• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
I Heart Eating
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
      • Work with Me
    • Rules and Disclosures
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Press
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Desserts » Six Minute Chocolate Cake

    Six Minute Chocolate Cake

    Published: Aug 12, 2019 · Modified: Mar 2, 2021 by Kate · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Six Minute Chocolate Cake is an easy, homemade one-bowl cake recipe! This cake is naturally egg-free, dairy-free (vegan) and takes just minutes to make!Piece of 6 minute chocolate cake on a plate with a fork next to it

    I love having simple recipes to rely on. The kind of recipes that I can turn to when I need something quick and reliable.

    This 6 minute chocolate cake is just that sort of recipe. It really does take just take a few minutes to stir together, and it makes a nice moist chocolate cake.

    This easy chocolate cake is also a great one to make when you haven't run to the store in a while (or when you need to make a dessert for someone who eats egg-free, dairy-free, or vegan).

    And, best of all, you end up with a moist and tasty homemade chocolate cake that's mixed in one bowl in virtually no time!

    How to make homemade chocolate cake (in just 6 minutes!)

    sugar and oil in a white mixing bowl

    This cake really does take just minutes to make, and there's no need to use a hand mixer to make this cake. It mixes easily by hand.

    In a medium bowl, whisk the sugar, oil, water, and vanilla together until combined. Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk in until just combined.

    6 minute chocolate cake batter in a white mixing bowl

    Add the vinegar, and mix in just until combined. Don't overmix the batter as the bubbles help to lighten the batter.

    Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish, and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

    6 Minute Chocolate Cake in a metal baking pan with 1 piece cut out of it

    Frostings that pair well with this cake

    I like to pair this easy chocolate cake with an equally easy chocolate frosting. Two of my favorites are chocolate buttercream frosting and chocolate cream cheese frosting.

    If you're looking for an easy vanilla frosting, this vanilla buttercream frosting goes well with this cake.

    What makes this cake so easy to make

    This chocolate cake recipe is so simple and easy to make!

    • It doesn't require any crazy ingredients. This cake relies on pantry staples that are easy to keep on-hand.
    • This cake uses oil instead of butter, and it doesn't contain any dairy. So there's no need to wait for butter to soften or dairy to come to room temperature before using.
    • It's easy to stir up this cake by hand. This batter is very easy to whisk, and I recommend mixing it by hand to avoid overmixing the batter.
    • This is a one-bowl cake. Since everything is mixed in one bowl, there are fewer dishes to wash.

    Piece of 6 Minute Chocolate Cake with a fork next to itMore easy dessert recipes!

    • Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
    • Classic No Bake Cookies
    • Easy M&M Cookie Recipe

    If you’ve tried this 6 minute chocolate cake recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who've made my recipes!

    You can SUBSCRIBE to receive my latest recipe newsletters or FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for even more delicious food.

    Slice of 6 Minute Chocolate Cake topped with chocolate buttercream frosting

    6 Minute Chocolate Cake

    Moist chocolate cake that takes just minutes to make
    5 from 19 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 6 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 31 minutes
    Servings: 9 servings
    Calories: 279kcal
    Author: Kate @ I Heart Eating

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • ½ cup vegetable oil
    • 1 cup lukewarm water
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour1
    • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 tablespoons white vinegar
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 375F. Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking dish. Set aside.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk sugar, oil, water, and vanilla together until combined.
    • Add flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
    • Whisk in until just combined.
    • Add the vinegar and stir just until combined. Don't overmix.
    • Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
    • Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
    • Let the cake cool in the pan.

    Video

    Notes

    1. To measure the flour, stir the flour to break it up. Lightly spoon into a measuring cup and then level. 
    2. Chocolate cream cheese frosting and chocolate buttercream frosting both go well with this cake. 
    3. Nutrition values are estimates. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 279kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 254mg | Potassium: 95mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 22g | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe? Rate it below. Mention @i_heart_eating on Instagram & tag #ihearteating!
    « Apple Muffins
    Cauliflower Mac and Cheese »
    11.8K shares
    • Facebook
    • Email

    About Kate

    Kate got her first cookbook when she was five years old, and she hasn't stopped cooking since then! Her delicious recipes have been featured on Food Network, MSN, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and more. When she's not cooking or baking, she can be found on her mini farm with her husband and her five kids.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Misty

      June 18, 2022 at 2:09 pm

      I’ve made this recipe before and loved it! So I decided to double the recipe and for some reason it started to smell like it was burning half way through. Not sure why that is. It didn’t happen last time I made it. Any ideas?

      Reply
      • Kate

        June 21, 2022 at 1:08 pm

        Oh no! What size pan did you use when you doubled it?

        Reply
    2. Kendall bright

      June 02, 2022 at 12:01 am

      Can I make this recipe in a 9x13 pan ? Do I need to double it if I do that ?

      Reply
      • Kate

        June 02, 2022 at 3:13 pm

        Yes, you would need to double the ingredients for a 9x13-inch pan.

        Reply
    3. Karen

      September 10, 2021 at 7:13 am

      I am looking for a gluten free chocolate cake. Do you think I could substitute gluten free flour for this recipe?

      Reply
      • Kate

        September 11, 2021 at 7:30 pm

        I think that a 1:1 gf flour blend would work well. I also have a flourless chocolate cake recipe if you're interested.

        Reply
        • Francine Jacobson

          December 01, 2021 at 8:56 pm

          Could you tell me what is the role of vinegar ?
          Thank you

          Reply
          • Kate

            December 02, 2021 at 2:09 pm

            The vinegar causes a chemical reaction, and the resulting bubbles help to lighten the batter.

    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Rate this recipe:




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    I’m Kate Dean- mom to five young kids, recipe developer, and photographer. Here at I Heart Eating®, I share my family’s favorite tried-and-true recipes.

    More about me →

    4th of July Recipes

    • Red White and Blue M&M Cookies
    • Red White and Blue Cupcakes
    • Red White & Blue Marble Cake
    • Red White and Blue Rice Krispies Treats

    Summer Favorites

    • Zucchini Bread
    • Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
    • Pasta Salad Recipe
    • Homemade Funnel Cake
    • Golden Graham S'mores
    • Broccoli Salad
    • Strawberry Jello Pie
    • Simple Turkey Burger Recipe

    Popular Posts

    • Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
    • Brownie Cookie Recipe
    • Whipped Buttercream Frosting without Powdered Sugar
    • Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal Muffins

    Subscribe via email

    to stay in the loop on new posts!

    Footer

    As Featured In

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Legal
    • Rules and Disclosures

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with Me
    • Press

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 I Heart Eating

    11.8K shares