Name: One-Bowl Chocolate Cake
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons whole-wheat pastry flour, (see Ingredient Note); 0.5 cup granulated sugar; 0.33333334326744 cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 0.25 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup nonfat buttermilk, (see Tip); 0.5 cup packed light brown sugar; 1 large egg, lightly beaten; 2 tablespoons canola oil; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 0.5 cup hot strong black coffee; Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

One-Bowl Chocolate Cake

4.3

(40)

40 Reviews

This easy-to-make chocolate cake is dark, moist, and rich, and it's made with healthful canola oil and whole-wheat flour. Plus, it only dirties one bowl! It's not quite as easy as boxed cake mix, but our simple 3-step recipe gives you an entirely homemade cake in about an hour.

Patsy Jamieson

Updated on April 23, 2024

Tested by

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Reviewed by Dietitian

Sylvia Geiger, M.S., RD

Cook Time:

25 mins

Additional Time:

40 mins

Total Time:

1 hr 5 mins

Servings:

Yield:

12 servings

Nutrition Profile:

Diabetes-Appropriate Low-Sodium Heart-Healthy Low-Calorie

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Nutrition Notes

Is Whole-Wheat Pastry Flour Healthy?

Whole-wheat pastry flour is made from a softer white variety of wheat—compared to regular whole-wheat flour, which is typically made from a harder red wheat. Whole-wheat pastry flour may also be ground finer than regular whole-wheat flour and typically has a lower gluten content. Like regular whole-wheat flour, whole-wheat pastry flour is made from the whole wheat kernel, which means it offers more nutrition than refined wheat flour, including fiber, vitamins and minerals (although many refined flours are fortified with vitamins and minerals).

Is This Cake Vegetarian-Friendly?

As long as you eat dairy and eggs, yes, this cake is appropriate for a vegetarian eating pattern.

Tips from the Test Kitchen

What Is Whole-Wheat Pastry Flour?

Whole-wheat pastry flour, lower in protein than regular whole-wheat flour, has less gluten-forming potential, making it a better choice for tender baked goods. You can find it in the natural foods section of large supermarkets and in natural foods stores. Store in the freezer.

What If I Don’t Have Any Buttermilk?

No buttermilk? You can use buttermilk powder prepared according to package directions. Or make “sour milk”: Mix 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to 1 cup milk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Do You Need to Cool the Cake Before Slicing?

Tempting as it is to slice into (or even frost) a freshly baked cake that’s warm from the oven, we suggest you wait until the cake is completely cool. Cooling will allow the fats and proteins in the cake to firm up, and you will get more perfect slices with every cut for more oohs and aahs from those waiting for a piece.

Additional reporting by Carrie Myers, M.S. and Linda Frahm

Ingredients

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons whole-wheat pastry flour (see Ingredient Note)
½ cup granulated sugar
⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup nonfat buttermilk (see Tip)
½ cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup hot strong black coffee
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 9-inch round cake pan with cooking spray. Line the pan with a circle of waxed paper.

Jen Causey
Whisk flour, granulated sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Add buttermilk, brown sugar, egg, oil and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add hot coffee and beat to blend. (The batter will be quite thin.) Pour the batter into the prepared pan.

Jen Causey
Bake the cake until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes; remove from the pan, peel off the wax paper and let cool completely. Dust the top with confectioners' sugar before slicing.

Jen Causey

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

139	Calories
3g	Fat
27g	Carbs
2g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Calories 139
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 27g	10%
Dietary Fiber 2g	6%
Total Sugars 19g
Added Sugars 18g	36%
Protein 2g	5%
Total Fat 3g	4%
Saturated Fat 1g	3%
Cholesterol 16mg	5%
Vitamin A 23IU	0%
Folate 3mcg	1%
Sodium 212mg	9%
Calcium 38mg	3%
Iron 1mg	3%
Magnesium 14mg	3%
Potassium 63mg	1%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.