Matilda Chocolate Cake

Want to try the most amazing decadent chocolate cake? We are happy to show you how you can make Matilda chocolate cake from scratch by following our delicious recipe. This chocolate cake is unlike any other you have ever tasted. We hope you’ll give it a try and we hope you enjoy it!

Matilda Chocolate Cake Recipe from Scratch

We are excited to show you how you can easily make a delicious chocolate cake that is so fudgy and moist, reminding you of the chocolate cake in Matilda.

Perhaps you remember watching the old film and feeling for Bruce as he ate that huge chocolate cake. Well, this time, not only one person has to eat the whole cake, instead, we are going to show you how to make the best chocolate cake from scratch, that you can share with those close to you.

This cake is seriously so moist, and delicious, you really need to try out this recipe in order to taste for yourself how good it is. Let’s look at what ingredients you will need in order to make this recipe.

Matilda Layered Chocolate Fudge Cake

Moist Chocolate Cake Recipe Ingredients

For the Cake

All-purpose flour. We recommend using basic all-purpose flour for your cake, however, if you need to substitute for dietary reasons, you can use your favorite type of all-purpose flour.

Sugar. We recommend using granulated sugar for the best overall quality of your cake. Using granulated sugar will help to give you the correct taste and texture in your cake.

Dutch cocoa powder. Strongly recommend that you use Dutch cocoa powder for this recipe. When using Dutch cocoa powder, you will have a darker richer cake than if you use regular cocoa powder.

Salt. You can use kosher salt, sea salt, or iodized salt for this recipe.

Baking soda. Baking soda is important as it will help the cake rise.

Baking powder. Baking powder is also important because it helps the cake rise and gives it texture.

Mayonnaise. Yes, you read that correctly, mayonnaise. We recommend using regular or light mayonnaise in this cake for the best overall texture. Plus, the mayonnaise helps to keep it moist. If you need a substitute, you can replace mayonnaise with sour cream.

Eggs. Eggs are important because they help hold everything together.

Coffee. We recommend that you use freshly brewed coffee that is still hot. You’ll want to use just a regular coffee, nothing fancy or flavored.

Oil. If possible, we recommend using vegetable oil for this recipe, but you may substitute it for olive oil or avocado oil if desired.

Vanilla. You can use vanilla extract or imitation vanilla flavoring to help add a hint of vanilla flavor to your cake.

For the Ganache Frosting Filling (optional)

Heavy cream. Heavy cream or whipping cream is used in making this ganache frosting and helps to hold everything together, giving the frosting a delightful volume.

Chocolate chips. We strongly encourage you to use dark chocolate chips for the ganache frosting so that it does not become overpoweringly sweet. You may use another type of chocolate if you prefer, but please be aware that it will make the ganache very sweet.

Vegetable Cristo. Vegetable Crisco helps to make the ganache frosting fluffy and holds it together. We do recommend that you use vegetable Crisco rather than butter Crisco as it is a lighter color and slightly different texture.

Powdered sugar. Powdered sugar or confectioner sugar is used to sweeten and form the body of the ganache frosting filling.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

Cream cheese. We recommend using soft cream cheese as the base for amazing chocolate cream cheese frosting.

Butter. Salted butter that has softened to room temperature works well for this frosting recipe.

Dutch cocoa powder. Once again, we recommend using Dutch cocoa powder for amazing chocolate frosting rather than your regular cocoa powder.

Powdered sugar. Powdered sugar or confectioner’s sugar is what you want to use to sweeten the base of your chocolate buttercream.

Milk. You can use any type of milk in this frosting. You will want to use just enough to help smooth out the frosting and moisten it.

Vanilla. For this recipe, you can use vanilla extract or imitation vanilla to help flavor the cream cheese buttercream frosting.

How to make this recipe

How to make the cake

To make the cake begin by brewing your coffee in a coffee pot, keeping it warm until you are ready to add it to the cake batter.

Next, in a mixing bowl combine all of your dry ingredients for the cake including all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, Dutch cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Stir the dry ingredients until they are combined. Set aside.

Now take another large mixing bowl, and combine the wet ingredients including, mayonnaise, eggs, oil, and vanilla.

While mixing, slowly pour in your dry ingredients. When mixed, take your coffee, and slowly add the coffee while mixing. Mix until combined, do not overmix.

Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C).

Take three cake pans and spray them with cooking spray. Dust each pan with flour or cocoa powder so that the bottom and edges of the pan are covered. Dispose of any extra.

Pour the cake batter into each cake pan so that it is divided evenly. Tap each pan on the counter to remove the air bubbles.

Place the cake pans into the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean.

Allow the cake to cool completely on a wire cooling rack if possible.

How to Make the Optional Ganache Frosting Filling

To make the ganache filling, begin by taking a microwave-safe bowl and adding the heavy cream. Microwave for 1 to 2 minutes until the cream is warmed but not boiling.

Add in the chocolate chips in allow them to rest for 3 to 5 minutes until the chocolate chips are melted. Stir until combined.

In a mixing bowl beat vegetable Crisco and powdered sugar together. Slowly pour in the melted chocolate and beat until combined. Set aside.

How to Make Chocolate Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

In a large mixing bowl combine softened butter and softened cream cheese. Beat and high speed until creamy.

Mix in Dutch cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and milk. Beat until smooth. Add vanilla and more milk if you wish to have thinner frosting. Beat until smooth.

How To Assemble and Frost a Chocolate Cake

When the cake has cooled, you can trim off the rounded side of your cake so that each layer is flat if desired.

Next, take your serving dish and stack the first layer of cake. Then spread the chocolate ganache frosting filling over the first layer. If needed, you can refrigerate it until it stiffens.

Add the next layer and add more chocolate ganache filling open the second layer. Refrigerate once more if it needs to stiffen.

Finally, add the top layer of your cake so that it is bottom side up. Once your cake is assembled, make sure that your ganache frosting filling layers are stiffened before adding your chocolate cream cheese buttercream frosting.

Next, take a butter knife and smooth out the chocolate cream cheese buttercream frosting over the sides and top of your cake.

Keep in mind that it doesn’t have to be perfectly smooth, in fact, you can add texture with a butter knife so that it does not have to be perfectly smooth. If there is any frosting remaining, you can decorate the cake using a piping bag if you wish.

Now your cake is ready to serve and enjoy, or you can save it for later to serve. We hope you enjoy this delicious cake!

Recipe Tips & Tricks

Make sure the cake is cool. Make sure that you allow plenty of time for the cake layers to completely cool before you try to assemble and frost the cake. It is essential that the cake is completely cool before proceeding.

Trim the cake layers. If you want to be sure that your cake layers are perfectly flat, then you will want to trim the top of each cake layer to remove the rounded side. You want to do this with a long and sharp knife before assembling the cake.

To Make A Giant Matilda Cake. As you may remember from Matilda, the chocolate cake in the film is huge. If you want to make a giant Matilda cake, you may do it using this recipe, but you will want to have special pans that are very large (this recipe is for 9-inch pans) then double the recipe.

Substitutions

Mayonnaise. Our cake recipe calls for mayonnaise. As strange as it sounds it does help to moisten the cake. If you wish to substitute mayonnaise for another ingredient you may use sour cream instead.

Chocolate ganache frosting filling. Our recipe shows you how you can make chocolate ganache frosting filling for each layer of the cake. However, if you wish to skip this step, you can simply do one and ½ times the frosting recipe and skip making the ganache.

How to Serve

This cake may be served fresh at room temperature, or after it has been chilled in the fridge. We do recommend that if you are not going to serve it within a few hours time, it should be stored in the fridge.

You can enjoy our recipe for Matilda chocolate cake as a delicious snack or dessert anytime. There’s never a wrong time to enjoy amazing chocolate cake.

How To Store, Freeze, and Thaw

Store

Store at room temperature. This chocolate cake should be stored at room temperature for no more than two hours before placing it into the fridge. We do recommend that once the cake is completely assembled it be stored in the fridge due to the cream cheese dairy products it contains.

In the fridge. Our delicious chocolate cake recipe can be placed in the fridge, preferably sealed in airtight container, for up to one week.

Freeze and Thaw

To Freeze. Yes, our delicious chocolate cake can also be frozen. To freeze the cake, you don’t want to wrap the cake completely in plastic wrap or if you are able, store in a plastic container then place into the freezer for longer storage. We recommend that for the best results, this cake be frozen for no more than three months.

How to Thaw Chocolate Cake

In the fridge. The easiest way to thaw frozen chocolate cake is in the refrigerator.

To do this you will want to remove the cake from your freezer and place it in the fridge.

Allow at least eight hours or up to twenty-four hours for the cake to thaw in the fridge.

Room temperature. You can also allow the cake to thaw at room temperature, but you will want to be careful when doing this.

We recommend the refrigerator method, since this cake does contain cream cheese frosting, and can be dangerous to allow it to sit at room temperature for too long.

Variations

Hot water. If you are not a fan of coffee, or simply don’t have it, you can replace the coffee with boiling water in the cake batter.

Types of chocolate. We recommend using Dutch cocoa powder and dark chocolate chips when making this cake recipe.

Doing this helps to eliminate a lot of the sweetness and simply makes the cake delightfully rich.

If you wish to use regular cocoa powder, or semi-sweet, or milk chocolate chips, you may do so, but please be aware that it will make the cake sweeter overall.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do you add coffee to the cake batter?

Adding coffee to the cake batter helps to make the cake taste amazing and extra chocolatey.

What pan size should I use?

For our recipe, we recommend using three 9-inch cake pans.

How do you store the chocolate cake?

The chocolate cake can be left at room temperature for a few hours, but afterward should be kept in the refrigerator for longer storage.

Can I freeze leftover cake?

Yes, the leftover chocolate cake can be frozen if you wish. Make sure to seal the cake securely before freezing it.

What does the cake taste like?

Our Matilda chocolate cake recipe makes a fabulous tasting rich chocolate cake. The great thing about this chocolate cake is that it is not overpoweringly sweet but instead has nice and rich flavors.

Matilda’s Chocolate Cake

Our recipe for Matilda’s chocolate cake is a delicious replica of the cake in the old movie. This cake recipe is unlike any other. Our chocolate cake is loaded with amazing chocolate flavors and so rich, you will definitely want to share it with your family and friends.

We hope that you will give this delicious chocolate cake recipe a try, and let us know what you think about it. We are so excited to share it with you and hope that you will enjoy it too!

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The Best Matilda Chocolate Cake

Matilda Chocolate Cake

Matilda Chocolate Cake Recipe from Scratch