Chocolate chip cake is comfort food at its finest, soft, buttery cake studded with gooey chocolate chips that melt in your mouth. It’s the kind of dessert that brings a smile with every bite, whether it’s served for birthdays, tea time, or a spontaneous baking session on a rainy afternoon.
Imagine pulling the warm cake from the oven: the sweet aroma of butter, sugar, and chocolate fills the kitchen, and each slice reveals pockets of rich, melty chocolate. This cake proves that simple ingredients can create something extraordinary.
Whether you’re an experienced baker or a beginner, this chocolate chip cake recipe is easy to follow and delivers bakery-quality results at home.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
- 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Optional Toppings:
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- Extra chocolate chips or chocolate drizzle
Kitchen Tools
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer or stand mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Whisk and spatula
- 9×13-inch baking pan or 2 9-inch round pans
- Cooling rack
- Toothpick (for doneness test)
How to Make Chocolate Chip Cake
1. Preheat & Prep
Preheat your oven to 175°C / 350°F. Grease and flour your baking pan(s), or line with parchment paper for easy removal.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This ensures even distribution and prevents lumps.
3. Cream Butter & Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar together until light, fluffy, and pale for about 3–4 minutes. This step is key to a soft, tender cake.
4. Add Eggs & Vanilla
Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract for that warm, inviting aroma.
5. Alternate Dry & Wet Ingredients
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix just until combined, overmixing can make the cake dense.
6. Fold in Chocolate Chips
Gently fold in chocolate chips, reserving a few to sprinkle on top. This ensures every bite has delicious pockets of melty chocolate.
7. Bake
Pour the batter into your prepared pan(s) and smooth the top. Bake for 35–45 minutes (for a 9×13-inch pan) or 25–30 minutes (for 9-inch rounds), or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. During baking, your kitchen will fill with the irresistible scent of warm chocolate and vanilla, pure comfort!
8. Cool & Serve
Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with melted chocolate if desired. Slice and serve, letting the chocolate chips shine in every bite.
Tips for Perfect Chocolate Chip Cake
Room Temperature Ingredients – Ensures smoother batter and better rise.
Don’t Overmix – It keeps the cake soft and tender.
Chocolate Chip Distribution – Toss chips in a little flour before folding in to prevent them from sinking to the bottom.
Check Doneness Early – Oven temperatures vary; start checking a few minutes before the recommended time.
Make Ahead – Cake can be baked a day ahead; wrap tightly to maintain moisture.
Fun Variations
- Chocolate Chip & Walnut Cake – Add chopped walnuts for crunch.
- Chocolate Chip Banana Cake – Replace some butter with mashed banana for extra flavor.
- Double Chocolate Chip Cake – Use cocoa powder in the batter for a richer chocolate experience.
- Coffee-Chocolate Chip Cake – Add 1 tbsp instant coffee to the batter to enhance the chocolate flavor.
Chocolate chip cake is simple, nostalgic, and endlessly satisfying. It’s the perfect treat for cozy evenings, celebrations, or just a sweet pick-me-up. The soft cake, studded with melty chocolate, is comforting, indulgent, and crowd-pleasing, all from the comfort of your home kitchen.
Whether served plain, dusted with powdered sugar, or drizzled with chocolate, this cake proves that baking from scratch is both fun and rewarding. Each bite is a little reminder that some of life’s greatest pleasures are homemade.
