25 Chocolate Cakes That'll Make You Go Back for a Second Slice

We could wax poetic about chocolate cake—from the gratification of digging into a slice as a late-night snack to the extreme decadence that can only be understood when indulging in a rich, fudgy torte. But once we start talking about the greatest of all chocolate desserts, we find that words pale in comparison to a bite of the real thing—which is why we’ve always got at least a few recipes handy. From classic masterpieces like Devil’s Food, German Chocolate and Black Forest Cake to breezy bakes that are made with just a handful of ingredients or speedy cooking techniques (we’re looking at you, microwave mug cake!), chocolate cake never disappoints. Every recipe in this roundup is a winner, but you can never go wrong with a dessert that our test kitchen has declared their ‘best’— including this bakery-style treat. We topped it off with a frosting that has both melted chocolate for smoothness and cocoa for depth of flavor—making this one a must for chocolate lovers everywhere.

Trisha's crowd-pleasing chocolate pound cake couldn't be simpler to make. It relies on just a handful of basic ingredients — and doesn't require you to make any frosting.

One thin layer of chocolate cake becomes a decadent dessert for two in this easy recipe. Serve with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream for a creamy and delicious slice of layer cake.

Take chocolate-covered strawberries to a whole new level by baking the ingredients into a decadent cake. And don't stop there! Garnish your creation with more strawberries and drizzled semisweet and white chocolate for a true celebration of this perfect flavor pairing.

Ina's fan-favorite chocolate cake has thousands of 5-star reviews. Fans rave that this is their "go-to cake" and that promise that it will "melt in your mouth". The secret? Buttermilk to keep the cake tender and coffee to enhance the chocolate flavor!

This easy-to-make mini chocolate loaves get their richness from Dutch process cocoa and a touch of sour cream.

Everything you remember about the iconic Hostess Cupcake is here, from the chocolatey icing with the white loopy swirl to the fluffy cream filling inside.

This chocolatey classic is all about the coconut filling. We like ours with a cooked custard so it is extra rich and creamy. Made with cocoa powder and semisweet chocolate, the cake has a light texture and a light chocolate flavor. Semisweet chocolate also flavors the simply delicious ganache frosting.

This layered chocolate cake makes for a delectable bite of dense chocolate brownie and light-as-air mousse.

Some historians trace this famous cherry-chocolate cake (called Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte in German) back to the 16th century, but it was most likely named and popularized by German baker Josef Keller in 1915 Germans take their world-famous dessert seriously: The cake was granted protected status by the European Commission in 2013, meaning that for a dessert to be sold as a Black Forest Cake, it must contain Black Forest kirsch, a brandy made from local cherries.

This towering masterpiece is made from 4 layers each of fudgy cake and frosting. It makes the perfect birthday cake — but we'd gladlly eat a slice any day of the year!

Go ahead and indulge in these perfectly rich and dreamy chocolate lava cakes! Bittersweet chocolate and espresso powder create a luscious and balanced batter that stays molten in the center during baking.

This gluten-free cake can be enjoyed at room temperature, but chilling it transforms the texture, making it deliciously dense.

This classic British icebox cake (or fridge cake, as the Brits say) is made out of McVitie's biscuits and lots of chocolate. The cake is also said to be a favorite of Queen Elizabeth, who likes eating a slice with her afternoon tea.

Brown sugar in the batter of this classic fudgy cake makes it extra rich and gooey. Since baking it in the microwave doesn't heat up the kitchen, the cake makes a great summer treat, topped with vanilla (or your favorite) ice cream. The longer the cake cools, the more the pudding is absorbed.

Beat sour cream and a splash of coffee into melted chocolate for an outrageous frosting for rich chocolate cake.

This easy-to-make cake has the best parts of a soft, warm brownie: gooey on the inside and slightly crisp around the edges. It takes almost no time to prep and gives you the excuse to use your slow cooker for something sweet.

Mayonnaise (yes, mayonnaise) steps in for oil and butter as the tenderizer and flavor-enhancer in this retro frosted layer cake. And it does a wonderful job; no one will ever detect that it's your secret ingredient.

Chocolate and coffee make the perfect pair when you're baking. All it takes is a touch of espresso powder or strong-brewed coffee in either your cake or frosting (or both!) and you'll instantly enhance the rich, chocolately flavor of your finished treat.

One day in 1832 when Austrian diplomat Klemens von Metternich demanded that his kitchen create a dessert to impress visiting dignitaries, his chef was out sick. Franz Sacher, a 16-year-old kitchen apprentice, used what he had on hand to create what would become the most well-known Viennese dessert: a dark chocolate sponge cake with apricot jam.

Ree's decadent cake-for-one is ready in minutes. Simply put your ingredients into a microwave-safe mug, stir and bake (in the microwave!). You'll be enjoying warm chocolate cake in no time.

Cordials of chocolate-covered cherries, a classic "box of chocolates" staple, inspired this delicate cake, filled with a candied cherry mousse and covered in rich chocolate ganache.

That chocolate layer cake with fluffy vanilla frosting that you remember your grandmother making when you were young? This cake is the very same. It takes a bit of work to make one at home but when you're done you'll have an old-fashioned treat that's full of nostalgia — and rich, chocolatey flavor.

Stout's malty and roasted cocoa notes are enhanced in this cake with the addition of malted milk powder and Dutch-process cocoa — plus a syrup made with more stout. This sheet cake makes an ideal birthday cake for a grown-up (served with a few pints, of course!).