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Home » Desserts » Cake and Cupcake Recipes » Chocolate Cake with Whipped Cream Frosting

Chocolate Cake with Whipped Cream Frosting

23 Comments By Jesseca on January 13, 2023

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This Chocolate Whipped Cream Cake is the perfect way to celebrate any occasion. Light chocolate cake is layered between a sweet whipped cream for the perfect cake recipe.

Love this cake recipe? Be sure to check out the 200+ Other Dessert Recipes here on the site including these favorite cakes: Red Velvet Cake, Best Ever Chocolate Cake, and my Cookies and Cream Cake!

single slice of cake on a white plate with a fork sitting off to one side and a blue napkin on the other. Full cake on a cake stand behind the slice

This post was originally published January 26, 2016. It has since been updated to include fresh photos and helpful tips.

Recipe Features:

  • EASY: I like to make a homemade cake but you can definitely use a box mix.
  • Perfect for Frosting Haters: My kid detests frosting. It’s on the top of his hate list. But he LOVES this cake.
  • Make Ahead: This recipe actually tastes BETTER after it has sat overnight in the fridge.

My grandma used to make this cake chocolate cake with whipped cream for us every year on our birthdays. There were two versions… chocolate and vanilla. Most of us chose the chocolate. Both versions taste divine.

The secret is to serve it COLD. Make it a day in advance and store it in the refrigerator. The flavors blend together beautifully leaving you with the perfect cake. The whipped cream slightly soaks into the cake making it extra moist and delicious. Every bite melts in your mouth and you get the perfect balance of cream and chocolate. It is perfections.

whipped cream on a mixer spatula over an unfrosted chocolate cake

Whipped Cream Cake Ingredients

Another beautiful thing about this recipe is that you do not have to be a super great cake decorator. You can pipe the whipped cream between layers, spoon it on, or just spread it with a knife. Cover the top with sprinkles and you are all set!

  • Butter: Unsalted butter that has been softened to room temperature is ideal for cakes. If you use salted butter, be sure to omit the salt called for in the dry ingredients.
  • Brown Sugar: I love the subtle hint of molasses that comes with brown sugar. It helps take this cake from good to great.
  • Eggs: Large eggs that are at room temperature. This helps for them to whip into the batter without the worry of over mixing.
  • Vanilla: Pure vanilla extract works magic in blending flavors together. This is key to getting the sugar and chocolate to blend together.
  • Unsweetened Chocolate: My secret ingredient. Instead of using cocoa powder in this recipe I opted for unsweetened chocolate. It is a simple swap with a big impact.
  • Flour: I have only tested this recipe with all-purpose flour.
  • Cornstarch: Adding a bit of cornstarch to cake helps to give the cake a crumbly and tender texture.
  • Baking soda and baking powder and salt: Always be sure to double check the expiration dates of your leavening agents and replace if they have been open for more than six months.
  • Sour Cream: Trust me on this. This adds SO MUCH moisture to the cake and a slight tang that makes this bakery worthy!
  • Water: Or, if you want to boost that cocoa flavor, hot coffee.
  • Whipped Cream
chocolate cake layer being spread with whipped cream with a blue napkin on the side

How to Make A Chocolate Whipped Cream Cake

My grandma always used a cake mix. I decided it was time to upgrade to a homemade devils food and am so glad I did. The cake itself is the closest thing to perfection that you can get. Moist, chocolaty, and perfect topped with your favorite frosting. While my cake may have changed, my whipped cream is still the same I made in my grandma’s kitchen as a kid.

  1. PREP: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two cake pans with flour or 2 muffin tins with paper liners.
  2. CREAM: Place the butter and brown sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or a mixing bowl with a hand mixer. Beat until the two have combined and are fluffy, about 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract and the melted chocolate.
  3. STIR: Combine the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, salt and baking powder in a medium sized measuring cup. Whisk to combine. Slowly stir into the wet ingredients along with the sour cream and water.
  4. BAKE: Divide between the prepared pans or cupcake liners. Bake 12-14 minutes for cupcakes, 25-30 for 8 inch cakes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  5. FROST: Cool the cake completely. Frost with fresh whipped cream and keep stored in the refrigerator at least 2 hours before serving.

How to make whipped cream:

It all starts with a carton of heavy whipping cream and a chilled bowl. I do recommend using a mixer for this part just because stirring by hand takes some serious muscle.

You want stiff peaks to form giving you a good base to hold your cake layers in place.

By chilling the bowl (and even the whisk attachment) you cut down your mixing time significantly but it isn’t necessary. Just consider that my helpful kitchen trick to you.

  1. Place your mixing bowl and whisk attachments in the freezer for 10-15 minutes or until chilled.
  2. Pour in cold whipping cream. Whisk until slightly thickening.
  3. Add vanilla extract and powdered sugar. Continue to whisk until stiff peaks are formed.
chocolate cake layered on a white cake stand with whipped cream

Recipe Notes:

What is the best way to prepare a cake pan?

Grease your pan with butter or cooking spray (I suggest coconut oil spray).
Place 1-2 tablespoons of flour into the pan. Gently tap and rotate the pan to cover the entire thing with flour. Tap out excess.
Place a round piece of parchment paper on the bottom of the pan. Pour the batter directly on top and bake.

What is the best way to store a whipped cream cake?

Most cakes, when stored properly, and fine stored at room temperature. This cake, however, should be stored in the refrigerator. We actually like it better the second day!

Can this be made with a cake mix?

Technically, yes. Using whipped cream frosting is equally delicious with either a homemade or cake mix cake. However, I really feel like the homemade version takes this recipe from good to great.

Can this be made with yellow cake?

Yes! In fact, my grandma used to make this same cake style in a yellow cake for Easter. She would dye layers of whipped cream in pastel colors that were beautiful.

Can you use cool whip?

No. Cool whip will not give the same results as fresh whipped cream. That being said, it is still a tasty topping!

top down image of a chocolate cake layered with whipped cream one bite sitting on a fork on a white table

More Must Try Cake Recipes

  • Carrot Cake Recipe

  • Red Velvet Cake

  • Pound Cake Recipe

  • Chocolate Cake

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4.55 from 62 votes

Chocolate Whipped Cream Cake

Created by: Jesseca

Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
12 servings
This chocolate whipped cream cake is the perfect way to celebrate any occasion. Light chocolate cake is layered between a sweet whipped cream for the perfect cake recipe. 
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Ingredients
 
 

For the Cake:

  • ½ cup butter
  • 1 cups brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate melted
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup water

For the Whipped Cream:

  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2-4 tablespoons powdered sugar

Instructions

For the Cake:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two cake pans with flour or 2 muffin tins with paper liners.
  • Place the butter and brown sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or a mixing bowl with a hand mixer. Beat until the two have combined and are fluffy, about 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Stir in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract and the melted chocolate.
  • Combine the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, salt and baking powder in a medium sized measuring cup. Whisk to combine. Slowly stir into the wet ingredients along with the sour cream and water.
  • Divide between the prepared pans or cupcake liners. Bake 12-14 minutes for cupcakes, 25-30 for 8 inch cakes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Cool completely and slice each cake in half creating two circles each.

For the whipped cream:

  • Place a clean mixing bowl in the freezer for 15 minutes.
  • Whip the cream in the chilled bowl until soft peaks form. Add the vanilla and powdered sugar. Continue to whisk until light and fluffy. Spread between your cake layers.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Servings | Calories: 462kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 123mg | Sodium: 316mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 19g

Equipment

Scoop
Brown Cupcake Liners
Cupcake Pan

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    Comments & Reviews

  1. Rachel Porter says

    December 11, 2022

    Is it ok to freeze this cake a couple of weeks in advance?

    Reply
    • Jesseca says

      December 12, 2022

      The cake, yes. The whipped cream will not freeze well. It’s best to bake the cake, cool completely, wrap in plastic and place in either a zip top bag or airtight container. When you are ready to thaw, let it sit overnight inside the refrigerator or on the counter for 20 to 30 minutes. Add the whipped cream and enjoy.

      Reply
  2. Donna says

    March 3, 2022

    Send new recipes

    Reply
    • Jesseca says

      March 4, 2022

      Hi Donna, would you like to be added to our email list so you can see recipes sent straight to your inbox?

      Reply
  3. Vanessa says

    November 20, 2021

    If you make it a day ahead, do you go ahead and frost it? Or do you make it ahead and put it together before eating it?

    Reply
    • Jesseca says

      November 21, 2021

      It actually tastes better if you make it ahead of time and assemble. We do this and just store it in the refrigerator.

      Reply
  4. MRenee says

    April 6, 2021

    Hi, planning to make this soon!
    Just wondering what chocolate works best for this recipe?

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Jesseca says

      April 6, 2021

      I like to used unsweetened chocolate. You can find this next to the cocoa powder in most baking aisles. Here’s a link to the one I use : https://amzn.to/31Qdchd

      Reply
    • MRenee says

      April 6, 2021

      @Jesseca,
      Perfect! Thank you for your help!

      Reply
  5. Katherine says

    April 13, 2020

    What size cake pans?

    Reply
    • Jesseca says

      April 13, 2020

      I use 8″ pans but 9″ would work as well

      Reply
  6. Cammy says

    December 21, 2019

    Hi
    If I make this a day ahead of time to I need to wrap it in plastic wrap when storing it in the fridge or something else? Thanks

    Reply
    • Jesseca says

      December 21, 2019

      We usually store ours in a cake tray. You can wrap the un frosted cake in plastic wrap, or even a frosted one. Whatever you feel most comfortable with.

      Reply
  7. Lindsey says

    November 11, 2019

    This is exactly what I was looking for! Any idea how well leftovers keep in the fridge? A few days?

    Reply
    • Jesseca says

      November 12, 2019

      I’d say about three days. That’s the longest it’s lasted in our home (most of the time it gets eaten by then). It tastes better the longer it sits in the fridge!

      Reply
  8. Denise says

    July 8, 2019

    Can you add cherries and make this into a Black Forest Cake? If so, how would I do it?

    Reply
    • Jesseca says

      July 9, 2019

      I’m sure you could. Maybe try spreading cherry pie filling between the layers?

      Reply
  9. Cassie says

    February 4, 2019

    5 stars
    Made this cake and the entire family really enjoyed it. I did let it sit in the refrigerator as suggested and it truly does add to the flavor. I thought it would dry out the cake but it didn’t!

    Thank you for the recipe. I will try it with a yellow cake as well.

    Reply
    • Jesseca says

      February 5, 2019

      Thank you for taking the time to comment!

      Reply
  10. Cheryl Muller says

    January 31, 2019

    The chocolate whipped cream cake recipe does not appear in the link. Can you post it?

    Reply
    • Jesseca says

      January 31, 2019

      I apologize for that! I updated the post and the recipe should appear now.

      Reply
  11. Todd says

    April 13, 2018

    Trying to make this for my wife’s birthday tonight and not a baker….two questions:

    1) Do I add all the ingredients for the whipped cream at once or do I do that in stages. I watched a vieo on how to create “soft peak” whipped cream and she was adding sugar in stages and adding lemon etc.

    2) Your cake looks like it has 3 cake layers but your recipe says divide the cake mixture into two pans, cook, then slice in half, creating two circles each….that would make 4 pieces of cake correct? Does the picture actually have 4 pieces of cake or just 3 like it seems? Are you just cutting one of the cakes in half to make 3 total pieces (1 thick middle and 2 thin pieces for top and bottom? Lastly how do you cut the cake in half properly? Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Jeff says

      August 5, 2018

      Hi Todd,

      When I made this recipe yesterday, I used a paring knife to lightly cut around the cake’s exterior. Once I’d made the mark around the cake, I used the light cuts as a guide for a serrated bread knife which finished the job fairly easily. My recommendation would be to refrigerate the cake after baking; cake cuts a lot smoother when it’s cold, rather than room temp.

      As for the whipped cream, I whipped the cream alone until it was nearly all fluffy, then added the vanilla and sugar and whisked it for another minute or two—the feel and taste were both perfect.

      Probably too late to help you, but hopefully future visitors will benefit!

      Reply

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Jesseca - Author of One Sweet Appetite

Welcome, I'm Jesseca!

I could not be more excited to have you join me in my kitchen! Everyday easy recipes are my specialty, which means you will find so many fast, quick, and delicious recipes throughout my site. My goal is to create go-to recipes using simple ingredients and pantry staples.

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