Make Chocolate Bundt Cake Batter
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- Prepare your bundt pan. This requires that you spray a 12 – 15 cup non-stick bundt cake pan with non stick cooking spray with flour .
- Now it’s time to whisk your dry ingredients. Get a medium mixing bowl, and in it whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set the dry mixture aside.
- In the bowl of your electric mixer with the paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer, beat butter until smooth. Gradually add the sugar, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes.
- Add in the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

- Combine vanilla, sour cream, coffee and oil in a measuring cup.
- With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture, in three additions, altering with coffee mixture. Mix just until incorporated.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the cake pan for 15 minutes. Then remove the cake from the pan to finish cooling.

Chocolate Ganache For Bundt Cake
- Now it’s time to make your ganache topping. Place your chocolate in a medium sized heat-proof mixing bowl.
- Add hot cream to the chocolate in the mixing bowl. Heat your heavy cream in a small saucepan on the stove or in a bowl in your microwave, until it is just simmering. Pour the hot heavy cream over the chocolate, submerging the chocolate if you need to do so. Add in butter.
- First let this mixture rest for four minutes, then stir it until it is melted through and smooth.
- The final step is to pour the ganache over the cake. Be sure to get an even covering. Let the cake cool slightly.

Tools You’ll Need
- You’ll need (of course) a good quality bundt pan. A non stick coating and quality construction are important for a good pan that you can keep forever.
- We love using an electric hand mixer such as a kitchen aid for making bundt cake. Quality hand mixers are typically quieter and more reliable than poorer quality ones.

Storage and Freezing
- Store this cake, covered, at room temperature for 3 days, or in the fridge for 5 days.
- Bundt cake actually freezes really well. You can keep the topping off until ready to serve, rather than freezing the ganache, so it looks prettier when serving time comes.
- Always let your cake cool to room temperature before storing.
- You can freeze the cake in an airtight container for up to three months. You can also wrap it in foil before storing in the container.
- When you’re ready to serve, thaw in the fridge or on the counter.
Chocolate Bundt Cake Variations
- You can always top the cake with a different topping. Chocolate buttercream frosting, and chocolate cream cheese frosting, are interesting variations on the theme with a distinctively different flavor.
- You can spruce up your bundt cake by sprinkling it with chopped walnuts or pecans.
- You can leave the ganache out and pair your cake with caramel sauce, ice cream or both!
- You can bake your cake as mini pound cakes, or even as large ones. The baking time will be more like 20 minutes.

Bundt Cake Tips
- Use a kitchen scale to measure your ingredients for the most accurate results.
- A good non stick pan is absolutely essential to a good bundt cake. Cake sticking to the pan is always disappointing.
- Always coat the inside of your pan with non-stick cooking spray with flour to help make sure your cake won’t stick and break.
- It’s best to use room temperature ingredients so they can blend together well, allowing your cake to rise easily.
- Take care not to overcook your cake as this will dry it out.
- Inverting the bundt cake too soon (or too late) can be disastrous. Too early and the cake can break, too late and it will be steamy, with the moisture sticking the cake to the pan.
- Be sure to serve your cake at room temperature for the best texture.
- When making your ganache, chop your chocolate finely so it can melt through.
Other Cake Recipes to Try!!!

If you make this recipe be sure to leave a comment or give this recipe a rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! I will be happy to hear from you!
Chocolate Bundt Cake
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Bundt Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 cups granulated white sugar
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cup warm coffee or water
- ⅓ cup sour cream at room temperature
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- A cooking spray with flour for coating and dusting the pan
Chocolate Ganache Glaze:
- 6 ounces semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate
- ⅔ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon butter softened
Instructions
The Chocolate Bundt Cake
- Preheat your oven to 350F. Butter a 12-cup bundt pan and dust with flour. Alternatively, use a cooking spray with flour like Baker's Joy spray with flour.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Keep aside.
- In the bowl of your electric mixer with the paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer, beat butter until smooth. Gradually add the sugar, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes.
- Add in the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Combine vanilla, sour cream, coffee and oil in a measuring cup.
- With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture, in three additions, altering with coffee mixture. Mix just until incorporated.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the cake pan for 15 minutes. Then remove the cake from the pan to finish cooling.
The Chocolate Glaze
- Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl.
- Microwave the cream until boiling, about 30-50 seconds on high. Pour over the chocolate, add in the butter and let stand for 5-10 minutes without stirring. Then whisk until smooth.
- Pour the ganache over the cake , letting it drip down the sides. Allow the ganache to set for 1 hour before slicing.
- Store this cake, covered, at room temperature for 3 days, or in the fridge for 5 days.
Notes
Bundt Cake Tips
Use a kitchen scale to measure your ingredients for the most accurate results. A good non stick pan is absolutely essential to a good bundt cake. Cake sticking to the pan is always disappointing. Always coat the inside of your pan with non-stick cooking spray and a little butter and flour to help make sure your cake won’t stick and break. It’s best to use room temperature ingredients so they can blend together well, allowing your cake to rise easily. Take care not to overcook your cake as this will dry it out. Inverting the bundt cake too soon (or too late) can be disastrous. Too early and the cake can break, too late and it will be steamy, with the moisture sticking the cake to the pan. Be sure to serve your cake at room temperature for the best texture. When making your ganache, chop your chocolate finely so it can melt through.Nutrition
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Rebecca says
This recipe came out perfect and my family and I loved it!
chefjar says
Thank you for sharing your experience! I am glad you and your family liked this Bundt cake recipe.
Richarda says
Simple and scrumptious cake. This has been my go to recipe and it never disappoints! My daughter and I love it.
chefjar says
I am happy to hear that Richarda! This chocolate Bundt cake is seriously fantastic. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate it! Tatiana 🙂
Connor says
This cake turned out moist, chocolaty and with just the right amount of sweetness. HUGE hit with the wife and kids.
chefjar says
Thank you, Connor! I am glad you liked this Bundt cake. -Tatiana 🙂
Jemima says
This cake recipe is simple yet so delicious. I put a homemade chocolate icing on it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on it.
chefjar says
I am happy to hear that Jemima! Ice cream is a great addition. Yum!!Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate it! Tatiana 🙂
Maurice says
I've made this cake several times now and it's reliably wonderful, super moist and rich with lots of chocolaty flavor. It's always a big hit!
chefjar says
Thank you, Maurice! I am glad you enjoyed it!
Carla says
This is my go to cake recipe. It’s simple, delicious and easy for beginners!
chefjar says
Hey Carla! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate it! Tatiana 🙂
Elias says
Easy to make and was a big hit with the family. It came out nice and fluffy, I topped it with whipped cream. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
chefjar says
Hey Elias! Thank you for your feedback! I am glad you liked it!
Wendy says
Perfect recipe for me. Flavorful, moist and pleasantly sweet. It was a hit with my hubby and kids. Will definitely be making this cake again.
chefjar says
That's great to hear Wendy ! I'm glad your family enjoyed the cake, and it's always a good sign when a recipe is worth making again. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Louise says
I’ve made this several times now and it is loved by everyone in the family. It’s chocolaty, moist and has a great rise.I recommend this recipe and following the technique closely.
chefjar says
Great to hear that this bundt cake has become a family favorite! I'm glad to hear that the recipe turned out well for you and that the end result was chocolaty and moist.
Crissy says
My family loved it, especially the kids. This is definitely a recipe I’m printing out!
chefjar says
Awesome! I'm so glad to hear that your family loved it, especially the kids. That's always a great feeling when a recipe is well received by the whole family. Printing out the recipe is a great idea, so you can easily make it again and again. Enjoy!
Pam says
I must be the only one who doesn't know - what is coffee water? I have often seen brewed coffee used in recipes - is that what this means? Cake sounds great!
chefjar says
Hi, Pam! Yes, "coffee water" typically refers to brewed coffee when used in recipes. It's just another way of mentioning the liquid form of coffee after it's been brewed, and it's often used to add a rich, deep flavor to dishes, especially in baking.
Carolyn says
Wonderful cake! Delicious and chocolate flavor with moist crumb. I've marked as a favorite.
Tatiana says
Hi Carolyn! So glad you loved it! Nothing beats a rich, chocolatey cake with the perfect texture. Appreciate you taking the time to share—hope you enjoy it again and again!