Chocolate Chip Cake (Print version)

A moist, tender cake studded with rich chocolate chips—perfect for any occasion from afternoon tea to festive gatherings.

# What you'll need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
04 - ¼ teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

05 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 1 cup granulated sugar
07 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
09 - 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature

→ Add-ins

10 - 1 ¼ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
11 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour for dusting chips

→ Optional Topping

12 - 2 tablespoons coarse sugar or extra chocolate chips

# How to make it:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9-inch round or square cake pan.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
03 - Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
04 - Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, alternating with buttermilk. Begin and end with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
06 - Toss chocolate chips with 2 tablespoons flour, then gently fold into batter.
07 - Pour batter into prepared pan. Smooth top and sprinkle with coarse sugar or extra chips if desired.
08 - Bake for 35-40 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean or with moist crumbs.
09 - Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn onto wire rack to cool completely. Slice and serve.

# Expert suggestions:

01 -
  • The buttermilk keeps it incredibly moist for days, unlike most cakes that dry out overnight
  • It strikes that perfect balance between not too sweet and just indulgent enough
  • Everyone assumes you spent hours on it, but it comes together in one bowl
02 -
  • Overmixing once you add the flour will make your cake tough, so stop as soon as you see no dry streaks
  • The toothpick test matters, don't take it out early or the center will sink
  • Room temperature ingredients blend better and create a more even texture
03 -
  • Let your butter soften on the counter, don't microwave it or the texture will be off
  • The coarse sugar on top creates this irresistible crackly crust that everyone fights over

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