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.
Great recipe! I’ve tried baking them last weekend as a dessert, it was really yummy. However, not sure why the centre of my cake turned out to rise higher. Any idea from your experience could share? Would it be due to the oven heat to high? I baked them at 175 c.
Just made my mama a two layer birthday cake using this recipe and it was delicious! Made the layers and mixed them separately to avoid any stress and it was a breeze! Will be using this recipe over and over!
This cake was quite delicious and it made my son pretty happy, despite being in online school for the rest of the year. I let the cake cool in its pan for only ten minutes because I worried it might be over baked if it stayed in the pan. It turned out perfectly moist and delicious.
Hi Barbara, If you bake for diabetics, you can substitute Stevia. I hear Monk Sugar also works, but you may need to play with the measurements.
I really like this little cake! I added 1/2 T. cocoa and reduced flour by 1/2T to increase chocolate flavour. I like really moist cakes so I added 1/4 cup warm water to the cocoa for about 5 minutes which hydrated the cocoa. Excellent!
Hi Sally!
does this 6″ chocolate cake have a Sour Cream Version like your Triple Chocolate Cake ?
which i’ve made a bunch of times already…i love the cake crumb when sour cream is used!
i’m making this 6″ cake tomorrow for my husband’s bday! we all LUV your chocolate cake so i wanted to try this smaller version 🙂
thank you!
Hi Joni! This cake has pretty much the same texture as the sour cream version of the triple chocolate cake. Did you end up trying it?
If I only have Dutch processed cocoa can I use that and add baking powder? Or would I sub baking powder for thr baking soda? Or just find another recipe?
Hi Heather, That would require some testing because baking soda is so much stronger than baking powder, so you’d need more baking powder. Natural cocoa powder is best for this recipe. Sorry we can’t help more!
I made these as cupcakes and they were great!! Definitely recommend adding raspberries or other fruit because the chocolate is a very rich flavor. I do think that some people might like a more sugary frosting because it is quite bitter. But the cake’s sweetness does balance it, just if you have a sweet tooth I would add some sugar to the frosting. But overall a great recipe and I love the idea of a small cake because a big cake takes up so much space in the kitchen and you feel you can only do it on occasions when a small cake is so easy to just have after dinner. Thank you so much for this recipe!!!!
Hi Sophie, we’re glad you enjoyed this cake! You can definitely make it with a traditional buttercream for a sweeter topping — see the “Toppings” heading for some of our favorite buttercream recipes that pair wonderfully with chocolate cake.
Thank you !!!! I will look at that!!!
Made this for dessert but used Joy the Bakers chocolate buttercream frosting as I had extra from a previous baking project. The cake was moist and delicious and the perfect size for a family of 4.
So good and so easy. I had one of those weeks and « needed » cake. But, I live alone and with, work-from-home, I have fewer options for giving away baking.
I did the ganache icing but it firmed up A LOT (my apartment is fairly cold – though I didn’t put in the fridge). Super tasty (like fudge) but made icing tricky. Next time, I may increase the amount of cream (or not be quite so lazy and whip it up as suggested).
Definitely on my list to make again.
I thought this recipe made a tasty cake but I wasn’t expecting such a bitter/dark frosting. If you like that flavor profile, you will love this frosting! Personally, I will opt for something sweeter next time like a butter cream, but I have a sweet tooth:)
Hi Sally, could I use sour cream as a substitute for buttermilk in this recipe? Thanks!
Hi Alex! You should be able to use a mixture of 2 Tbs sour cream and 2 Tbs milk to replace the buttermilk. You can also make your own DIY buttermilk – see recipe notes for details!
Hi Sally, to make a two-layer six-inch choc cake, can it simply be doubled or what changes should be made? Thanks.
Hi Dan, We 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 two 6-inch cake pans. See the recipe notes for more details!
This is a super easy, and fantastic small cake. It’s moist and with the espresso powder, very flavorful! I used dry buttermilk in place of fresh with no issue. Topped with the Chocolate & Red Wine Ganache for an elegant dessert for two.
Thank you so much for giving this recipe a try, Desiree!
Hi Sally
Recipe looks lovely. Planning to make for my annicersary.
Don’t we need to add baking powder?
Thanks
Meghana
Hi Meghana, This recipe uses baking soda as the leavener. Baking soda is a base ingredient, so it uses acidic ingredients like natural cocoa powder and buttermilk to react with. If you are interested you can read more about this in the post Baking Powder vs Baking Soda.
Hello Sally. Thanks for the delicious recipe perfect small cake. I had to use my six inch Bundt pan. Worked fantastic then I topped with my frozen sour cherry sauce and topped with a dollop of whipping cream. Absolutely delicious. The cake is moist and tastes amazing. Thank you thank you .
You MADE our Valentines’ Day dessert. SErved with sliced straeberries, sprinkled chopped pecans across the top pf the cske….delicious!!
I was extremely pleased with the results of this cake. Perfect cake for 2 – 4 people. I used Ghiradelli 60% cacao baking bar for the ganache and baked the cake exactly as written. The ganache was rich and luxurious without being overly sweet, and was the perfect topping for the cake. The cake did sink slightly in the center but you couldn’t tell once topped. Will definitely keep this in the special occasion dessert rotation.
Thank you, Sally, for creating a small cake! Would love to see more of these small desserts.
All the stores in my area only seem to sell low-fat buttermilk. I’m guessing that making my own buttermilk with whole milk using your DIY recipe is better than using low-fat buttermilk, is that correct?
Hi Leslie, correct — we’d recommend using the DIY version with whole milk. Lower-fat will work in a pinch, though. Hope this helps!
Hi Sally ,
I personally loved the sweetness in it and the after taste in my mouth. Not overpowering. I made it twice in two days. first day i baked it for 27 mins( 6in pan) and second day for 24 mins (6in pan). My wife thinks it needs to be more moist.it was little crumbly not like the flour less chocolate cake. Am i doing something wrong here. first day i used cooking oil second day i used butter to see if it turns out different. i did not get that little moist center but nonetheless awesome cake (personally).
PS: i tried your banana cake and zucchini cake. love it.
If I want to make 2 of these cakes, can I double the recipe or should I make each cake individually? Thanks and Happy Valentine’s Day.
Hi Gina, for best results, we recommend making two separate batches so as to not over- or under-mix with the added volume. Hope you enjoy this recipe!
The ganache came out grainy, not smooth as shown in the picture. I started cooling in refrigerator and then left it on the counter since I had to go out and was afraid it would get too cold…ughhh! Any help
Is appreciated!
Hi Lisa, If you decide to make it again, take a look at the post all about How to Make Chocolate Ganache and there is a section in the post called “Troubleshooting Chocolate Ganache” which talks about that grainy texture. I hope this helps!
Hi Sally, do you always whip the ganache or can you use it without whipping after it’s cooled? Thanks! Making this as dessert to take to sick friends.
Hi Deborah! You can use the ganache without whipping – that’s what we did in the photos of the cake. The photo of the cupcakes show whipped ganache. How sweet of you to bake for your friends, hope this recipe is a hit.
Hi Sally…this cake was the perfect treat for Saturday night at home! Delicious! Hope you’ll post a few more 6″ cakes! I’ve tried six of your recipes in the last two weeks and all were wonderful…thanks for helping us get through this crazy time.
Have you tried making the red wine version of your chocolate ganache with this recipe? I’m thinking of doing this for our Valentine’s dinner date at home.
Hi Amy, red wine chocolate ganache would be delicious topped on this cake!
A great little cake. Super easy to make and a fun weekend treat. Next time I’d love for it to turn out a TOUCH fluffier though. It’s not dense but not super light. Any suggestions?
Hi Carole, feel free to add some baking powder to give the cake crumb a little more lift. I recommend 1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon.
Is it ok to triple this recipe for a 3 layer 6 inch cake?
Hi Lynn! For a 3 layer 6 inch cake we would use this Chocolate Cupcake recipe – it’s the perfect amount of batter. You can read more about 6 inch cakes here.
I made the cupcakes with ganache frosting. My husband and I enjoyed them. Next time I want to try the peanut butter frosting. Thank you for creating a smaller size version option for the cupcakes and/or 6″cake. For two people it’s perfect!! I’d appreciate more dessert recipe options for two.
Hi Sally,
Can I stack this chocolate cake and make it 2 layers (of course I doubled the recipe and bake in 2 6″cake pans)? Will this cake too heavy to stack on top of one another?
Can I used ganache to fill the layer in between wheb stack together and frost the cake too?
Thanks for your advice.
Hello Hui, for best taste, texture, and the overall height of the 2 layer cake, it would be better to divide a single batch of 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. Chocolate ganache would be delicious between the layers!
My husband and I loved this cake. It was so easy to make. Hope to see more small dessert recipe. The size was just right.
Hi ,
Just checking do I need to use parchment paper around the cake tin or just the bottom of the pan ?
Either works, but I like using parchment paper rounds just around the bottom of the pan. Here’s why:
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 large 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. Using butter or nonstick spray, I grease the pan AND the parchment. This promises an ultra non-stick environment for your small chocolate cake.