Chocolate Fudge Bundt Cake

Recipe by PJ Hamel

This moist, nicely dense fudge cake has an ultra-fine grain: think pound cake. Topped with a thick layer of rich ganache, it's a chocolate lover's dream come true.

Prep
25 mins
Bake
40 to 55 mins
Total
2 hrs 45 mins
Yield
one large Bundt cake
Chocolate Fudge Bundt Cake - select to zoom
Chocolate Fudge Bundt Cake - select to zoom
Chocolate Fudge Bundt Cake - select to zoom

Instructions

Prevent your screen from going dark as you follow along.
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

  2. To make the cake: Place the coffee, butter, and cocoa in a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl. Heat, stirring, until the butter melts. Remove from the heat, and whisk until smooth. Let the mixture cool for 10 minutes.

  3. While the chocolate is cooling, put the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and flour into a mixing bowl, whisking to combine.

  4. Pour the cooled chocolate mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients, and mix until thoroughly combined. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl, and mix again to incorporate any residue.

  5. In a separate bowl, whisk together the vanilla, eggs, and sour cream or yogurt. Mix into the chocolate batter, stirring until thoroughly combined.

  6. Thoroughly grease a 10- to 12-cup Bundt pan, preferably non-stick. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake the cake for 50 to 55 minutes, until a long toothpick or skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Note: a pan with a dark interior will bake the cake more quickly; start checking at about 40 minutes.

  7. Remove the cake from the oven, wait 5 minutes, and turn the pan over onto a cooling rack. After 5 more minutes, lift the pan off the cake. Let the cake cool completely before icing.

  8. To make the icing: Combine the chocolate and cream in a microwave-safe bowl, or in a saucepan set over medium heat. Heat until the cream starts to bubble around the edges.

  9. Remove from the heat, and stir until the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth. Spoon the icing over the top of the cake, letting it drip down the sides.

  10. Store any leftover cake at room temperature, well wrapped, for several days. Freeze for longer storage.

Tips from our Bakers

  • Looking for a gluten-free version of this recipe? Find it here: Gluten-Free Chocolate Fudge Bundt Cake.

  • If you sometimes have trouble with your Bundt cake getting stuck in the pan, check out the helpful tips in this blog post: How to prevent Bundt cakes from sticking. If your cake ends up sticking anyway, see Stuck Bundt for help.

  • We highly recommend using brewed coffee in this recipe; while coffee won't add its own mocha flavor, it enhances the cake's chocolate flavor. However, you may substitute water, juice, or even stout beer for the coffee, if desired.
  • If your cake develops a "foot" (a domed ring of cake) on the bottom, feel free to slice it off before transferring to a serving plate, for greater stability. But don't throw the cake trimmings away — baker's treat!