Chocolate Spice Cake
There’s something magical about a chocolate cake that’s spiced. The warmth of cinnamon, a whisper of nutmeg, and the earthy depth of cloves transform an already-excellent chocolate cake into something truly extraordinary. This chocolate spice cake is moist, tender, deeply chocolatey, and filled with warming spices that make it taste like a cosy autumn afternoon in every bite.
It’s the kind of cake that fills your kitchen with the most incredible smell as it bakes. Served simply with a dusting of icing sugar or dressed up with a glossy chocolate ganache, this cake works for everything from an easy family dessert to a showstopping celebration centrepiece.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- One-bowl wonder — minimal washing up, maximum reward
- Incredibly moist — buttermilk keeps it perfectly tender for days
- Warmly spiced — cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves in a balanced blend
- Versatile — great plain, with ganache, or with cream cheese frosting
The Spice Blend
The combination of spices is what sets this cake apart from an ordinary chocolate cake. Here’s what each one does:
- Cinnamon — the backbone of warmth, pairs naturally with chocolate
- Nutmeg — adds a slightly sweet, nutty warmth
- Allspice — a complex note reminiscent of cloves, pepper, and cinnamon combined
- Ground cloves — intense and aromatic, use sparingly for background depth
Tips for the Moistest Chocolate Cake
Don’t skip the buttermilk. Buttermilk is the secret weapon in this recipe — its acidity keeps the cake incredibly moist and tender, and reacts with the baking powder for a great rise. If you don’t have any, make a quick substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to 1 cup of regular milk and letting it stand for 5 minutes.
Use good cocoa powder. Since chocolate is the star here, quality matters. Dutch-processed cocoa gives the richest, darkest colour and deepest flavour. Natural cocoa works too but will produce a lighter colour and slightly more acidic flavour.
Don’t overbake. This cake should come out moist and slightly fudgy. Start checking at 35 minutes and pull it from the oven as soon as a skewer comes out with just a few moist crumbs — not wet batter, but not completely clean either.
“The best cake you’ll ever eat!”
— Anonymous
Serving & Storage
Dust generously with icing sugar just before serving for a simple, elegant finish. For a more indulgent option, pour over a warm dark chocolate ganache (equal parts cream and dark chocolate, melted together). The cake keeps well at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 4 days, or refrigerated for up to a week.
Chocolate Spice Cake
Cuisine: Dessert, SweetsDifficulty: Easy10
servings30
minutes40
minutes350
kcalMoist, tender chocolate spice cake infused with warm cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove — a rich, cozy dessert dusted with powdered sugar for an elegant finish.
Ingredients
1 cup sugar
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp baking soda
2 T baking powder
1/4 cup cocoa, sifted
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp cinnamon
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F (175˚C). Spray an 8-inch (at least 2-inch high) round cake pan with baking spray, rub inside surface of pan with a paper towel to cover evenly with the spray. If your cake pan is lower than 2-inches, use a 9-inch round cake pan). Line bottom of pan with parchment paper and spray parchment paper lightly. Set aside.
- In a medium-large bowl, combine the yogurt, sugar, and eggs, and whisk together until well blended.
Add the flour, baking powder, salt and spices and mix until all flour is combined.
Add the oil and stir well. Don’t worry, at first it will seem to separate but keep stirring till smooth.
Pour the batter into prepared pan.
Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the cake feels springy to the touch and a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Be careful not to overbake. - Cool cake on a wire rack for 10 minutes; then turn it out of the pan onto the rack.
Notes
- This recipe contains too much baking powder.
