Chocolate Pound Cake

This rich Chocolate Pound Cake Recipe is a chocolate lovers dream come true with a slightly dense classic velvety pound cake texture and pure butter flavor. Enjoy this taste treat with just a simple powdered sugar dusting and a scoop of vanilla ice cream or fresh berries.

Tips for baking the best chocolate pound cake

• Use great quality baking Dutch process cocoa like Ghirardelli or Guittard. You can use regular baking cocoa for this recipe if needed but the Dutch process cocoa really takes it over the top.
• Grease the pan well with butter and dust with flour or cocoa. powder. Cocoa powder does not leave those white splotches on your gorgeous chocolate cake like flour does but it can make your cake appear very dark depending on the cocoa you are using.
• Use good quality unsalted butter like Land O Lakes, Kerrygold, or Challenge butter.
• Cream the butter and sugar using a stand or hand mixer on medium until it is pale yellow, fluffy, and light.
• Pound cakes are easy to overbake. They are done when they reach an internal temperature of 210 degrees. An instant read thermometer is an inexpensive kitchen gadget and really a lifesaver for so many recipes.
• Cool the cake in the pan for 25-30 minutes before inverting.
• Once inverted fully cool before dusting with powdered sugar.
• I really like the simple powdered sugar dusting but you can top with chocolate ganache, chocolate frosting, or a chocolate glaze. 
• Store the well wrapped cake on the counter for 4-5 days.
• To freeze cool the cake completely and double wrap. Freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight.

How to make chocolate pound cake

Start by whisking together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Then set it aside for a few minutes. Using a stand or hand electric mixer beat the butter and sugar on medium until pale yellow, fluffy and light. This can take several minutes. Now turn the mixer to low and add the eggs one at time beating until incorporated. Then add the dry ingredients and the milk in intervals alternating between the two. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beaters when needed. Mix in the vanilla extract.

Pour the cake batter into a well greased and floured Bundt pan and bake for about an hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool on a rack for 20-30 minutes before inverting on a plate or cake stand. Cool for several hours before sprinkling with powdered sugar. Slice and serve a la mode or with fresh whipped cream.

What is Dutch process cocoa?

Dutch process cocoa powder starts with cocoa beans that have been treated with an alkali to neutralize its acidity.  This results in a darker color and more mellow chocolate flavor with earthy woodsy tones. Although you can use either cocoa I prefer to use the Dutch process cocoa in this recipe as it reduces the acidity and gives it that rich dark color.

Dusting the pan with cocoa instead of flour

Instead of using flour try using cocoa powder. After greasing the bundt pan add a about 1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder to the pan and shake to coat tapping out the excess. This will keep white flour specks and blobs from blemishing your beautiful chocolate cake. Keep in mind that dusting with Dutch processed cocoa will give it a very dark appearance. If you have both types of cocoa in the house use regular cocoa for the dusting.

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