Chocolate cake is the baseline for many desserts because of its rich flavour, dark crumb and universal appeal. When you build from that foundation, whether into cookies, vegan versions, cake mixes or glazed loaves, the challenge is keeping the structure intact, sliceable and balanced while letting the chocolate shine. These recipes explore different formats and flavor twists, barely changing the main ingredient, and still finish with sharp texture, clean lines and full cocoa depth. Each title here points to a different build, showing how one simple cake idea can adapt without collapsing into mush or fading into sweetness.

Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies

Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies. Photo credit: Southern Food and Fun.

These cookies start with boxed chocolate cake mix but bake into thick, chewy rounds. The crumb stays soft inside with a slightly crisp edge. Each bite holds chocolate intensity without going greasy or flat. It’s a shortcut that keeps form and flavor balanced.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies

Hershey’s Chocolate Cake

Hershey’s Chocolate Cake. Photo credit: Southern Food and Fun.

This classic recipe uses Hershey’s cocoa to build a deep, rich base with straightforward ingredients. The cake rises evenly and cools without sinking. A tight, smooth crumb runs through each layer. It delivers consistent texture and strong cocoa tone.
Get the Recipe: Hershey’s Chocolate Cake

Low-Carb Chocolate Cake

A slice of chocolate cake with white frosting being lifted from the whole cake.
Low-Carb Chocolate Cake. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

Almond or coconut flour replaces standard flour to lower carbs, but the build stays clean and solid. The cake doesn’t sag, even without sugar-heavy batters. Each slice holds its shape and doesn’t crumble. It’s a leaner version that doesn’t fall apart.
Get the Recipe: Low-Carb Chocolate Cake

Air Fryer Chocolate Cake

Air Fryer Chocolate Cake. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

This cake bakes quickly in an air fryer without losing structure or moisture. The edges crisp slightly while the center bakes dense and even. The size is scaled down, but the richness holds up. Each cut stays firm with good crumb.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chocolate Cake

Copycat Crumbl Chocolate Cake Cookies

Copycat Crumbl Chocolate Cake Cookies. Photo credit: Maria’s Mixing Bowl.

Thick and bakery-style, these cookies stack height without losing softness. The frosting sits on top without soaking in or sliding off. The cookie underneath bakes firm, not cakey. It’s a controlled, layered cookie built on structure.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Crumbl Chocolate Cake Cookies

Microwave Chocolate cake

Microwave Chocolate cake. Photo credit: I camp in my kitchen.

This mug cake cooks fast but manages a moist interior with a soft top. The texture stays smooth without collapsing in the center. It holds chocolate flavor through a short bake. Quick doesn’t mean soggy.
Get the Recipe: Microwave Chocolate cake

Matilda’s Chocolate Cake

Matilda’s Chocolate Cake. Photo credit: Chenee Today.

Inspired by the movie, this version goes for over-the-top richness without collapsing under its own weight. The layers are dense and moist but still sliceable. The frosting spreads thick without sinking in. It’s heavy, but every part stays clean-cut.
Get the Recipe: Matilda’s Chocolate Cake

Decadent Raw Vegan Chocolate Cake

Decadent Raw Vegan Chocolate Cake. Photo credit: Two City Vegans.

No baking required, this version relies on dates, nuts, and cocoa for the base. The texture holds up once chilled, with a firm cut and creamy finish. Each bite is bold without added sugar or flour. It stays whole from fridge to fork.
Get the Recipe: Decadent Raw Vegan Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Cake

A slice of chocolate cake on a white plate.
Chocolate Cake. Photo credit: Trina Krug.

Straightforward and full-flavored, this build doesn’t rely on extras or toppings. The rise is even, the crumb is tight, and the cocoa stays deep throughout. It holds its own on a plate. No sagging, no slouching, just classic execution.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Cake Mix Brownies.

A stack of brownies and a milk bottle.
Chocolate Cake Mix Brownies.. Photo credit: Little House Big Alaska.

Using a cake mix gives these brownies a fudge-like interior with a clean, square edge. They’re soft but don’t fall apart when sliced. Each square shows a dense, rich build. It’s a cross between brownie and cake, without the flaws of either.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Cake Mix Brownies.

Chocolate Cake With Strawberry Filling

A slice of chocolate cake with a strawberry filling and dark chocolate glaze on a plate. Whole cake in the background, garnished with a halved strawberry. Fork on the side.
Chocolate Cake With Strawberry Filling. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget.

Strawberry preserves are layered between thick chocolate rounds, giving a fruit contrast without weakening the base. The filling stays centered, not soggy. The chocolate holds tight crumb through every layer. Each bite hits sharp fruit and deep cocoa.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Cake With Strawberry Filling

Almond Flour Chocolate Cake

Almond Flour Chocolate Cake. Photo credit: Vanilla Bean Cuisine.

Using almond flour gives this build a slightly coarser crumb that holds its form well. It’s moist but not oily, and the texture stays stable after slicing. Cocoa balances the nutty background. It’s gluten-free with no structural loss.
Get the Recipe: Almond Flour Chocolate Cake

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a white T-shirt and dark jeans, stands in a kitchen with a brick backsplash and stainless steel appliances. She is smiling and resting her hands on the counter.

About the author

Hi, Iโ€™m Lucy! Iโ€™m a home cook, writer, food and wine fanatic, and recipe developer. Iโ€™ve created and tested hundreds of recipes so that I can bring you the best tried and true favorites.

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