Moist Chocolate Chip Cake (Printable)

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

# What You Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
04 - ¼ teaspoon salt
05 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour for dusting chips

→ Wet Ingredients

06 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - 1 cup granulated sugar
08 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
09 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
10 - 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature

→ Add-ins and Topping

11 - 1 ¼ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
12 - 2 tablespoons coarse sugar or extra chocolate chips for sprinkling

# How-To:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9-inch round or square cake pan, ensuring all surfaces are coated to prevent sticking.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until thoroughly blended. Set aside for later use.
03 - In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition until fully incorporated. Stir in vanilla extract.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to butter mixture, alternating with buttermilk. Begin and end with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined, taking care not to overmix.
06 - Toss chocolate chips with 2 tablespoons flour in a small bowl until lightly coated. Gently fold chips into batter using a rubber spatula until evenly distributed.
07 - Pour batter into prepared pan, smoothing the top with spatula. Sprinkle with coarse sugar or extra chocolate chips if desired. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
08 - Allow cake to cool in pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and serve at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The buttermilk creates an incredibly moist crumb that stays fresh for days
  • Its equally delicious at breakfast with coffee or dessert after dinner
  • The simple technique means even beginner bakers get perfect results
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients blend together seamlessly and create a more even crumb
  • That extra flour coating on the chocolate chips is what keeps them suspended throughout the cake
03 -
  • Take your time creaming the butter and sugar. Those three minutes make the difference between dense and dreamy.
  • Use the best chocolate chips you can find since theyre the star of the show.

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