Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake (2024)

When I think of a homemade chocolate cake this is the one that comes to mind. It's one of my favorites; tender, moist, and fudgy with a creamy mocha buttercream frosting.

I love this chocolate cake but when it's summer and too hot to cook I'll go for this easy chocolate chip cookie delight! Layers of creamy, chocolaty goodness and just 10 minutes of prep time.

❤️ Why you'll love it

• Ultra moist chocolate cake recipe.
• Mocha butter cream has a rich texture but holds up well.
• Has been popular since the Great Depression - maybe before.

This old fashioned mayonnaise cake recipe has a luscious mocha chocolate buttercream frosting and is 3 layers of fudgy decadence.

I've adapted it from the original recipe found on the back of the Hellman's Mayonnaise jar in the early half of the 1900s.

Make it today and you'll understand why it's been a favorite for generations - don't wait for special occasions!

You'll definitely want to try this chocolate cake with cookies and cream filling.

🧾 Ingredients

This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

Cake ingredients

Chocolate buttercream frosting ingredients

🔪 Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.

1. Sift dry ingredients into a large bowl and set aside.
2. Beat sugar and mayonnaise; add eggs and vanilla.
3. Melt chocolate in a medium bowl; add cocoa and coffee (or hot water).
4. Add dry ingredients to egg mixture in 4 batches, alternating with chocolate mixture. Bake.

Mayonnaise cake frosting

• Cream the butter with an electric mixer until fluffy.
• Sift the powdered sugar and cocoa together.
• Melt the chocolate.
• Add the cocoa mixture to the butter and mix. Add the remaining ingredients and whip for a delicious chocolate buttercream frosting.

🥫 Storage

Chocolate mayonnaise cake can be stored at room temperature in a cake holder or carefully covered with plastic wrap. It will be fine for up to 4 days or so.

It freezes well for up to 4 months when stored in an airtight container.

📖Variations

To make a chocolate mayonnaise sheet cake -

1. Follow the instructions through creating the batter. Nothing will change.
2. Grease and flour a 13x9-inch baking pan.
3. Pour batter into the pan and smooth the top with a spatula or knife.
4. Hold it about 3 inches off the counter and drop it (don't do this with glass dishes!). It sounds weird but it breaks up and large bubbles.
5. Bake it for 30 - 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Start checking it at 25 minutes.
6. Cool in the pan until completely cool.
7. Frost the top of the cake with a thick layer of your favorite frosting.
8. For a special occasion try adding a few of these homemade chocolate covered cherries around the top.

💭 Things to know

Expert Tip: I dust my cake pans for chocolate cake with cocoa. That way any cocoa that clings to the crust of the cake it the same color as the cake. Just do it the same way you do with white flour...spoon a little into a greased pan and shake it around until it covers all surfaces then dump it out.

• For best results make sure all ingredients are at room temperature before you begin.
• If you've had a problem with cakes sticking to the pans in the past then place a round of parchment paper in the bottom of the pans and grease it then dust with cocoa. The bottom will come loose without a problem and you can just peel the parchment paper off after it's done.
• Don't scoop the flour from the container when measuring. Use a spoon and spoon the flour lightly into the measuring cup. Level it off with the flat edge of a butter knife.
• Don't use reduced fat, olive oil, canola oil, fat free, Miracle Whip or other mayonnaise variation. Use the old fashioned, full fat mayonnaise - I suggest Hellman's or Dukes mayonnaise, depending on where you live.
• Pour batter into the pans and bake immediately. Once the leavening is wet it starts to lose strength and your cake won't rise as well.
• Don'tover bakeyour cake. Check it by inserting a wooden pick into the center of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean with a few crumbs clinging to it the cake is ready..
• Place a couple of thin dowels or straws through the stacked cake when you are frosting the sides and top - this will keep it from sliding around. Just remove them and smooth the top before serving.

👩‍🍳 FAQs

• This classic vanilla layer cake is perfect for birthdays!
• You'll love this vintage mile high buttermilk cake.
• This chocolate shadow cake is full of dark chocolate flavor.
• Orange layer cake is another vintage recipe you'll love.
• Red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting is a southern favorite.
• Try this rich chocolate frosting on any homemade cake!
• Decadent and moist double chocolate Coca Cola cake is for chocolate lovers only.

🍽️ Serve with...

Cake and ice cream are a classic combination! Serve a thick slice of this cake with:

• homemade vanilla ice cream
• homemade chocolate mint Oreo ice cream
• homemade chocolate chocolate chip ice cream

🥄 Restless Chipotle recommends

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You'll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.

• large mixing bowl
• 8-inch round cake pans
• electric mixer
• bittersweet chocolate
• extra dark cocoa
• all purpose flour
• baking soda
• baking powder
• sugar
• brown sugar
• real mayonnaise (be sure to get mayonnaise and not salad dressing)
• eggs
• vanilla extract
• powdered sugar
• butter
• sour cream
• white corn syrup

📞 The last word

In my experience this cake goes fast!

One of the things I like to do is bake this chocolate mayonnaise cake recipe as a sheet cake in a 13x9 inch pan, let it cool, frost it, and then cut it into squares. I flash freeze the squares individually on a cookie sheet then pop them in individual freezer containers.

They're perfect for tucking into school lunches. Be careful though - if you use freezer bags the frosting will be a mess.

This old fashioned recipe results in a moist cake that is perfect at birthday parties and family get-togethers.

Next time try this chocolate spice cake!

This chocolate mayonnaise cake recipe was featured in Mashed.

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

First published July 2010. Last updated with step by step images and editorial changes March 8, 2022.

Old Images:

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