Feed-a-Crowd Perfect Chocolate Cake

A no-fail, perfect chocolate cake that feeds up to twenty people. A great celebration dessert!

We’ve just come through our birthday season, celebrating both Clara and Mateo with two different events and enough cake from both parties to feed a small army. Honestly, with the size of our extended family, there’s no such thing as too much cake.

I wasn’t planning to share this recipe here, because, well, it’s full of sugar and you, dear reader, tend to enjoy naturally sweetened recipes like the beloved Dark Chocolate Beet Bundt Cake, a Apple Spice Cake or this Banana Layer Cake.

But the practical side of me won out because this slab cake feeds a crowd with ease, and keeps them very, very happy. This is a recipe you only come across once in a lifetime, after far too many ho-hum chocolate cakes. This one makes you stop talking and pay attention to the slice on the plate in front of you. It makes your guests exclaim aloud – and when the party has dwindled, make a request for a piece to take home.

In short, it’s perfect for your Easter long weekend entertaining

Feed-a-Crowd Perfect Chocolate Layer Cake || Simple Bites

Feed-a-Crowd Perfect Chocolate Cake

I certainly didn’t develop this Feed-a-Crowd Perfect Chocolate Cake recipe myself, although I did tweak it from the original.  I first came across it in one of my favourite food memoirs, Ruth Reichl’s Comfort Me with Apples. In the story she makes ten times the recipe for a birthday cake for a man she was in love with, Michael…

“The cake took rivers of chocolate and dozens of eggs, and by the time it was finished I needed four men to help me lift it into the car. Michael blanched when he saw my creation coming toward him. It was more than a cake; it was a declaration of love in front of three hundred people, and we both knew it.”

Now I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but in a 2010 blog post, Ruth remakes the same cake, again for a certain Michael’s birthday. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions….but you should really read the book.

In her post, Ruth gives a little more history on the cake, stating that she developed it when she lived in Berkley and had a a little side business making wedding cakes. Could you imagine having Ruth Reichl bake your wedding cake?

Feed-a-Crowd Perfect Chocolate Layer Cake || Simple Bites

The recipe popped up again in Ruth’s most recent book, the New York Times bestselling cookbook My Kitchen Year: 136 Recipes That Saved My Life. She simply and unapologetically proclaims it  “The Cake That Cures Everything”. Well then. And if that wasn’t convincing enough (which somehow it wasn’t), the Times ran the recipe and Melina Hammer’s stunning photograph sold me in an instant.

Before getting down to business in the kitchen, I studied the comments on the cake over at NYT Food and paid close attention to what the savvy Serious Eats readers had to say about it, too. I learned that I should make the cake with all-purpose flour, use the best cocoa and chocolate I can find, make one-and-a-half times the frosting, and stick to whipped cream cheese.

This double layer, deep dark chocolate slab cake did the job so well, I’m calling it Feed-a-Crowd Perfect Chocolate Cake. I carved it up for our 20 or so birthday party attendees and there was enough to send a modest slice home with anyone who desired a piece – and that was every guest save one. Sufficient to say, it’s a real crowd-pleaser.

Feed-a-Crowd Perfect Chocolate Layer Cake || Simple Bites

Now thanks to its sheer size, this cake is impressive on its own, but why not have a little fun with decorations? The cake in my photos was decorated for a four-year-old’s birthday, but I don’t have to tell you it would be perfect dressed up with pastel mini eggs or your favourite Easter candy (like this beauty!).

I’m not sure what has changed around here, but gone are the days of my elaborate cake decorating (like this cute robot). Pressed for time last week, I stopped off at a local bakery and picked up a half a dozen macarons and a small bag of meringue kisses. I stashed them in the freezer until the day of the party, when I arranged them on a corner of the cake.

My friend Rosie of Sweetapolia has a charming online sprinkles shop, which she ships worldwide from Canada. I used her ‘Pinata’ medley to add a finishing touch of whimsy to Clara’s cake. All in all, the decorating took about five minutes – and she loved it!

If you follow food trends at all, you’ll know we’ve been seeing macarons piled on cakes for a few years. Now cake toppings are getting even crazier, with marshmallows, meringues, popcorn and even mini doughnuts piled high. I say, have fun with it! If it makes you happy, go for it.

Feed-a-Crowd Perfect Chocolate Layer Cake || Simple Bites

Lastly, it is the make-ahead-and-freeze-ability of this divine cake that brings me to share it with you. I made this beauty almost a week in advance, froze it – frosting and all – and then later thawed and served it up to my guests. It was just as fabulous as the day it was baked and it certainly made things easy for me on Party Day.

To freeze, place the tray with the frosted cake in the freezer until solid. Then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store the cake for up to three months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and then bring to room temperature before serving. My cake took at least five hours at room temperature to come the right serving temperature.

Feed-a-Crowd Perfect Chocolate Cake

A decadent dark chocolate cake, guaranteed to please young and old alike. This one really feeds a crowd and can be prepared in advance and kept frozen.
4.86 from 27 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American
Essential Ingredient: Chocolate
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 19 people
Calories: 350kcal
Author: Ruth Reichl

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup cocoa powder plus 2 tablespoons
  • 1 1/2 cups boiling water
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar firmly packed
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 6 large eggs

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325F. Butter two 9x13 inch pans, and line them with waxed or parchment paper. Butter the paper and dust the pans lightly with cocoa powder or flour. Tap out excess.
  • In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and salt. In a small bowl, whisk together cocoa powder with the boiling water until quite smooth and glossy. Pour in the milk, followed by the vanilla and whisk gently to combine the liquids.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter with the sugars until light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes. Stop the mixer a few times to scrape down the sides of the bowl and the paddle.
  • Stop the mixer and add the eggs, one at a time, beating well between each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure everything is well combined.
  • With the mixer on the lowest speed, add about a third of the flour, followed by half the cocoa mixture. Add another third of the flour and the remaining cocoa. Finally, finish with the last of the flour, mixing the batter only until just combined.
  • Stop the mixer and scrape down the paddle. Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans.
  • Place the pans side-by-side on the middle rack in the oven. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35-45 minutes. Cool cakes for 5 minutes in the pan, then loosen around the edges with a knife and invert the cakes onto wire cooling racks. Remove parchment paper and discard. Cool completely before frosting.
  • Place one cake on a serving plate or tray. Spread a 1/2 inch layer of frosting evenly over the top. Place the second cake on top. Frost the entire cake and sides, smoothing or swirling the frosting as desired.
  • Serve at once or refrigerate, loosely wrapped in plastic, for up to four days. To freeze, place the tray in the freezer until solid. Then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then bring to room temperature before serving.

Notes

I highly recommend weighing the two 9x13 pans with batter in them so as to get the same amount in each. This gives you even thicknesses of cake layers when you slice into the cake.
I bake the cakes at a slightly lower temperature than the original recipe so that they don't dome in the middle.

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcal

Whipped Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

‘Tis true, the recipe below is a double batch from what Ruth suggests in her original recipe, but I found the amount in no way excessive. The frosting is what really makes the cake special: oodles of best quality melted chocolate whipped with butter, just enough powdered sugar to lighten it and tangy cream cheese to balance out the sweetness.

I wanted to use less powdered sugar, so I used a 64% dark chocolate instead of unsweetened. I was able to cut back on the sugar and found the frosting still plenty sweet enough.

Note that the frosting does start to harden after about 30 minutes and is slightly more difficult to ‘sculpt’ on the cake. So be sure to have your cakes cooled completely and ready to cover before you begin making the frosting.

Feed-a-Crowd Perfect Chocolate Layer Cake || Simple Bites

Whipped Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

4.86 from 27 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Desserts
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 1 Feed-a-Crowd Perfect Chocolate Cake
Calories: 5527kcal
Author: Aimee

Ingredients

  • 10 oz Valrhona 'Manjari' feves 64% dark chocolate
  • 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter (3/4 lb), cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 227 g containers whipped cream cheese
  • 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

  • Roughly chop the chocolate into chunks. Place in a double boiler or in a bowl set over a pot of simmering water. Melt slowly, stirring occasionally.
  • Remove the bowl from the pot and cool the chocolate to room temperature.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat together the butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice.
  • Add the cooled chocolate, vanilla and salt; beat until thoroughly combined.
  • Turn off the mixer and add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time. Beat on low speed until combined. Increase the speed to High and beat for one minute.

Notes

Frosting is best used within 30 minutes or so of making, when it is still easily spreadable. As the chocolate hardens, the frosting will stiffen somewhat.

Nutrition

Calories: 5527kcal | Carbohydrates: 509g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 385g | Saturated Fat: 237g | Cholesterol: 751mg | Sodium: 661mg | Potassium: 1689mg | Fiber: 22g | Sugar: 458g | Vitamin A: 8650IU | Calcium: 258mg | Iron: 18.1mg

Have a wonderful Easter weekend, everyone!

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122 Comments

  1. Awesome! Thank you. And, yes, I would agree that cake decorating for my beloved children has gone from very elaborate to “heartfelt and accessorized” e.g. a little backhoe on top of a pile of chocolate cookie crumbs on a homemade cake. The love is still there of course… along with a measure of realism and sanity : ) Best wishes for a lovely Easter!

      1. Hi Aimee
        I want to a cake for the office of around 30 for my 71st birthday in February.
        I love cooking and baking. I think that your cake is just what I am looking forward to making. Any ideas for decorating please?
        Mary

  2. I just read about this cake in My Kitchen Year, it sounds amazing and perfect for feeding such a crowd. I’m fond of the new trend in cake decorating, I have zero skills in that area but I can pile flowers or macaroons on top.

    1. Breanne, I’d put fresh flowers on a cake year round, if I could pick them. Sadly I have two winter birthdays…and yeah, sprinkles it is.

  3. Well now, I wasn’t planning on making a cake for our Easter cookout and egg hunt on Saturday, but this cake (and your stories about it) make it hard to resist. So, tomorrow will include both the pastel colored tea cakes I had planned on baking with my kids and also a chocolate cake for a crowd.

    Thank you for sharing this recipe. It really is just what I need. I’m not very good at decorating cakes and much prefer to simply make a delicious cake that speaks for itself!

    1. You’re so awesome Lisa! I love how you can jump on board just like that. Your cookout sounds like fun. Let me know how the cake is received.
      Happy Easter!

      1. The cake was SO well received! Seriously, the same people were repeatedly telling me how great it was. Thanks for another great recipe. I’m currently making your mocha pie for friends tonight. It’s another favorite and always a hit. I’m trying it with a little kahlua added in the whipped cream this time too.

  4. I love this new cake trend! I literally emailed my mom about it 2 days ago telling her that it’s my dream come true because I’m terrible at piping, but THIS I could do ( with the help of a local bakery for the macarons & meringues, of course, haha!). Your cake is so beautiful! And that frosting! I’ve been making chocolate frostings (either milk or dark) with sour cream. I need to try chocolate cream cheese next! Also, must purchase some sprinkles from Rosie (Sweetapolita). These will also help me out since I’m not very good at cake decorating 😉

    1. Too funny, Janice! My new goals are to make the pretty toppings, but for these busy days, the baker works!
      And thank you for your kind words. I still feel like such a hack with baking.

      Happy Easter!

  5. This sounds like a delicious and crowd-pleasing cake! Do you use natural or Dutch-processed cocoa powder? Thanks so much!

  6. It looks amazing!

    Do you feel that there would be enough batter to make this recipe as a sheet cake (double layered as the 9×13 ) as I need enough cake for 40 people or would the layers be too thin?

    Where can I find Valrhona chocolate or equivalent in the Montreal area?

    1. For the chocolate, Chocolat Privilege at Marche Atwater has pre-packaged amounts and also inside at the scoop shop, you can weigh out what you want. You may find it also at the Marche in the West Island. I get mine at the chocolate shop in the Marche 440 in Laval.
      I think this cake could stretch to feed 40 if the pieces were small.

  7. 5 stars
    Can you really freeze the cake with icing? It won’t get too hard? I’ve never done that before. The cake looks perfect for pot lucks and office parties 🙂

  8. 5 stars
    I am super excited to try this cake for my daughter’s birthday party that is coming up. Thank you so much for this incredible recipe. The fact that you can make ahead and then freeze, frosting and all had me sold with that promise!

    One question, do you know of a similar recipe that you could make but in vanilla?

    Thanks again for all the yumminess you create!

  9. 5 stars
    Aimee, thank you for this fabulous recipe! Your cake looked so gorgeous I had to try it. I made half the recipe in two 9″ round pans and froze the frosted cake ahead of time. it turned out beautifully and was absolutely delicious! The frosting really is amazing–and I used Kirkland chocolate chips since that’s all I had on hand…I’ll have to try it with a premium chocolate next time.

    As the previous comment, I too would love to see a recipe for a large vanilla cake…

    Love your blog; thanks for the inspiration!

  10. Thank you so much for sharing. I made this for our church potluck last Sun. Several folks have gluten issues, so I made it with Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 baking flour. Also, I used unsweetened baking chocolate for the frosting (we don’t like anything too sweet). Perfection!
    I cut the baked layers in half to make a 4 layer, 9×6.5 “square”. I got so many compliments, one friend told me if this cake were the only item sold @ a high end bakery, they wouldn’t lose a customer!

    1. We need to feed a large crowd of 200 for a banquet. 10 people per table. Is it way too much to have a cake per table? Half a cake per table? They will be serving themselves during a program.

  11. I would like to make this cake for a special celebration as tit loos fantastic! but can anyone help me with the conversion in grams and millilitres?

  12. Amy, I’m making this very cake for my husband’s grandmother’s 90th birthday/family reunion in two weeks and wondered if you had a ball-park estimate for how high/tall this double layer cake with filling + frosting is? Thanks so much for the inspiration! Love Sweetapolita’s sprinkles. If only shipping were cheaper and fast from Canada to the US!!

      1. THANK YOU!! Very helpful! May have to go a little lighter on the frosting/filling to help it fit in the cake carrier. Either way, I know she’ll love it (and all my husband’s relatives too!). Thanks again.

  13. 4 stars
    Hi I just made this cake for 150 unwell children it’s being delivered in the morning I had to times all the ingredients by 6.5 and it still worked. Wish I could show you a picture. Thanks for posting, I live and work in the south of France and they do not often see cakes like this and they love them.

  14. 5 stars
    Love it, a friend of mine asked me to make a cake for her husbands music group, traditional French music.. kind of put me up to a challenge as it had to feed about 50 people. But am soooooooooooooo grateful this recipe worked PERFECT first time… now it will be my go to 🙂 I live in France too like the last person who commnted and its true icing on cakes is an “English” thing !!! THANK YOU …I will b buying one of your recipes books as a way to say thank you .

    1. Kylie, I also need to feed 50+ people. Did you double the recipe or just make very small pieces? Thanks!

      1. Do you have any recollection of approximately what size pieces you cut? I am trying to serve 50+ and need to decide if I should double+ the recipe and then what size pan to use. Thanks!

  15. Hello! 🙂 Thank you for this amazing recipe. I don’t have 2 9×13 pans, do you think it’s possible to bake it in a single pan and cut the layers after? I’m worried the batter will rise above the pan…

  16. hi i love the sound of this recipe and would like to try it but can i substitute the butter for oil and how much oil would i need …thanks for sharing your recipe

  17. Why does it keep curdling on me!!! I take it really slow adding he eggs!!! Help please as was going to make it for my sons 1st Birthday next week!

  18. 5 stars
    Aimee, I stumbled across your site when searching for a large chocolate cake recipe to make for my son’s graduation from Medical School celebration. I made it as a German Chocolate cake, with coconut pecan frosting, and it was absolutely delicious! Large enough for 30+ modest servings, which was perfect. I baked the cake, wrapped and froze the layers about a week in advance, and then iced it the day of the party. The cake was moist, tender, flavorful, and everyone loved it! Thanks so much!

  19. 5 stars
    I made this cake last year for my mothers 80th birthday. She loved it so much, she has requested the cake for her birthday, this weekend. Everyone loved it and I was hoping that there would be some leftover but there wasn’t. Everyone wanted to know where the cake came from and can they take some home. Sign of a scrumptious cake! Thanks.

  20. 5 stars
    Hiya, I have a question: when you mention the 9 x 13 cake tin, is it 9 inches deep and 13 inches squared, because it doesn’t look like a rectangular cake from the pics! Sorry if it’s a silly question, just checking for an upcoming birthday… hoping to feed a good 40 people with it!

  21. We live overseas and have a very tiny oven. I can only bake one 9×13 at at time…..should I refrigerate the excess batter until I am able to bake it?
    So excited to make this for my 3 year olds birthday, her first birthday overseas!

  22. I would like to try this cake but also I want to know if its moist?What ingredient makes this cake moist?

  23. Hi Aimee! I love your recipes, and I don’t doubt from the comments that this will be an amazing cake, but I want to use it for aboouutt…75 cupcakes. Do you have any idea how much the base recipe yields in cupcakes?

  24. This looks perfect for my mom’s 80th birthday celebration. I live in Denver, Colorado and we live at a 5,280 feet elevation. I’m worried that this cake might ‘fall’ in the middle at this altitude. Do you have recommendations for baking this recipe so it will rise perfectly at this elevation?

  25. I want to make this cake but there will only be 8 of us, if I baked it in two 9″ round pans, what would the baking time be? Also, I assume I half all the ingredients? Thank you

    1. Hi Ellen,
      Two 9 inch pans and HALF a recipe will work yes; it will still be quite a large cake. The baking time will be about 25-30 minutes. Happy Baking!

  26. I’m sure your cake is scrumptious! Would it be possible to use a frosting without cream cheese? Cream cheese is not made in the country I live in, and imported cream cheese is very expensive. Thank you.

    1. Hi Justina, my gang are not cream cheese fans so I made a buttercream with vanilla flavor. The YouTube for Jemma’s buttercream is excellent. It was great with this cake

  27. I tried this today. The batter seems a little soupy and looks kinda curdled. Is this normal for you too? Oh well, the cakes are baking now anyhow. I do hope they turn out alright.

  28. This cake comes out perfect every time. Thank you so much for sharing it. Have you yet come up with a vanilla cake, I keep hoping to see one soon. My daughter loves vanilla and her birthday is in a few months and would love to be able to do her a vanilla version. But thanks again for a perfect every time cake.

  29. 5 stars
    Found this on Pinterest and made a monster truck cake. I not usually a chocolate cake fan but this has changed my mind! Everyone LOVED IT. So moist, the frosting delicious. Will use this as my go-to chocolate cake from now on!

  30. 5 stars
    Thanks for the excellent recipe. It is the nicest chocolate cake I’ve ever made and is now my go to birthday cake. I cooked it in a single 11” round tin. Took about 2hrs 15mins at gas mark 3. Excellent size for that size.

  31. I am going to attempt this cake for my son’s birthday this weekend. Thank you! Just wondering, it needs to be green (Minecraft) , do you have suggestions for green frosting that still tastes good? I’ll use the chocolate frosting in between layers.
    Thank you

    1. Hi Neda,

      Good luck! What if you used green chocolate melts (the ones used for cake pops, found at Michaels, etc) instead of the chocolate in this icing?

      If not, just a good cream cheese frosting, dyed green.

  32. Baked the 2 9×13 cakes today. they seem shorter and more dense than the ones in your photos. I am freezing the cake layers to frost in 2 weeks. I noticed the recipe calls only for baking soda and no baking powder. I don’t know if I should try again or just sever the cakes I made. Any suggestions?

  33. Hi aimeée,
    I am tej.
    I read your recipe and saw this picture and it certainly looks divine!!
    I had two questions:-
    A) Can brown sugar be completely substituted with the regular caster sugar
    B) Could you please give the measurements in grams “?
    As i am from India and the cup sizes or any measurements apart from grams are different.
    Thank you soo much.
    Stay safe.

  34. Haven’t made yet, but am tomorrow. Wondering though, don’t see an amount for cream cheese in the frosting? Could you please reply and let me know

  35. 5 stars
    I made this cake for a Christmas gathering . Everyone said it tasted good. Definitely a foolproof recepie to try again and again. Thank you

  36. I am hoping to make this recipe in a week or two’s time for about 30 people. I have one 13″ x 15″ pan. Would you recommend using the recipe as it is twice, and reusing this larger pan? Also cooking time adjustment and anything else to consider in making a two layer cake this size? Many thanks.

    1. Hi Narelle,
      There’s no need to double the recipe. What I’ve presented here will serve 30 people a modest slice. And it is very rich!

      I/ve only tested this recipe in two 9×13 pans. So it’s hard to recommend otherwise. However, I’d make one recipe, bake it in the large pan you have, then divide in half when it’s cold and stack with the frosting.
      I cant’ give advice on baking times, other than bake until a toothpick comes out clean. Good Luck!

      1. Thank you Aimee. Just one more thing…I am in Australia and we use Baking Powder which is a combination of Bicarb Soda and Cream of Tarter… My understanding is that our BiCarb is the same as your Baking Soda, is that correct? Should I just substitute BiCarb for Baking Soda?

  37. Made this and everyone loved it more. It kept so well for days Thank you baked a lot over the years and a fare few chocolate cakes but I think this will definitely become a go to recipient. One question if I wanted white chocolate what in the recipe would change if it’s possible.
    Many thanks from Cardiff, Wales xx

  38. 4 stars
    Made a half recipe in 9″ round pans. I was pretty pleased with the end result. I think the frosting would have turned out better with clearer instructions regarding the whipped cream cheese. I assumed the butter needed to be softened even though the recipe doesn’t state that, but I didn’t think about bringing the cream cheese to room temperature since it was whipped. This resulted in the chocolate hardening somewhat when I added it in. The flavor was still very good, but it had a flecked appearance and wasn’t as smooth as I would have liked. I’m pretty sure room temp cream cheese would have made a difference.

  39. Hi. I am making this for a friend’s 60th to feed 50 people but she doesn’t want it too sweet. Can you use less sugar in this recipe or would it affect the consistency?

  40. 5 stars
    This cake is To Die For!
    I’ve made it twice and bit really is the best chocolate cake ever to hit my mouth- awesome recipe!
    I didn’t have enough chocolate for the icing but improvised with less and still tastes fabulous. I has a busy day preparing for my toddler’s party tomorrow so just melted the chocolate direct to the saucepan – seemed to have the same effect.
    The icing recipe does give you a lot but I only iced the top and not the middle so that explains the leftovers.
    I’m in Australia so I had to convert everything from imperial to metric measurements- come on North America! Move to metric!????

    1. I loved your last comment! So funny! I live in North America and convert ALL my recipes to metric and weigh everything! So much more accurate! I’m with you for metric on food ingredients! Recipes turn out correctly every time!