Small cakes are certainly convenient for small celebrations. This 1-layer 6-inch chocolate cake serves 4, so it’s perfect for date night, a Valentine’s Day dessert, a small family birthday celebration, or for whenever you need a scaled-down cake. We all love it with chocolate ganache on top. You can also use this chocolate cake batter to make a small batch of cupcakes.
This Is a 1-Layer 6-Inch Chocolate Cake
Over the past year, I’ve received many requests for smaller variations of normally large desserts. My team and I have directed a lot of bakers to our 6-inch cake recipes blog post, where I teach you how to turn cupcake batter into a 6-inch layer cake. But what if you don’t need 3 layers?
Here’s my 1-layer 6 inch chocolate cake recipe. I worked on this recipe with Valentine’s Day on my mind. Wouldn’t it be nice to make a tiny cake without a ton of leftover slices? But even beyond Valentine’s Day dessert recipes, it’s massively convenient to have a dessert option for small gatherings or celebrations, as part of your Mother’s Day recipes or Father’s Day recipes, or just an at-home date night.
If you need a chocolate cake recipe that’s just a smidge larger, this mint chocolate cake will give you one 9-inch round cake.
Small Chocolate Cake Details
- Flavor: This cake is sweet with divine chocolate flavor, especially when you pair it with deep dark chocolate ganache (recipe included below). Wait for the cake to cool completely before digging in. I find its chocolate flavor develops after a few hours.
- Texture: If it’s not over-baked, this cake is soft, rich, and indulgently moist. Have you ever made the sour cream version of my larger layered chocolate cake? The texture is pretty much identical. Any unfrosted edges become delicately crisp (not in a bad way!), which adds a little textural dimension to each slice.
- Ease: Since the cake is so small and there’s no elaborate decorating required, this is a very manageable recipe for beginner bakers. The ingredient list is pretty straightforward and you don’t even need to use a mixer.
- Time: Set aside a few hours to complete this cake recipe. The cake is pretty thick, so it takes close to 30 minutes to bake through. The longest stretch of time, however, is waiting for the cake to cool.
- Equipment: Nothing special except for a 6-inch cake pan (affiliate link to the exact cake pans I use and love).
Overview of the Ingredients & Process
Though you can find the full printable recipe below, let me walk you through a couple steps and answer some possible questions that may arise.
The batter comes together in 2 mixing bowls. Whisk flour, unsweetened natural cocoa powder, baking soda, espresso powder, and salt together in one bowl. The espresso powder is optional, but definitely use it if you have it. Espresso powder accentuates and deepens the chocolate flavor. In another bowl, whisk oil, sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and buttermilk. Buttermilk is our acidic ingredient and crucial for this cake’s rise. If you don’t have buttermilk, use the DIY version detailed in the notes below.
Expect a semi-thick cake batter.
Like I recommend with all my 6-inch cakes, use a parchment paper round. Trace the bottom of your 6-inch cake pan on a piece of parchment paper. Cut out the parchment circle. Very lightly grease the cake pan. Place the parchment round inside. Grease the parchment round too. Yes, grease the pan AND the parchment (I use nonstick spray). This promises an ultra-nonstick environment for your small chocolate cake.
Though its diameter is small, this is a thick chocolate cake. It’s pretty moist, too. Because of its thickness and delicious moisture, the cake may sink a little in the very center. Don’t fret over that. (Cover it up with ganache!) As long as a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, it’s done.
Toppings
You can top this small chocolate cake with chocolate ganache (recipe included below), buttercream, or whipped cream. For a thick layer of buttercream, I recommend halving this chocolate buttercream, this strawberry buttercream, this peanut butter frosting, or this vanilla buttercream. For a lightly sweetened whipped cream topping, you could halve the mocha whipped cream paired with my flourless chocolate cake or halve this vanilla whipped cream recipe.
The pictured heart sprinkles are no longer available, but here is a similar set. (Affiliate link.) And I bought this adorable pink cake stand from Home Goods a few years ago.
Use This Batter for 6 Chocolate Cupcakes
So what if you want a smaller batch of chocolate cupcakes? Yes, you can absolutely use this recipe. This chocolate cake batter yields about 1 and 1/2 cups of batter total, which makes 6 standard size cupcakes. How does it weigh up against my standard chocolate cupcakes recipe? Well, this batter is a little thicker so the cupcakes aren’t quite as light, delicate, and spongy. They’re soft and moist, but have a slightly heavier crumb.
- For a cupcake topping, use any of the topping options listed above.
- For the pictured frosted cupcakes, I used the chocolate ganache recipe below. After the ganache cools completely, you can beat it with an electric mixer for about 3–4 minutes to make whipped ganache. Tastes like chocolate mousse! You can read more about it in the recipe below or in my chocolate ganache post.
What About a Vanilla Version?
I don’t have a vanilla version of this recipe at this time. Though I haven’t tested it, I’m confident you could halve this 1-layer sprinkle cake recipe to yield a 1-layer 6-inch vanilla cake or 6 vanilla cupcakes. Feel free to omit the sprinkles for a plain vanilla cake.
PrintSmall Chocolate Cake (6 Inch)
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours (includes cake and ganache cooling)
- Yield: serves 4
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This 1-layer 6-inch chocolate cake serves 4, so it’s perfect for any occasion calling for a scaled-down cake. You can also use this chocolate cake batter to make a small batch of 6 chocolate cupcakes. For best success, review the recipe Notes before starting.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (63g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1/4 cup (21g) unsweetened natural cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup (60ml) vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup (60ml) buttermilk, at room temperature
Chocolate Ganache
- one 4-ounce (113g) quality semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate bar, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy cream or heavy whipping cream
- optional garnish: raspberries, mint, and/or sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease a 6-inch round cake pan, line with a parchment paper round, then grease the parchment paper. Parchment paper helps the cake seamlessly release from the pan. (If it’s helpful, see this parchment paper rounds for cakes video & post.)
- Make the cake: Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, espresso powder, and salt together in a large bowl. In a medium bowl, whisk the oil, sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and buttermilk together in a medium bowl. Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and whisk until smooth and combined.
- Pour the cake batter evenly into prepared cake pan.
- Bake for around 27–30 minutes or until the cake is baked through. To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, it’s done. Avoid over-baking. Cake is thick and moist, so the center may slightly sink. That’s normal. Allow cake to cool in the pan set on a wire cooling rack. Cool completely before frosting.
- Make the chocolate ganache as the cake cools because the ganache must cool too: Place chopped chocolate in a medium heat-proof bowl. Heat the cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until it begins to gently simmer. (Do not let it come to a rapid boil—that’s too hot!) Pour over chocolate, then let it sit for 2–3 minutes to gently soften the chocolate. With a metal spoon or small silicone spatula, very slowly stir until completely combined and chocolate has melted. Ganache will be thin, so let it cool and thicken for at least 30–60 minutes before using. Refrigerating speeds this up, but the ganache will not cool evenly. Stir it a few times as it sets in the refrigerator so it remains smooth. You can also let the ganache fully cool and thicken (takes about 2 hours). After 2 hours, you can whip the cooled ganache with a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment until light in color and texture, about 3–4 minutes on medium-high speed. (Whipped ganache can be spread or piped. It is pictured on the cupcakes in the post above. I used Wilton 1M piping tip.)
- Spread ganache on cooled cake. If ganache has cooled and thickened enough (or if you whipped it), you could pipe it with a piping bag/tip. Decorate with optional garnishes, if desired. Slice and serve.
- Cover leftover cake tightly and store at room temperature for 1 day or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions: The cake can be baked, cooled, and covered tightly at room temperature overnight. Frosted or unfrosted cake can be frozen up to 2–3 months. If desired, see my How to Freeze Cakes post. Thaw cake overnight in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before decorating/serving. For make-ahead instructions for the chocolate ganache, see step 5 in my chocolate ganache post.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): 6-inch Round Cake Pan | Glass Mixing Bowls | Whisk | Cooling Rack | Saucepan | Silicone Spatula | Electric Mixer (Handheld or Stand) *optional for whipping ganache | Piping Bag (Reusable or Disposable) | Wilton 1M Piping Tip
- Cocoa Powder: Use natural cocoa powder, not dutch-process. (See dutch-process vs natural cocoa powder for more information.)
- Espresso Powder: Espresso powder will not make the cake taste like coffee. Instead, it deepens the chocolate flavor. It’s optional, but for best taste, I highly recommend it. You can use the same amount of instant coffee (the powder) instead of espresso powder if desired.
- Amount of Sugar: I tested this recipe with 6 Tablespoons of sugar and the cake wasn’t as sweet, of course, but it tasted pretty plain. I recommend sticking with 8 Tbsp (1/2 cup). Topping with chocolate ganache definitely balances out the sweetness.
- Buttermilk: Buttermilk is required for this recipe. You can make your own DIY version of buttermilk if needed. Add 1/2 teaspoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to a liquid measuring cup. Then add enough whole milk to the same measuring cup until it reaches 1/4 cup. (In a pinch, lower-fat or nondairy milks work for this soured milk, but the cake won’t taste as moist or rich.) Stir it around and let sit for 5 minutes. The homemade “buttermilk” will be somewhat curdled and ready to use in the recipe.
- 6 Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a standard muffin pan with 6 liners. Prepare the batter as directed in step 2 above. Pour or spoon the batter into the liners. Fill each 2/3 full to avoid spilling over the sides or sinking. Bake for 20–22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Don’t over-bake, which will dry out the cupcakes. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
- Chocolate in Ganache: Ganache will only set if the correct chocolate is used. You can use high-quality chocolate chips if needed (I prefer Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips), but I recommend using pure chocolate baking bars. You can find them right next to the chocolate chips in the baking aisle. They are sold in 4-ounce (113g) bars. I like Bakers or Ghirardelli brands. You can use other varieties of chocolate too, such as milk chocolate (aka German chocolate), bittersweet, or dark chocolate. If using white chocolate, reduce the cream to 1/3 cup (80ml). White chocolate is softer, so you need less cream.
- Dairy-Free Alternative for Heavy Cream in Ganache: Use 1/2 cup full-fat canned coconut milk. Shake it up before opening and measuring. Whisk on the stove as it heats and bring to a simmer.
- 8-inch Pan or 2-Layer Cake: You can use this cake batter in an 8-inch round cake pan in step 1. The cake will be thinner and the bake time is about 24–25 minutes, but use a toothpick to test for doneness just as instructed above. I don’t recommend doubling this recipe to make a 2-layer cake because it will be quite thick and taste heavy. Instead, divide the batter between 2 6-inch cake pans (bake time would be shorter) or divide the batter from these chocolate cupcakes in 2 6-inch cake pans. Start checking with a toothpick at 26 minutes.
Hi Sally,
Can I substitute vegetable oil for canola oil?
Thank you!
Absolutely. Hope you enjoy this recipe, Adrienne!
I made this cake today and it is amazingly delicious! Since recent Covid regulations are in effect in my city we are not allowed to have visitors, so it is the perfect size for my husband and me. Thank you for posting this recipe. Is there any chance that you might post more 6 inch one layer cakes? All of your recipes that I have made, have turned out very well.
Hi Sally! This recipe sounds delicious! I am surprising a good friend of mine with a birthday cake on Saturday and want to make two 6” cakes and stack them on top of each other. Do you think that these cake would stack well?
Hi Katy, how sweet of you! Yes they will stack well for a two layer cake.
6″ cakes, yay! Would melted butter work instead of veg oil?
Thanks
Hi Kris, you can use the same amount of melted butter instead but the cake won’t taste as moist. I recommend sticking with vegetable oil.
Hi Sally! This was a great small version of your already amazing chocolate cakes! It was rich and delicious like the rest of them and super easy to make. Please keep providing more chocolate cake recipes, and more mini cakes! They are great!
Love your recipes, I’m a fan!
Would powdered buttermilk work for this recipe? More 6″ recipes!!!!
Hi Kris, that shouldn’t be a problem.
Thank you for this perfectly proportioned recipe! I don’t really bake cakes too often so I don’t want to invest in/waste room on multiple cake pans, or spend hours baking each layer separately. Might still cut the layer in half and throw some buttercream in the middle because why not ☺️
Made this recipe tonight as heart shaped cupcakes. The bottom of the silicone mold I used has an indentation that I filled with melted white chocolate. My granddaughter said I have to make a million more
So happy it was a hit, Anne! The melted white chocolate sounds delicious.
You are great !! I am alone and have not been baking because an 8X8 pan is even
to large for me and takes up so much space in my freezer. I love this, I just ordered
a 6″ cake pan, love your website and keep the smaller versions coming.
Rosie
Not sure if it’s frowned upon to recommend other bloggers on somebody else’s food blog – but if you only want to make small batch recipes I highly recommend dessertfortwo.com ! All small batch recipes 🙂
I love Christina’s recipes! I actually have one of her books and published her wonderful small batch cheesecake a few years ago. It’s the best!
Love this cake recipe. If I make it in a 6″ pan , which will be ideal for just 2 of us, I was wondering how high the cake will be. How full will I need to fill the 6″ pan for the cake to be 3″ high?
Hi Lorrie, this 6 inch cake isn’t 3 inches tall. I didn’t take down its exact height, but it rises pretty high in 2 inch deep pans. Close to 2 inches.
Hi Sally,
Can I use granulated brown sugar instead of white sugar? Will there be any difference or adjustment?
Hi Anindita, you can try it but the cake may taste a little heavy from the extra moisture. For best results, I recommend sticking with regular granulated sugar.
Six inch cakes are one of my favorite things to bake and I have frequently converted your cupcake recipes to six inch layer cakes as you suggest. I will totally make this cute chocolate cake for my three girls around Valentine’s Day. Thank you for posting!
This is the best recipe I’ve come across. Comes out perfect every time & no mess. Thank you sharing.
This looks so good! I love using your recipes as they always turn out perfect!
I am not going to school everyday right now due to covid so my parents and I enjoy staying up and watching movies since I can sleep in the next day. I like to make special deserts for our movie nights. However it is hard to find mini recipes. I am so excited to try this tonight! Thanks Sally!
Add a shake of cayenne pepper to chocolate recipes…along with the espresso…you won’t taste the pepper but the chocolate is more intense
I haven’t made this recipe yet, but planning on it. I don’t have buttermilk, what is a good substitute?
Hi Bella, you can make your own DIY version of buttermilk if needed. See recipe notes for details.
Could you please tell me which of your chocolate cake recipes you would recommend using for an ice cream cake? Thank you!
Hi Debbie, I would use the sour cream version (detailed in the notes) of this triple chocolate cake. That recipe is 2 layers– not sure if you needed 2 layers. Another option is the chocolate cake recipe that we use for these homemade chocolate cake pops.
Thumbs up to the “tiny cake” concept! I can’t wait to give this a try.
Hi,
Thank you for the recipe. Can I use plain yogurt instead of buttermilk?
Thank you
Hi Adriana, do not use yogurt– the batter needs liquid.
I want to make 2 layers- is it OK to just double the recipe?
Thanks for your fabulous recipes!
Hi Pam, for best taste, texture, and the overall height of the 2 layer cake, it would be better to divide this batter between two 6-inch cake pans (bake time would be shorter) or try to squeeze this chocolate cupcakes batter in 2 6-inch cake pans.
Please tell me the adjustments for making this a 2-Layer Six inch cake. I am a retired guy who is learning to bake by following Sally’s detailed baking instructions and videos. I love making your pie crust and have received compliments. Sally is the best!
Hi Dan, thank you so much for trusting my recipes! I’m glad to help. You can certainly divide this batter between two 6-inch cake pans (bake time would be shorter) or try to squeeze this chocolate cupcakes batter in 2 6-inch cake pans.
Can I use a loose bottom tin?
Shouldn’t be a problem!
I would like to use 2, 4-inch springform pans to make it a smaller 2 layer cake. Your thoughts?
That should work, but you’ll likely have leftover batter. Fill both pans halfway then use leftover batter for cupcake(s) or mini cupcakes.
Can I use a 6×3 springform pan?
That shouldn’t be a problem.
Yum! This was really simple and really delicious. Light and fluffy. Perfect for an afternoon snack with strawberries.
Thank you , Sally! I appreciate you! I can see the work you put into your blog.
This small 6 inch cake is much needed at my stage of life and also during our
not normal pandemic life. Add the need for gluten free baked goods and you
will see me celebrating!
I’m going to try this one with gf flour. It seems like it would be an easy one to sub 1:1. I’ll probably do it for Valentine’s, but I will post results.
Exactly what I am thinking too. Will you post please once you have made it and also what flour blend you use. I am in the UK and will use Dove’s gf all purpose flour blend which doesn’t have xanthan gum added so for such a small amount will probably just add not even a quarter tsp
So I made this tonight with Namaste gluten free flour. It sank a lot in the middle, (as on no way you could stack it) but boy was it yummy. Real chocolate cake!!! Next time I will add mini chocolate chips.
I can’t seem to find espresso powder – can I take regular espresso and grind it into a powder???
I recommend just leaving it out or use instant coffee (not coffee grounds) instead.
Looks delicious! Would olive oil or avocado oil work for the vegetable oil?
I can’t see why not!
The timing for this recipe during pandemic/quarantine/isolation/small family bubble is spot on.
We went from serving 24 people during the holidays and winter family game nights to dinner/lupper for 2. I had no reason to bake a cake until this recipe showed up in my inbox today!!
I’ve always felt after baking the cake it deserves recognition on a beautiful plate/pedestal. When my heart and soul goes into a cake, I don’t want to serve it on just a plate.
Over the years most of my cake pedestals are now cracked or broken. Any chance one of these days you can provide us with a link to some of your cake plates and pedestals such as the beautiful pink plate shown here today?
Thank you Sally!
Thank you Brenda! The cake stand is from Home Goods a couple years ago– certainly a great find. If you ever want a timeless cake stand, I love the “Wood Marble Pedestal” from Crate & Barrel. This link may not work, so copy/paste it into your browser: https://www.crateandbarrel.com/wood-marble-pedestal/s674014
Can I use expresso coffee if not where can I get espresso powder
Hi Luci, do not use liquid espresso. Simply skip the powder or use instant coffee instead.
No my mom’s Italian and she only drinks expresso so I was just going to use the I was just going to her Italian expresso coffee not after she made it just the coffee itself