Did you know that chocolate cake as we know it now simply did not exist until the early 1900’s? It wasn’t until 1764 when Dr.James Baker discovered how to make chocolate by grinding cocoa beans between two massive circular millstones that chocolate started to become more widely used. At first it was a luxury item that few could afford. In 1828 a new processing technique was discovered making it available on a wider basis which transformed it into a more common snack item. It wasn’t until the early 1900’s late 1800’s however that it was available in a form that would allow it to be added to cake batters, up until then it was only used in glazes and fillings as it wasn’t refined enough. In 1886 bakers in America started adding chocolate to their cake batters and that is how chocolate cakes had their start in the United States. Thank goodness! I love a good chocolate cake and I can’t imagine life without it!
In the video below you’ll find my favorite recipe for a really good, moist chocolate cake. It’s a great basic recipe that yields an amazing chocolate cake and is super easy to make. You can whip this up in just a few minutes in your kitchen. I’ve frosted it with a chocolate ganache and filled it with fresh ,lightly sweetened chocolate whipped cream and it’s truly incredible. This cake is so moist and delicious though it’s also great with just a sprinkling of powdered sugar or nothing at all!