• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Plowing Through Life

  • Recipes
    • Main Dish
    • Side Dish
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Desserts
    • Breakfast
    • Slow Cooker
    • Casserole
  • Life
    • Disney
    • Family Fun
    • Reviews
    • Farming
    • Faith
  • About
Home » Recipes » Desserts » Cakes » The Best Rich and Moist Chocolate Cake

The Best Rich and Moist Chocolate Cake

January 21, 2023 by Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life 146 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Sharing is caring!

  • Share
  • Tweet
Jump to Recipe

This Easy Chocolate Cake Recipe from a box mix is professional bakery-quality, but anyone can make it at home with simple ingredients.

Our family recipe adds sour cream, instant pudding, extra eggs and chocolate chips to make a box of cake mix so much more moist and delicious!

Close up piece of moist and tender chocolate cake with chocolate icing on a white plate with a fork

Easy Chocolate Box Cake Recipe

This is a bakery-quality cake recipe that anyone can make at home with common ingredients!  

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 and TikTok.

When I’m craving a delicious dessert this is our go to for a super easy chocolate box cake recipe.  Not knowing what to name it we say it’s the BEST rich and moist chocolate cake from a box mix, and love sharing that is unbelievably EASY to make! 

Square piece of the best moist and rich chocolate cake on a small plate next to another plate of cake and the full 9x13 baking dish of box mix chocolate cake with add-ins

A Moist Cake With Pudding Mix Added

A popular birthday 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, to never let people know about the instant pudding and sour cream that are added in.  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. 

We couldn’t tell her for the longest time that we had the family favorite 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.

Piece of best moist and rich chocolate cake from box

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!

Our Easy Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake, White Chocolate Cupcakes, and Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cake were all inspired from this recipe.

Ingredients Needed:

Adding a few simple ingredients makes a box mix of cake taste homemade in about 15 minutes!

  • Box of Devil’s Food Cake Mix – or another type of chocolate cake mix will work fine too
  • Instant Chocolate Pudding – only instant pudding will do, make sure not to buy the cook and serve type
  • Eggs – adding more eggs than a typical box mix calls for helps tenderize every morsel of cake
  • Sour Cream – makes the cake have a deeper flavor and adds so much moisture
  • Warm Water – helps activate the pudding and allows all of the ingredients to mix together
  • Vegetable Oil – adds fat and moisture for tender crumbs
  • Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips – more chocolate flavor makes the cake even better
Sour cream, vegetable oil, pudding and pie filling mix, Duncan Hines boxed cake, bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips and four eggs on a brown wooden counter top

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!

Simple family traditions and big parties are so valuable. Part of feeding a crowd on a budget has included learning how to make box cake better.

Colorful sprinkles on top of a simple chocolate birthday cake with a layer of canned icing

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.

Tips for Making Box Cake Better

  • 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 1 1/2 to 2 cans of chocolate store bought icing to save time, but feel free to make homemade icing
  • My husband loves this cake with a couple cans of cream cheese icing too

Easy Add Ins To Make A Box Cake Better

  • Eggs – makes the cake richer
  • Pudding Mix – adds sweetness and improves the texture to be softer and more enjoyable
  • Sour Cream – adds so much richness and helps make the cake super moist
  • Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips – more chocolate makes it sweeter, more chocolatier and even more like a professional cake
  • Coffee – substitute coffee in place of the warm water as it amplifies the chocolate flavor
Piece of moist chocolate cake made from a box mix on a stack of plates next to pan of cake

How to Make Moist Chocolate Cake

  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease a 9 x 13-inch pan; 2 – 9 inch round pans also work well.
  2. Mix all ingredients except chocolate chips on medium speed for up to 1 minute.
  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.

Step By Step Instructions

Preheat oven to 350ºF and coat a 9 x 13″ pan with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large electric mixing bowl pour in box of cake mix.

Break eggs and add to bowl. Add sour cream, vegetable oil and warm water.

Sour cream, warm water, vegetable oil and eggs in a mixing bowl with a box of chocolate cake mix

Then add the instant chocolate pudding mix and be ready to mix fairly quickly.

Electric mixer stirring up easy chocolate cake batter

Begin mixing.

Then scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula.

Mix for about a minute, but be careful not to over mix.

Cake batter from box mix with extra ingredients in a metal mixing bowl

Then lift the beater and clean it off with the spatula.

Remove the bowl from the base and add chocolate chips.

Use spatula and fold in by hand.

Moist cake batter from a box with semi-sweet chocolate chips poured on top

Pour cake batter into a greased baking dish.

Bake uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Allow cake to cook and then cover with icing. We typically use one to one and a half cans of chocolate or cream cheese frosting.

Storage Instructions

Store covered in a container with a lid or covered tightly with foil to keep moist. Keep on the counter for 3 – 4 days.

Storing in the refrigerator helps extend the life of the cake up to a week.

Over head view of 9 x 13" pan of easy chocolate cake made from a box mix with a square piece our of the corner showing a white napkin with blue lines

More of our Favorite Cake Recipes:

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!

  • Oreo Dirt Cake
  • Cream Puff Cake
  • Cinnamon Applesauce Cake
  • Chocolate Spice Cake
  • Milky Way Cake
  • 3 Musketeers Cake
  • Heath Bar Cake

These Homemade Chocolate Cupcakes look like a recipe to try for a birthday sometime too!

Click HERE to sign-up for our weekly newsletter to get more easy and delicious recipes!

Printable Best Rich and Moist Chocolate Cake Recipe

 

Square piece of super moist chocolate cake, covered in chocolate icing on a white plate

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! 
4.87 from 36 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: The Best Rich and Moist Chocolate Cake
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes minutes
Servings: 15 pieces
Calories: 361kcal
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

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 13 inch pan.
  • Mix all ingredients except chocolate chips at medium speed for 2 minutes.
  • Gently fold in chips.
  • 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.

Video

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 1 1/2 to 2 cans of store bought icing to save time, but feel free to make homemade icing

Equipment

Silicone Spatula
White Baking Dish
Stand Mixer

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition

Calories: 361kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 360mg | Potassium: 250mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 168IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Follow me@PlowingThroughLife and mention #PlowingThroughLife!
Collage of chocolate box cake recipes

Related

Filed Under: Cakes, Desserts, Recipes

Previous Post: « Root Beer Glazed Ham
Next Post: Polish Casserole »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lynn

    March 15, 2019 at 11:26 am

    4 stars
    Substitute coffee for water to have a 5 star cake

    Reply
    • Jennifer

      March 15, 2019 at 1:34 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for the idea. We’re not coffee drinkers, but I bet a lot of people would love that!

    • DONNA GUILLEN

      March 27, 2020 at 4:56 pm

      Look No further- this cake is the best cake on the Internet. I did not add Choc. Chips since we all like a smooth cake. Everyone was ranting and raving over this cake . I love that it’s in a sheet cake. Easy to decorate for a kids party

    • Bonnie

      September 17, 2021 at 7:05 pm

      I melt the dark chocolate chips and fold it into the mix slowly not to mix completely. Yummy with my chocolate cream cheese buttercream.

    • Vern

      January 9, 2022 at 8:18 pm

      OH YES!! Thank u for that suggestion!

    • Michelle

      May 7, 2022 at 3:13 am

      Coffee enhances the chocolate flavor so it’s bolder. I wish more people would try it even if they don’t like coffee lol

  2. Heather

    March 15, 2019 at 1:56 pm

    5 stars
    looks tasty – i love a good chocolate cake!

    Reply
    • Janet

      April 11, 2019 at 7:53 pm

      I have been making this kind of cake for about 5 years now. No recipe, it came from my head. Lol
      Sorry to burst your bubble..

    • Jennifer

      April 16, 2019 at 5:28 pm

      This must’ve been a popular recipe! Glad so many of us can enjoy a great chocolate cake!

    • Heather Johnson

      April 16, 2019 at 5:38 pm

      well i’ll be waiting for you to mail it to me!

    • Kim wells

      April 19, 2019 at 11:39 pm

      That was mean try harder to be nice

    • DONNA GUILLEN

      March 27, 2020 at 4:53 pm

      It was the best cake I’ve ever made – I made homemade buttercream frosting- which I highly suggest, huge difference in the texture instead of canned – did not add the Choc. chips BECUZ I like a smooth cake. Honestly everyone at the party had 2 huge pieces . I used parchment paper . The cake came right out . I love the back story on this cake. This is the ONLY Choc cake I will be making from now on. Highly highly recommend making this cake for any occasion – it was OUTSTANDING!!!!

  3. Deanne

    March 15, 2019 at 2:14 pm

    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. Kelsey

    March 15, 2019 at 11:48 pm

    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
  5. JaxTay

    March 20, 2019 at 2:02 am

    I apologize if this has been asked but can this be done in cupcakes??

    Reply
    • Jennifer

      March 20, 2019 at 11:49 pm

      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!

    • Teresa

      April 2, 2019 at 11:36 pm

      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

    • Jennifer

      April 4, 2019 at 7:02 pm

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

    • Tyettea Singletary

      January 9, 2020 at 8:13 pm

      4 stars
      Thanks so much for sharing this recipe! It looks very delicious I can’t wait to try it & the recipe seems very easy to follow! ♥️

    • Kierstin

      March 23, 2022 at 4:44 pm

      Planning on making this cake next week. Can I add warm milk instead of water?

    • Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life

      March 23, 2022 at 7:53 pm

      Yes! I’ve heard people use milk or coffee, just know the cake is plenty rich with dairy because of the sour cream. Hope you enjoy!

  6. Teresa

    April 2, 2019 at 11:44 pm

    Can this be done minus the pudding and chocolate chips

    Reply
    • Jennifer

      April 4, 2019 at 7:02 pm

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

  7. Jerica

    April 9, 2019 at 1:00 am

    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
    • Jennifer

      April 9, 2019 at 2:26 pm

      Great question. Mix several of the dry ingredients and then add liquid ingredients. Once I added the water to the pudding and got sidetracked and it started to set-up. Does that make sense?

    • Jerica

      April 11, 2019 at 3:02 am

      Yes thank you so much… have you made this with any other cake flavor?

    • Taylor

      September 18, 2019 at 7:03 pm

      So are you adding all ingredients together and then basically just adding the pudding as the very last item? I shouldn’t actually make the pudding and then add it right?

    • Jennifer

      September 19, 2019 at 12:37 pm

      Correct!

    • Julie

      March 9, 2022 at 7:18 pm

      Apologize if this has been asked, I browsed quite a few comments and didn’t see this question, but do you think it would hold up as two 8 inch rounds stacked? Is there enough structure to the crumb or is it so moist that you can’t recommend it? Thanks in advance for replies!

    • Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life

      March 9, 2022 at 11:06 pm

      Hey There! Great question! My mother-in-law always makes two round cakes and stacks…I think she may use 9″ pans though. If you don’t want to get new pans you could always make a few cupcakes. Hope you enjoy 🙂

  8. Aftan

    April 18, 2019 at 4:09 pm

    What about sour cream? Could you leave that out?

    Reply
    • Jennifer

      April 18, 2019 at 6:39 pm

      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!

    • Catherine

      June 27, 2020 at 5:12 am

      I have used vanilla flavored greek yogurt before and it has turned out great!

    • Mirianne

      July 6, 2022 at 5:05 pm

      I used lemon or banana yogourt instead of the sour cream a few times. It was sooo good.

  9. Jerri

    April 27, 2019 at 6:04 pm

    Sounds yummy I wouldn’t change a thing make it like the recipe says then change it if you want.

    Reply
    • Jennifer

      April 28, 2019 at 10:30 pm

      Thank you! We love this cake!

    • Becky Christner

      May 2, 2021 at 6:03 pm

      I wouldn’t change it either! Sounds delicious

  10. Sue

    May 8, 2019 at 10:51 pm

    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
    • Jennifer

      May 10, 2019 at 2:00 pm

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

    • Susan

      July 5, 2022 at 5:14 pm

      4 stars
      How do you store this cake? In fridge or not

    • Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life

      July 6, 2022 at 11:16 am

      We typically store in a pan with a tightly fitting lid on the countertop for 1 – 2 days, but you can store in the fridge if you’d like!

  11. Jan

    June 18, 2019 at 11:06 pm

    Can you use melted butter instead of oil?

    Reply
    • Jennifer

      June 19, 2019 at 12:21 pm

      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!

  12. Jennifer Ferderer

    June 27, 2019 at 7:43 pm

    Does the pan need to be greased before baking.

    Reply
    • Jennifer

      June 30, 2019 at 2:48 am

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

  13. Sharon

    July 2, 2019 at 3:27 pm

    No mention of greasing or flouring pan

    Reply
    • Jennifer

      July 3, 2019 at 4:40 pm

      Thanks for the note. I added grease the pan to the instruction list 🙂

  14. Scott Sargent

    July 30, 2019 at 10:22 pm

    I’ve always used pudding in my chocolate chip cookies, but I’ve got this cooling on the stove now. Hopefully it is just as good in the cake as in the cookies.

    Reply
    • Jennifer

      August 2, 2019 at 2:46 pm

      I hope so too! Thanks for giving this recipe a try!

  15. Karen W Stilts

    August 19, 2019 at 12:12 pm

    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
    • Jennifer

      August 20, 2019 at 1:14 am

      So glad to hear your guests enjoyed them! Thanks for the kind note!

  16. Mathews

    September 1, 2019 at 5:29 am

    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
    • Jennifer

      September 2, 2019 at 7:09 pm

      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!

  17. Monal

    September 1, 2019 at 6:24 pm

    What is a small box of instant pudding? Whole Foods has one that is 3.9 oz. Is this too much?

    Reply
    • Jennifer

      September 2, 2019 at 7:06 pm

      I typically use a 3.4 ounce, but I think 3.9 ounces should be just fine. Please let me know how it turns out for you!

  18. Kristina

    September 2, 2019 at 2:42 pm

    This cake is amazing! We paired it with a homemade sour cream icing for my Dad’s birthday! Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Jennifer

      September 2, 2019 at 7:04 pm

      So glad to hear that you loved it! Happy belated birthday to your dad!

    • Natalie

      April 24, 2023 at 4:51 am

      Kristina,

      Can you share that sour cream icing recipe?

  19. Jayne

    September 6, 2019 at 9:18 pm

    Best chocolate cake I’ve ever made. Thanks for the recipe. So moist, tastes delicious

    Reply
  20. Sheryl Durkee

    September 12, 2019 at 12:15 am

    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
    • Jennifer

      September 12, 2019 at 1:07 am

      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!

  21. Jennifer kaus

    September 26, 2019 at 10:57 pm

    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
    • Jennifer

      September 27, 2019 at 10:43 am

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

  22. Michelle Rushing

    September 28, 2019 at 6:50 am

    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
    • Jennifer

      September 28, 2019 at 4:58 pm

      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!

  23. Joyce

    November 11, 2019 at 1:41 pm

    Would this work for a German Chocolate cake as well? What pudding mix would you suggest?

    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life

      November 11, 2019 at 3:38 pm

      We’ve just been testing variation of this cake over the weekend! Haven’t tried German Chocolate yet, but I bet it would be good. I would try regular chocolate pudding. Could use a coconut pecan icing for a great flavor. Please let me know if you give this a try how it works out!

      Here is another flavor combination that we LOVE https://plowingthroughlife.com/chocolate-covered-strawberry-cake/

  24. Peyton

    November 16, 2019 at 12:02 am

    Can you taste the sour cream? Seeing that in the recipe makes me nervous!! What kind of flavor does it give the cake?

    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life

      November 18, 2019 at 2:34 am

      Great question! We do not taste the sour cream at all. I think it has more to do with the texture and keeping it super moist than flavor. I hope the cake turns out great for you!

  25. Jordan

    December 9, 2019 at 4:13 pm

    I was looking at your instructions and I have a question do you follow the instructions that you have or do you follow the instructions on the back of the chocolate cake mix and then follow your instructions

    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life

      December 10, 2019 at 12:04 pm

      Great question! I just follow the instructions listed here on the website. Hope the recipe turns out well for you!

  26. Lisa

    December 10, 2019 at 10:10 pm

    Question you add the ingredients to make the box cake. But do you also add the ingredients from the pudding mix box as well or just the pudding mix only

    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life

      December 11, 2019 at 2:33 am

      Great question! Ignore the back of the box and follow the recipe and instructions listed on the recipe card towards the bottom of the page. Hope the recipe turns out well for you!

  27. Deb Lingle

    December 26, 2019 at 2:51 pm

    Best boxed cake I have ever made

    Reply
  28. Tila

    January 11, 2020 at 12:12 am

    5 stars
    Made this for my husband’s birthday today. Turned out great and super moist. Thanks for the recipe. Directions were easy and simple to follow.

    Reply
    • Jennifer

      January 11, 2020 at 7:20 pm

      Thanks so much for sharing your success! So glad the recipe worked out great for you!

  29. W

    January 26, 2020 at 1:35 am

    4 stars
    Super delicious & chocolaty rich, but mine came out a tad too moist – will definitely try again!

    Reply
  30. Andi

    March 3, 2020 at 6:11 pm

    5 stars
    I just made it! Thank you for sharing!!! 🙂

    Reply
    • Jennifer

      March 3, 2020 at 9:03 pm

      Thanks so much for letting me know! Hope you love it!

  31. Barbara

    April 20, 2020 at 5:08 pm

    do you add the chocolate pudding to the other ingredients as a DRY mix?

    Reply
    • Jennifer

      April 20, 2020 at 5:36 pm

      Great question! Yes!

  32. Liz

    April 21, 2020 at 5:04 pm

    We are home during the Covid-19 stay at home orders. So it was a great time to do a little baking. I tried this recipe minus the instant chocolate pudding and I just replaced the water with coffee. It came out great. I do want to try with the pudding I just didn’t have on hand. We are using a grocery shopping service so I don’t always get everything I want from the grocery store. So we make due. Sour cream does at first seem odd to use but, I also used it to a cornbread recipe and it too was outstanding. Thanks for the recipe it’s worth making and probably just that much better with pudding. I can’t wait to try it!

    Reply
    • Jennifer

      April 21, 2020 at 5:59 pm

      Hey there! We’ve been doing the same thing trying to make recipes but struggling to get all of the groceries when ordering. I’m so glad you tried the cake and love it. It’s truly one of our favorites! Hope you’re able to stay safe and healthy!

  33. Stephanie

    April 22, 2020 at 12:45 am

    5 stars
    Just made this for my son’s birthday and it was delicious! I accidentally grabbed the olive oil instead of vegetable oil and was worried it would affect the taste. It was still so chocolatey and moist. I followed the directions exactly and love the chocolate chips as they give a bite of texture. I doctored up the store bought chocolate fudge frosting with vanilla, tad bit of heavy cream and dollop of sour cream and whipped it up. This will be my go to recipe for chocolate cake!

    Reply
    • Jennifer

      April 22, 2020 at 1:07 am

      So glad to hear the recipe worked well for you and your family! Thanks for sharing the substitutions you made. Hope your son has a great birthday!

  34. Lori

    May 28, 2020 at 11:58 pm

    5 stars
    Love this recipe

    Reply
    • Jennifer

      May 29, 2020 at 1:21 am

      So glad to hear this! It’s one of our favorites too!

  35. N.L. Hill

    June 10, 2020 at 1:14 pm

    I am going to try this but I have a question about covering the cake. Do you keep the foil on until the cake completely cools or for a set amount of time? Do you do this for all of your cakes?

    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life

      June 10, 2020 at 3:10 pm

      Great question! As the cake cools the foil helps catch the condensation which helps keep the cake more moist. The recipe is very moist without this step, but yes this is something I try to do with all cakes…when I have time and remember :). Hope you love the recipe!

  36. Jo Ann

    June 11, 2020 at 6:24 am

    Just to make it clear for me. The cake mix you used does NOT have the pudding in it???? I have found that the Dollar Tree is the only place I can find no pudding in the mix. Only $1. Some stores have both chocolate and White cake mixes. I beleive the brand name is Pillsbury. (Not 100% sure… Maybe Betty Crocker)

    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life

      June 11, 2020 at 11:53 am

      Great question! I usually use Duncan Hines, but any brand will work. It’s okay to have the pudding in the cake mix, you’ll still add a box of pudding which helps make it so moist!

  37. GiniD

    August 27, 2020 at 4:17 pm

    4 stars
    For any cake mix, I always substitute milk for the water, and butter for the oil, in addition to a box of instant pudding in the same flavor of the cake. Always use 4 eggs, and all ingredients should be at room temperature – I let mine sit out for about 45 minutes. Your cake will be very, very moist and rich! Also, you can heat your tub of icing in the microwave for about 15 seconds — makes it so much easier to spread.

    Thanks!
    Gini

    Reply
  38. Shellie

    October 24, 2020 at 3:26 pm

    Hello,
    As week speak my cake is in the oven! I added espresso for the water and will be frosted with Peanut butter frosting! Reminds me of what my Mom use to make meI’ll let you know how it turns out!
    Shellie

    Reply
  39. Elizabeth Massey

    October 27, 2020 at 7:34 pm

    Will this recipe work with a bundt pan?

    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life

      October 28, 2020 at 12:19 am

      That’s a great question! I haven’t tried it in a bundt pan but if you do please let me know how it turns out!

  40. Jodi

    December 26, 2020 at 3:38 am

    5 stars
    I’m not a big baker but our family loves a chocolate cake. We always make a cake for Christmas for Jesus’s birthday. This year we tried this one. I was a bit worried when I saw sour cream in the recipe. I almost left that out but I’m SOOOO glad I didn’t. This cake was super moist and will be gone in NO TIME! It was sooooo good!

    Reply
  41. Nan

    February 5, 2021 at 3:14 am

    Do you know how long it should bake in a bundt pan?

    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life

      February 5, 2021 at 2:31 pm

      Hello! I haven’t tested using a bundt pan, but I do know that the extra sour cream, pudding and eggs does increase the baking time quite a bit over a typical box mix of cake. I hope it works well for you!

  42. Nancy Staab

    February 14, 2021 at 2:13 am

    5 stars
    This cake is outstanding. I am not a chocolate cake fan but I made it for my adult daughter who loves all things chocolate. It makes a delicious cake that has the texture of a homemade cake yet is a pretty easy recipe,

    Reply
  43. Tracy A Santimaw

    April 15, 2021 at 4:11 pm

    5 stars
    This cake works in a well greased bundt pan. I like to sprinkle with powdered sugar, it’s very rich and doesn’t need frosting. I’ve also made this with vanilla cake mix.

    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life

      April 16, 2021 at 11:52 am

      Love to hear this! Thanks so much for sharing!

  44. DONNA GUILLEN

    April 26, 2021 at 11:46 am

    5 stars
    Highly Highly recommend you make this Choc. Cake. I can honestly say it’s the best cake I’ve ever tasted in my life. I frosted it with Homemade buttercream frosting and it was like the most expensive delicious wedding cake ever. I left out the Choc chips since we all like a smooth cake. Only cake I make now. Everyone had second helpings – I threw every Choc. Cake recipe away in my cookbook binder. This cake will make you the Star of any party TRUST ME!!!

    Reply
  45. Lindsay

    May 17, 2021 at 12:20 am

    Do you think this recipe would work as a layer cake?

    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life

      May 17, 2021 at 10:50 am

      Hey There! My mother-in-law always makes this as a layer cake in 2 – 9 inch pans and it works great. You may want to use a little more than one can of icing, but that’s just personal prefernce. We hope you enjoy this cake as much as we do!

  46. Brenda

    June 7, 2021 at 9:54 pm

    5 stars
    I love this cake recipe, it’s my favorite chocolate cake. It’s great without frosting. Also great with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

    Reply
  47. Jennifer

    June 18, 2021 at 3:12 am

    5 stars
    I made this chocolate cake and WOW!!! My family and I love It! Super moist and rich! The only thing I changed was using coconut oil instead of vegetable oil. Definitely going to be making this cake over and over! Love it!

    Reply
  48. Whitney

    July 13, 2021 at 3:23 am

    Could you sub out the water for whole milk?

    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life

      July 13, 2021 at 5:17 pm

      Hey There! I haven’t tried whole milk, but some people have used coffee. It’s already pretty rich, so not sure if the milk would be needed. Please let me know how it goes if you give it a try. Thanks!

  49. Erin

    July 27, 2021 at 10:34 pm

    5 stars
    I thought I’d done something wrong because the consistency of the batter was closer to brownies. Trust the process! It came out perfect and was a hit! We used chocolate premade icing and it was super yummy!

    Reply
  50. Debra

    August 3, 2021 at 6:26 pm

    5 stars
    Its in the oven as I write…smelling yummy! We are all here on vacation in Florida and this cake with ice cream is our dessert.

    Reply
  51. Ruth

    August 19, 2021 at 7:47 pm

    5 stars
    Definitely use strong coffee instead of the water. I tried this with Pillsbury Dark Chocolate Cake and it was fantastic. Next time, I use Betty Crocker Devils Food and it flopped. The mix just wouldn’t get thick and it didn’t raise. I’ll stick to Pillsbury. Now I’ll see if I start getting spam after posting my email address.

    Reply
  52. Alice Robinson

    September 21, 2021 at 1:27 am

    Oh this cake is so yummy and so so moist..I didn’t have any cocoa for the frosting so I used a chocolate pudding powdered sugar vanilla and cream cheese..Wow, my husband loved.

    Reply
  53. Terisa McConnell

    December 8, 2021 at 6:24 pm

    5 stars
    I love to bake and am always mashing recipes together to find that perfect combo… this one does it all alone! I’m about to make two more for a couple birthday’s and I can’t wait for them to try their cake!! I paired it with an Ermine frosting and it’s literally the best thing EVER! Thank you Jennifer!

    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life

      December 9, 2021 at 1:50 am

      This is wonderful to hear! Thanks so much for sharing!

  54. Lori

    January 23, 2022 at 12:01 pm

    Do you use an electric mixer like it calls for on the back of the cake mix or just mix by hand?

    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life

      January 24, 2022 at 1:11 pm

      Great question! I use an electric mixer! Hope you enjoy the cake as much as we do 🙂

  55. Barbara

    February 15, 2022 at 11:29 pm

    I made this cake twice. It is wonderful! But the second time I made it, it fell a little more and wasn’t that high in my 9×13 pan. What did I do wrong?

    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life

      February 16, 2022 at 3:47 pm

      Hey There! Great question – I did adjust the recipe to read mix at medium speed for 2 minutes, because over mixing can cause a cake to go flat among many other things. Letting heat out of the oven too early in the baking process or leaving out an ingredient are other options. I’m glad you know how great the recipe can taste and I hope you’ll try it again! Thanks for checking out our recipes 🙂

  56. Sheryl

    February 20, 2022 at 2:06 am

    5 stars
    Delicious.,

    Just name it tonjght…Thanks fot the recipe,

    Reply
  57. Vetta Wells

    February 26, 2022 at 10:06 pm

    5 stars
    This is wonderful! My go to recipe now for chocolate cake!

    Reply
  58. Pam

    March 12, 2022 at 12:11 pm

    My family is not big on chocolate. Do you have a similar recipe for white or yellow cake mixes?

    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life

      March 12, 2022 at 10:36 pm

      Hey There! Great question and yes, we do! This recipe works well as cupcakes or as a cake and we love it too! https://plowingthroughlife.com/ultimate-white-chocolate-frozen-cupcakes/

  59. Jojo

    March 16, 2022 at 10:56 pm

    Hello – your cake looks so delicious. I can’t wait to make it. Wondering if you or any commenters could recommend a favorite home-made chocolate frosting? I usually make a ganache for my cakes and I’m not sure if that would be the best for this cake.

    Thank you for any advice.

    Reply
    • Carlee

      March 17, 2022 at 12:27 pm

      5 stars
      We love a good chocolate buttercream (https://cookingwithcarlee.com/chocolate-buttercream/) but I think shiny fudge frosting (https://cookingwithcarlee.com/shiny-fudge-frosting/) would be perfect on this cake!

  60. Jojo

    March 17, 2022 at 6:47 pm

    Thank you, Carlee – I appreciate your suggestions for frostings. I think I will try your “shiny fudge frosting” (love that it’s all done without beaters). And for the cake – am looking forward to making the delicious cake from this site, The Best Rich and Moist Chocolate Cake. Should be a winning combination. Thanks again!

    Reply
  61. JoAnn

    March 19, 2022 at 8:08 pm

    5 stars
    Excellent cake, pared it with a thick coconut/pecan frosting, think I will try a vanilla one next time. Or maybe a spice mix with strawberry/rhubarb filling swirled in.

    Reply
  62. Cheri Kaps

    April 9, 2022 at 12:07 am

    5 stars
    I loved this cake, absolutely amazing. The second time I thought, “Let’s do white”. So ……..white cake mix, instead of chocolate. Swapped white chocolate instant pudding for chocolate, and white chocolate chips. Perfection!

    Reply
  63. Kris

    April 16, 2022 at 9:38 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious cake! I used a whipped ganache frosting and it was amazing!! When checking the cake with a toothpick to see if it’s done, I’m not really sure if it’s cake batter or a melted chocolate chip on the toothpick. Any suggestions on this?

    Reply
  64. Elinda Merrill

    July 1, 2022 at 2:26 am

    5 stars
    I was out of sour cream so l used vanilla yogurt and it was delicious!

    Reply
  65. Suzie

    July 4, 2022 at 5:27 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve been making this since 1972 using a bundt pan or a sheet cake pan. It’s still my favorite chocolate cake!

    Reply
    • Heather

      April 12, 2023 at 2:53 am

      Hi! How long do you bake in a bundt pan? Thanks!!

  66. Silvia Baldoza

    August 27, 2022 at 5:16 pm

    5 stars
    I made this for a potluck and it was a huge hit.
    Very moist and delicious!

    Reply
  67. June Wells

    September 4, 2022 at 8:05 pm

    5 stars
    This is my go to chocolate cake recipe now! Absolutely wonderful!

    Reply
  68. Suzette

    September 9, 2022 at 2:25 am

    I have a question. If you do not have chocolate pudding mix, can you use vanilla…or I even have oreo. ‍♀️. Has anyone made with different pudding with the chocolate cake?

    Reply
  69. Karla

    October 17, 2022 at 1:29 am

    5 stars
    Hello, I just made this cake to be eaten tomorrow. Do you keep them room temperature or out them in the fridge?

    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life

      October 17, 2022 at 6:24 pm

      Hey There! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try! I think either way will work just fine. Hope you enjoy 🙂

  70. Kristen Baldwin

    November 6, 2022 at 8:50 am

    Hi there! This cake looks so yummy. I’ve seen a lot of doctored up boxed chocolate cake add a teaspoon to tablespoon of vanilla. Have you tried this? Every recipe I found called for vanilla. Just curious. Thanks!

    Reply
  71. Kim o

    November 15, 2022 at 12:58 am

    Hello. Thanks for the recipe! I just put it in the oven. Just wondering if you could swirl some marshmallow crème before cooking or do you think it will burn?

    Reply
  72. Julia Sharp

    December 30, 2022 at 5:52 pm

    5 stars
    There was some discussion about high altitude earlier. I also live at a high altitude. I added 2 tablespoons of all purpose flour to the mix and increased the warm liquid to 2/3 cup. It turned out perfect. We are also not coffee drinkers but I wanted the richer taste so I used Pero as a substitute and it worked well.

    Reply
  73. Rita

    December 31, 2022 at 7:35 am

    5 stars
    Best chocolate cake recipe ever. I did substitute coffee for the water and it is excellent, a richer taste. I also substituted coconut milk for the water, coconut cream pudding for the chocolate pudding and adding 3/4 cup coconut. That makes a really good coconut mounds cake or cupcakes. Also make homemade coconut icing.

    Thanks for your recipe! Love it.

    Reply
  74. Misty

    February 12, 2023 at 9:04 pm

    I can only find the devil’s food cake mix with pudding in it. Do I still add the box of pudding to this as well?

    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life

      February 13, 2023 at 2:31 am

      Good question! Yes, add the additional pudding. Hope you enjoy 🙂

  75. Dawn

    February 26, 2023 at 12:18 pm

    How long do you cover the cake? Is the foil put on tight or loose? Will the condensation drip on the cake when removing? Thank you

    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life

      February 26, 2023 at 1:00 pm

      Hey There! I bake it uncovered, but store covered in a lid, foil or plastic wrap after it cools. Hope you enjoy!

  76. Mindy N Carpenter

    April 19, 2023 at 10:33 pm

    I’m excited to try this but wanted to ask if my better was supposed to be thicker than normal?

    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life

      April 19, 2023 at 11:18 pm

      Hi There! Yes – this batter is thicker because of all of the extras you add in. Makes the cake taste so much better. Hope you enjoy 🙂

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Connect With Us

Sign up today for free recipes and updates from the farm.

Newsletter Subscribe
Facebook Instagram Pinterest YouTube

Hi I’m Jennifer

I want to make life easier by creating simple dinner recipes for my family and yours. Read More…

Seasonal Favorites

Potato Bar ideas in small bowls and on baked potatoes
Slice of easy no-bake cheesecake recipe covered with cherry pie filling
Bacon and cheese on shredded pork sliders on a Hawaiian roll
About PlowingThroughLife.com       DISCLOSURE, DISCLAIMER & PRIVACY POLICIES

Copyright © 2023 Plowing Through Life
Website by Blue Valley Technologies

 

Loading Comments...