Plowing Through Life

The Best Rich and Moist Chocolate Cake

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Are you craving a delicious chocolate cake?  This is the BEST rich and moist chocolate cake from a box mix that is unbelievably EASY to make!  This is a bakery quality cake that anyone can make at home with common ingredients!  #chocolatecake #easycake

This chocolate cake is super moist because it is made with pudding and sour cream.  A cup and a half (or a bag if you really like chocolate) of semi-sweet chocolate chips add the rich flavor.  The combination of all of these ingredients is truly unforgettable and very popular on Pinterest.

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Are you craving a delicious chocolate cake?  This is the BEST rich and moist chocolate cake from a box mix that is unbelievably EASY to make!  This is a bakery quality cake that anyone can make at home with common ingredients!  #chocolatecake #easycake

Family Drama Chocolate Cake

This is a secret recipe that was stolen from my mother-in-law’s kitchen.  She was sworn never to give the recipe away.  Being a woman of her word she didn’t.  I hope I never forget the day my husband was looking for something in the kitchen and he found this recipe.  Joe took a picture with his phone and quickly texted, “Write this down.  FAST!”  And I’m thinking, “I know we shouldn’t cross our mamas, but can she really make the text on MY phone disappear?”

We couldn’t tell her for the longest time that we had the recipe.  Then a few years passed and the small town restaurant that supposedly shared the recipe closed, so I think it’s safe to share with you.

This is my favorite kind of family drama, the only acceptable kind.  Drama that isn’t really drama at all.  It’s the stuff we can laugh about.  Well we laugh about it, and my mother-in-law has a good sense of humor, so I hope she does too!

piece of super moist chocolate cake with chocolate icing on a white plate in front of 9x13 pan of cake

The Best Chocolate Birthday Cake

This cake is almost always requested at family birthday parties.  And Joe comes from a big family so there’s a lot of birthday parties which means a lot of the best chocolate cake ever!

Faith, family, farming and food are big in my husband’s family.  All the prerequisites for a great relationship!  I’m so grateful for the values that Joe’s family has instilled in him.  He has carried these values into our family and our marriage!

I consider it a privilege to be a guest at birthday parties where 21 members of the immediate family including spouses and kids gather to celebrate.  My mother-in-law is the youngest of ten kids and they have lived respectable and frugal lives.  Birthdays were big in her childhood and she carried the tradition of getting to choose your birthday meal on with her kids.

Simple family traditions are so valuable.  My husband just said this week (in January) that he would like to get marinated pork chops from a local meat market for his birthday in April.  Cheers to the time and effort to create traditions that are special.

Are you craving a delicious chocolate cake?  This is the BEST rich and moist chocolate cake from a box mix that is unbelievably EASY to make!  This is a bakery quality cake that anyone can make at home with common ingredients!  #chocolatecake #easycake

Tips for Making Easy Moist Chocolate Cake

  • Mix ingredients very well before adding chocolate chips
  • Be careful not to add liquids to pudding mix only as it can begin to set up like pudding
  • The pudding makes this cake so moist, but it also means the cake takes longer than normal to bake
  • Baking times vary, so I use a toothpick to test the cake a couple times to prevent burning
  • After removing cake from the oven cover with a piece of foil to help hold in ALL of the moisture – this is key to keeping a super moist cake
  • Cake can be made in two 9 inch pans or in a 9 x 13-inch pan
  • I always use store bought icing to save time, but feel free to make homemade icing

How to Make Moist Chocolate Cake

  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease a 9 x 13-inch pan; 2 – 9 inch round pans can also be used.
  2. Mix all ingredients except chocolate chips well.
  3. Gently fold in chips and pour into greased pan.
  4. Bake for 30 – 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Here are a few other of our favorite cake recipes to make for birthdays, special occasions and everyday desserts.  We hope you enjoy these cakes as much as we do!

Printable Recipe for the Best Rich and Moist Chocolate Cake

Square piece of super moist chocolate cake, covered in chocolate icing on a white plate
4.8 from 5 votes
Print

The Best Rich and Moist Chocolate Cake

Are you craving a delicious chocolate cake?  This is the BEST rich and moist chocolate cake from a box mix that is unbelievably EASY to make!  This is a bakery quality cake that anyone can make at home with common ingredients!  #chocolatecake #easycake

Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword The Best Rich and Moist Chocolate Cake
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 15 pieces
Calories 361 kcal
Author Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life

Ingredients

  • 1 box Devil's food cake mix
  • 1 small package instant chocolate pudding
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup warm water
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 x 13 inch pan.

  2. Mix all ingredients except chocolate chips well. Then gently fold in chips.

  3. I always use a 9 x 13 pan, by 2 - 9 inch round pans can also be used.  Bake for 30 - 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Recipe Notes

  • Mix ingredients very well before adding chocolate chips
  • Be careful not to add liquids to pudding mix only as it can begin to set up like pudding
  • The pudding makes this cake so moist, but it also means the cake takes longer than normal to bake
  • Baking times vary, so I use a toothpick to test the cake a couple times to prevent burning
  • Cake can be made in two 9 inch pans or in a 9 x 13-inch pan
  • I always use store bought icing to save time, but feel free to make homemade icing

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. 5 stars
    Oh my gosh, I’m totally drooling over this cake! Our family will be devouring it shortly 🙂 Thanks for the recipe!!

    Reply

  4. Jennifer – this looks AMAZING. There’s no better dessert than a decadent chocolate cake, and this one fits the bill! Keep these chocolate recipe coming! Yum!

    Reply

    • Absolutely! They just take a bit longer to bake than typical box mix cupcakes because of the pudding. Use a cake tester to determine doneness and enjoy!

      Reply

      • I’ve done the pudding in cake mix before but this time I do not have any but is it ok to still use sour cream

        Reply

        • I’m not sure. I’ve never tested that version of the recipe, but please do let me know how it turns out!

          Reply

    • I think the chocolate chips could easily be left out, but in my opinion the pudding really makes this cake so moist and delicious!

      Reply

  7. In the tips you say don’t add the liquids to the pudding…so do we just put the pudding mix in with the rest of the ingredients (no liquid)?

    Reply

    • I have made several variations of this recipe and always used sour cream. Let me know if you try it without how it tastes. Thanks!

      Reply

  10. I only find cake mixes that already have pudding in them. Do you use these and add the pudding also? Or are there cake mixes out there that you suggest using?

    Reply

    • I typically use Duncan Hines devil’s food cake mix, but I think other common brands should work fine too.

      Reply

    • I have never tried using melted butter, but I think it would be interesting to experiment. Please let me know how it turns out! Hope you love this cake!

      Reply

    • Yes! I always grease the pan. One time my son forgot and there was a layer of cake on the bottom and sides 🙂

      Reply

  15. 5 stars
    Made these for a bridal shower and they were great! The tops turned out “crackled” and I did not ice them, I “shook” powdered sugar over them and they looked and tasted really good. Of course, had to have vanilla and chocolate ones as well. Thx for sharing the recipe!

    Reply

  16. do I mix the pudding with the rest of the cake mix including the water and do I add the oil as well or is that for just greasing

    Reply

    • Good question! You’ll want to mix the cake mix, instant pudding, eggs, water, oil and sour cream together. You will also want to grease your pan with a non-stick spray or flour your pan. Hope you enjoy the recipe!

      Reply

  20. I really want to try this recipe tonight but all I have is cook and serve pudding. Will that work? What do you think will happen if it was used?

    Reply

    • I think it will be important to wait and try it with instant chocolate pudding. I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed with cook and serve, but I’ve never tried. So if you do please let me know!

      Reply

  21. ids My name is Jennifer and i have question about your directions for the chocolate cake mix
    You say be careful not to add liquids to the pudding mix??? Why are saying. Not to add the liquids to the pudding mix ????????

    Reply

    • Correct, don’t make the pudding first and then mix it in. Mix things together before letting the pudding set up. Hope you enjoy!

      Reply

  22. Hi Jennifer! I’d like to make this tomorrow for my husband’s Birthday! I have 2 questions: What would I add for high altitude (we live in Colorado) and does it have to be devil’s food cake? Would it be okay if it was regular chocolate cake? Thanks so much for your time!

    Reply

    • Hi! So excited to hear you plan to make this for a birthday cake! I think the chocolate cake mix would work fine. I haven’t baked in high altitude, but I typically check for doneness with a toothpick sooner than the recipe calls for the cake to be done just to be sure it doesn’t burn. Let me know what adjustments you end up making. Hope you enjoy!

      Reply

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