This moist, delicious Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake recipe is one of my favorite recipes for any special occasion. You can't beat the delicious results of a moist crumb with a deep rich chocolate cake flavor.
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❤️ Why you'll love it
Easy recipe: this chocolate cake recipe is so easy you can skip cake mixes and make a homemade rich chocolate cake in just 30 minutes.
Rich chocolate flavor: the combination of cocoa powder and mayonnaise intensifies the rich flavor of the cake.
Simple ingredients: chocolate mayonnaise cake ingredients are ones you probably already have on hand!
🥘 Ingredients
Cocoa powder: use a natural cocoa powder for best results.
Mayonnaise: this is the secret ingredient that adds fat and flavor and is used in place of oil and eggs in the recipe, I highly recommend using only full-fat mayonnaise.
Vanilla extract: to enhance flavors
Cooking spray
🔪 Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spray two round 8-inch cake pans with cooking spray, line with parchment paper, then coat with cooking spray once more.
- In a large bowl, using a hand whisk, combine flour, baking soda, sugar, and cocoa powder.
- Add the mayonnaise, water, and vanilla to the flour mixture and mix with an electric mixer on low speed until dry ingredients are just combined.
- Scrape the bowl to be sure to get all of the flour incorporated and the batter is smooth. Continue mixing on high speed until dry ingredients are incorporated.
- Pour cake batter into prepared pans and bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Let cake cool at least 15 minutes on wire rack. Remove cake from cake pan and remove the parchment paper from the bottom. Place cakes on wire rack and let cool completely before adding frosting (if using).
🥄 Equipment
8" round Cake Pans are the best choice for this particular recipe. I have made it in 9" and the cake is too flat for my liking.
Parchment paper: to line the cake pans.
Large bowl
Hand whisk
Electric mixer
Rubber scraper
Wire racks
🥫Storage
Room temperature: store leftover cake in an airtight container up to 5 days.
Freeze: freeze in a freezer safe container up to 3 months.
📖 Variations
- Stir in 1 cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips.
- Instead of a layer cake, bake the cake in a 9x13 baking dish.
💭 Tips
- Use a full-fat real mayonnaise, you need to fat to keep moisture in the cake.
- Line the bottom of the cake pan with parchment paper then spray with non-stick cooking spray to prevent cake from sticking to bottom and sides of the pan.
📚 Related Recipes
Mayonnaise is the magic ingredient that makes these mashed potatoes so delicious!
These Red Velvet Brownies are fudgy, rich, and oh so delicious!
Golden brown and crispy, these Deep Fried Pizza Rolls are packed with cheese and pepperoni!
🍽 Serve with...
Serve cake frosted with Chocolate Frosting, Cream Cheese Frosting, or a frosting recipe of your choice. It is also delicious without frosting and a sprinkling of powdered sugar.
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When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
Equipment
- 8" round cake pans
- Wire racks
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Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1¼ cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- 1½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spray two round 8-inch cake pans with cooking spray, line with parchment paper, then coat with cooking spray once more.
- In a large bowl, using a hand whisk, sift together flour, baking soda, sugar, and cocoa powder.
- Add the mayonnaise, water, and vanilla to the flour mixture and mix with an electric mixer on low speed until dry ingredients are just combined.
- Scrape the bowl to be sure to get all of the flour incorporated and the batter is smooth.
- Pour cake batter into prepared pans and bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Let cake cool at least 15 minutes on wire rack. Remove cake from cake pan and remove the parchment paper from the bottom.
- Place cakes on wire rack and let cool completely before adding frosting (if using).
Pamela Whitton says
So moist, just the right amount of “sweetness”.
Joan says
Can this be made in a 9x13 pan
Shelby Law Ruttan says
It sure can be! I would test the cake at 30 minutes and if it isn't ready, just bake it a little longer until it springs back and a toothpick comes out clean.
Teena says
Very moist enjoyed it very much.
Becki R Helderman says
I have a 7” Bundt pan for my Instapot. Could I make this in my Instapot?
Thanks in advance
Becki Helderman
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Hi Becki, I have not done this myself so I can't recommend it. If you have baked cakes in your instant pot and been successful, then I think you could absolutely try to do so however I cannot say it will work as I have not done it. If you do, let me know how it turns out! Shelby
Brianna says
Could this be turned into a Keto cake by subbing the flour with almond flour and a natural sugar substitute?
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Hi Brianna, I have not tested a large cake as keto and I do think you would need to probably make other adjustments, such as more almond flour and possibly add eggs to help with the rise. I can't tell you what exact adjustments to make as I haven't tested it myself. However, I do have a microwave keto mayonnaise cake on my website (under keto desserts) that is for two and it's very highly rated. Shelby