Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Contents… What Makes It Different? Recipe Ingredients How to Make It Alternative Ingredients Tips and Tricks Make-Ahead Instructions Serving and Storage FAQs What to Serve More Chocolate Recipes to Try Conclusion Watch How To Make It

What Makes Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake Different?

Some people get a little put off when they hear the words mayonnaise and cake in the same sentence but trust me when I say the mayo is what makes this cake great!

Because seriously, what’s the one thing that all good cakes have in common? They are delightfully moist without being dense and chewy – and that’s precisely the role mayonnaise plays in this recipe. You don’t need any pro baking techniques to keep your cake fluffy and prevent it from drying out by adding mayo. 

Recipe Ingredients

• Coffee Granules – Instant coffee granules intensify the rich flavor of chocolate in this recipe. Yum! A hot cup of strongly brewed coffee also works instead of hot water and instant coffee.
• Cocoa Powder – Made from dried ground cacao, it adds a rich and deep chocolate flavor to desserts and beverages.
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate – This chocolate, with a cacao content of around 60%, comes in blocks, bars, and baking chips and marries well with a variety of other flavors.
• Mayonnaise – It’s a thick creamy dressing made with three main ingredients that make it perfect for baking: egg yolks, lemon or vinegar, and oil. See my homemade mayonnaise.
• Vanilla Extract – The boost in flavor even a tiny amount of vanilla extract adds to a recipe should not be underestimated.
• Milk – Whole cow milk is high in fat and oh-so-creamy, adding richness and moisture to baked goods.

How to Make Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Make the Cake Batter

3. Dry Ingredients – Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
4. Wet Ingredients – Mix the hot water and coffee granules in a cup. In a medium bowl, add cocoa powder and chocolate. Whisk the hot coffee and cocoa mixture together until the chocolate completely melts and the mixture is smooth.

5. Add Mayo and Sugar – Next, mix the mayonnaise, dark brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a large bowl using a hand mixer until blended, about 2-3 minutes. Add the vanilla extract and mix.
6. Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients – When the mayo, sugars, and vanilla extract are well blended, start mixing in the chocolate mixture a little at a time, alternating with the flour mixture until both are thoroughly mixed.
7. Final Touch – Lastly, pour in the milk and gradually mix until fully incorporated into the cake batter.

Bake the Cake

8. Divide Batter – Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl and pour the batter evenly into the two greased cake pans. Try to keep the amount even in both pans. (You can eye the mixture or use a food scale for even more precision.) Tap the pans on your work surface to eliminate any large air bubbles.
9. Bake the cakes for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
10. Completely Cool the Cakes – Let the cakes cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then remove them from the pan and place them on wire racks to cool completely before frosting. This can be done a day in advance.

Make the Frosting

11. Dry Ingredients – Sift together the cocoa powder and the powdered sugar.
12. Add the Wet Ingredients – Add the softened butter, milk, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix with an electric mixer until fully combined and set aside.
13. Frost the Cake – Once the cake is cooled completely, frost it and enjoy!

Alternative Ingredients

1. Milk – If you run out of milk, don’t sweat it. You can sub this ingredient with half-and-half or heavy cream with a tablespoon of water. To make a dairy-free version of this cake, you can replace the milk with a non-dairy substitute. The creamy texture and neutral flavor of oat milk makes it a good choice. You could also go with coconut milk, which has a high-fat content making it as creamy as whole milk. Keep in mind that you’ll be able to taste coconut in the final product if you go this route. 
2. Mayonnaise – Replace the mayonnaise in this recipe with sour cream if you must, but just remember, it won’t be a chocolate mayonnaise cake anymore if you do that, will it? 😉
3. Cocoa and Chocolate – Carob is a less well-known chocolate substitute. It’s available in powder and chips. If you’re into health food, you know what it is and it will work.

Tips and Tricks

1. Some ovens have hotter and cooler areas. Rotate your cake pan in the oven when the cake is halfway done baking to make sure you get an even bake. 
2. Use a wooden toothpick to check the cake’s doneness. Simply stick the toothpick in the middle of the cake when your kitchen timer goes off. A toothpick that comes out clean means the cake has finished baking. If it comes out wet with batter stuck to it, the cake needs a few more minutes. 
3. Cool your cakes in the baking pans for at least 10 minutes before taking them out. Afterward, let them finish cooling on a wire baking rack. The cooler your cake is, the less likely it is to stick to the sides of the pan upon removal, and the easier it will be to make the frosting beautifully uniform.

Make-Ahead Instructions

Making this cake ahead of time is a breeze. Bake the cake as per the recipe instructions, and then store it in an airtight container in the fridge until you are ready to serve it.

You can hold off on the icing if you want to make the cake a day ahead of time and then frost it just before your guests arrive.

As a bonus, a cake chilled in the fridge overnight will be even easier to frost than a room temperature one!

Serving and Storage

Wait until the cake fully cools to frost, and then cut it into as many or as few slices as you please. Serve it up on your finest china or paper plates – trust me, your guests aren’t going to be thinking about the plates after they get that first bite in. 😋

Store chocolate mayonnaise cake in the fridge in an airtight container. It will stay fresh for 3-4 days.

You can also freeze this cake whole or in individual slices. Again, use an airtight container to store the cake in your freezer, and it can last 4-6 months.

FAQs

What Goes with Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Chocolate mayonnaise cake is ideal after just about any savory lunch or dinner. And as with most chocolate cakes, there are so many toppings that would make a lovely compliment that you can really get creative.

I like to use powdered sugar, fresh berries, and homemade whipped cream to decorate it. This cake also pairs perfectly with a nice hot drink like coffee, ginger tea, or a chai tea latte.

More Chocolate Recipes to Try

• Chocolate Pound Cake
• Flourless Chocolate Cake
• Chocolate Molten Lava Cake
• German Chocolate Cake
• Chocolate Guinness Cake

Conclusion

I can’t tell you how much fun I had making this cake with my son. And we had even more fun eating at our family gathering and listening to all the wonderful compliments. What special occasion do you plan on making this for? Please comment below and let me know how it went.

Watch How To Make It

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