Make a rich, fudgy copycat Matilda’s chocolate cake at home! This easy recipe shows you how to recreate the iconic cake everyone will love.
If you love chocolate, this copycat Matilda chocolate cake recipe is about to be your new favorite dessert. It’s rich, fudgy, and totally over-the-top, just like the iconic slice from the movie.
Enjoy it warm, piled high with ice cream, or cut into giant Matilda-style slices for the full effect! Think about making this for birthdays, celebrations, or anytime you’re craving something decadent.
Chocolate Cake Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients listed below to make this delicious dessert (the exact measurements, nutrition information and full recipe are all in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post).
Cake Batter
- Granulated Sugar
- All Purpose Flour
- Cocoa Powder
- Espresso Powder
- Baking Soda
- Baking Powder
- Salt
- Eggs
- Buttermilk
- Sour Cream
- Vegetable Oil
- Vanilla Extract
- Water
Chocolate Frosting
- Unsalted Butter
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
- Milk
- Vanilla Extract
Kitchen Equipment
- 3 9-inch round cake pans
- Hand/Stand Mixer
How to Make Matilda Chocolate Cake
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Make the Cake
- Grease and line three 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Add eggs, buttermilk, sour cream, oil, and vanilla extract.
- Beat with a hand mixer on medium speed until smooth.
- Slowly pour in boiling water while mixing on low speed; batter will be thin.
- Divide batter evenly between pans.
- Bake for 28–32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Make the Cake Soak
- In a small saucepan, stir together water, cocoa powder, sugar, and vanilla extract.
- Heat over medium heat just until sugar dissolves.
- Remove from heat and let cool.
Make the Chocolate Frosting
- Beat softened butter in a large bowl until creamy.
- Add cocoa powder and mix until fully blended.
- Gradually add powdered sugar, alternating with milk.
- Mix in vanilla extract.
- Beat until light, fluffy, and spreadable.
Assemble the Cake
- Place one cake layer on a serving plate or cake stand.
- Brush the top with a few spoonfuls of cake soak.
- Spread a generous layer of chocolate frosting over the top.
- Repeat with the second and third layers, soaking and frosting each.
- Cover the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting.
Serve and Enjoy
- Let cake sit for 30 minutes before slicing.
- For a firmer frosting, chill before serving.
- Slice big and enjoy, Matilda-style!
If you like chocolate, try this recipe...Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies (Gluten Free)
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Copycat Matilda Chocolate Cake Recipe
Make a rich, fudgy copycat Matilda’s chocolate cake at home! This easy recipe shows you how to recreate the iconic, ultra-chocolatey slice everyone loves.
Author: Recipe Idea Shop
Equipment
- 3 9-inch Round Cake Pans
- Hand/Stand Mixer
Ingredients
- 4 cups White Granulated Sugar
- 3 ½ cups All Purpose Flour
- 1 ½ cups Cocoa Powder
- ¼ cup Espresso Powder
- 1 tablespoon Baking Soda
- 1 tablespoon Baking Powder
- 2 teaspoon Salt
- 4 Eggs
- 1 cup Buttermilk
- 1 cup Sour Cream
- 1 cup Vegetable Oil
- 1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 cups Boiling Water
Chocolate Frosting
- 2 cups Unsalted Butter, softened
- 3 cups Cocoa Powder
- 4 cups Powdered Sugar
- 1 ⅓ cup Milk
- 2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease and line three 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Add eggs, buttermilk, sour cream, oil, and vanilla extract.
- Beat with a hand mixer on medium speed until smooth.
- Slowly pour in boiling water while mixing on low speed; batter will be thin.
- Divide batter evenly between pans.
- Bake for 28–32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Make the Cake Soak
- In a small saucepan, stir together water, cocoa powder, sugar, and vanilla extract.
- Heat over medium heat just until sugar dissolves.
- Remove from heat and let cool.
Make the Chocolate Frosting
- Beat softened butter in a large bowl until creamy.
- Add cocoa powder and mix until fully blended.
- Gradually add powdered sugar, alternating with milk.
- Mix in vanilla extract.
- Beat until light, fluffy, and spreadable.
Assemble the Cake
- Place one cake layer on a serving plate or cake stand.
- Brush the top with a few spoonfuls of cake soak.
- Spread a generous layer of chocolate frosting over the top.
- Repeat with the second and third layers, soaking and frosting each.
- Cover the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting.
Serve
- Let cake sit for 30 minutes before slicing.
- For a firmer frosting, chill before serving.
- Slice big and enjoy, Matilda-style!
Nutrition (may vary depending on ingredients and amounts used)
Serving: 1slice | Calories: 1393.11kcal | Carbohydrates: 192.34g | Protein: 17.83g | Fat: 72.61g | Saturated Fat: 33.78g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14.85g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18.43g | Trans Fat: 1.64g | Cholesterol: 183.2mg | Sodium: 1010.8mg | Potassium: 995.57mg | Fiber: 15.5g | Sugar: 131.46g | Vitamin A: 1465.18IU | Vitamin C: 0.21mg | Calcium: 249.77mg | Iron: 8.22mg
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