We have a system around here, don’t we?
I bake something every few days, take pictures of it, and post a handful of those pictures in this little wedge of the Internet.
What would it look like if I showed you a whole bunch of everything? The chocolate. The cake. The clock. The hike. The traffic. The indecision. The bourbon. The whole dang day! Well… it would be at least mildly entertaining, but more importantly… it would satisfy my need to over-share. And that’s really why we’re all here, right?
8:18am. What an utterly obnoxious time to wake up. The baker in me… the baker that used to have to wake up at 3:15am is disgusted with my current self.
Like it or not, the first thing I do in the morning is flip on my computer. There’s email and blog comments and… Twitter, duh. It’s important and frankly, I can’t help myself.
You should see this. It’s a view of my bedside and well, under my bed.
One: I have cherry sheets.
Two: I store sprinkles of various colors under my bed. Don’t judge me.
Three: What you can’t see under my bed is the stack of cake pans I also have stored there.
Four: When in need of nighttime reading, I can either reach for The Bible or The Pioneer Woman Cookbook. It’s true. It’s real life.
Let’s hit the road. In a car. This is Los Angeles City Hall. I think it’s a pretty building.
These are my stairs. I took the liberty of naming them after myself. They’re called the Kick Joy the Baker Right in the Arse Stairs.
These are the stairs that tame my cake lovin’ thighs. It’s about 200 stairs in Echo Park that I climb a few times a week. It’s hard every time. It never gets easier. My thighs hate/love it.
The view at the top of the stairs is a combination of beauty and muck. The same can be said for most things in Los Angeles.
Look at that, Los Angeles. You’re lookin’ mighty precious.
But seriously, it’s time to get down to business. There’s a Chocolate Bundt to bake… and it’s not going to bake itself.
Oh wait… I’m really going to need some coffee first.
Cocoa powder and coffee. The beginning of the best Bundt in the world.
Dishes seem to be a byproduct of any kitchen venture. I still haven’t gotten used to that part.
I wanted to drink this batter. It was the consistency of hot chocolate made with heavy cream. Ooooh snap.
Once I stopped myself from bathing in the cake batter I checked my mail.
Jury Duty. Civic responsibility. No comment.
Oh! Did I tell you? My Mom got me a book. A relationship book… by Steve Harvey.
Steve Harvey writes about intimacy and commitment!? Lord help us all.
And just like that… I’m never dating, ever EVER again.
Also, what’s with the awkwardly placed hand Mr. Harvey? Do Not Trust.
My sister sent me a bit of relationship advice as well. Bourbon. Bless that girl. For life.
But back to the chocolate. We have chocolate glaze to make while the cake bakes.
I should mention that this chocolate glaze has sour cream in it. It’s perfect. I’m thinking of using it as an edible face mask in the future.
Yes. This just became quality entertainment.
Now it’s time to hop into some cute clothes, pack up the cake and get off to a dinner party.
This bed tells you several things.
One: I can’t decide what to wear.
Two: I’ve packed up the cake, but if I don’t set it next to equally important personal items, I will… no doubt, forget it as I run out the door.
Three: I make my bed.
Hollywood. Traffic. Always and forever.
This picture is obtuse. Please take note of Asher’s tasteful v-neck shirt. Please also take note of the fact that I was finally able to decide on something to wear.
Jeremy made an aaaaaamazing taco dinner. I should have asked for leftovers to take home, but I was shy. Dangit!
Cake. Generously sliced. Entirely appreciated. Nevermind the salsa still on the table. We just couldn’t wait for cake!
And then we turned to the topic that we always turn to at the end of an evening full of food and drinks: The Biggest Loser… and how amazing that show is… and how it requires a box of tissue… oh the pounds and the tears shed.
And the night ends.
Just so you know… this is about as well as I can see at night. I need new glasses. On the real.
Let’s talk about cake. This is the most moist and delicious chocolate bundt cake I’ve ever encountered. The batter is very loose. It might make you worry. Don’t fret. It bakes up like an absolute dream. The glaze… with unsweetened chocolate, coffee, and sour cream adds that final touch of delicious glamour to an already stellar cake. It’s a Bundt. It’s a dang good Bundt.
The Best Chocolate Bundt Cake with chocolate glaze
makes one 10-inch bundt cake
from The Big Sur Bakery Cookbook (really lovely book)
For the Cake:
1 1/4 cups plus 1 Tablespoon brewed coffee
3/4 cup Dutch process cocoa powder
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 whole eggs
1 egg yolk
1 1/4 cups plus 1 Tablespoon buttermilk
1 cup plus 2 Tablespoon canola oil
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups, plus 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour, sifted
For the Glaze:
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate
3/4 cup unsalted butter
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature
1/4 cup brewed coffee, cooled
Place an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
Grease and flour a 10-inch Bundt pan and set aside.
To make the cake batter: Put brewed coffee and cocoa powder in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, whisking frequently. Remove from the heat and let come to room temperature.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fit with a whisk attachment, mix together sugar, salt, baking soda, eggs and egg yolk on low speed for about 1 minute. Add the buttermilk, oil and vanilla extract and mix on low again for another minute.
Add the flour and mix on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add the cooled cocoa mixture and mix on medium speed for 3 minutes. The batter will be very loose. Pour into the prepared cake pan and bake for 1 hour, or until a cake tester inserted in the cake comes out clean.
Let the cake cool completely in the pan and then invert onto a cooling rack.
To make the icing: Chop the chocolate into small pieces, put them in a heatproof bowl (or a double boiler), and set the bowl over a pot of barely simmering water. Be sure that the bottom of the bowl does not touch the boiling water. Remove the bowl from the heat when all of the chocolate bits have melted.
Melt the butter in a separate pan or in the microwave. Whisk the melted butter into the melted chocolate until thoroughly incorporated. Sift in half of the powdered sugar. Add the sour cream and whisk to combine. Sift in the remaining powdered sugar and whisk until smooth. The glaze should be thick and shiny. Lastly, add the coffee and whisk to create a glossy glaze.
Pour the glaze over the Bundt cake, covering it completely. Leave at room temperature until ready to serve.
352 Responses
This cake is a winner. I will make it again for sure.
I call this the “the best sex you’ve ever had in the form of a cake” cake. Make it every year.
Nice recipe, very informative
I made this cake for my brother’s birthday! I switched it up and made it into a layer cake with a raspberry jam filling, then topped it with fresh raspberries. It was amazing! Great reviews from my family.
I made and put this cake in the oven 25 minutes ago, and it is literally boiling over my bundt pan onto my oven floor, and now the baking sheet I’ve put underneath it. I followed the recipe exactly, anyone else have this problem? Should I scrap it? If I let it keep baking, is it going to come out of the pan now that the exterior of the pan is also covered in batter?? Help please!
JoyTheBaker, you are the very death of us. What you seem to be missing, on this post of 6 odd years ago, is a comment from anybody who has gone to the effort of actually MAKING this cake. Today, in Sydney Australia, I went there. Mainly cos my partner bought a weird shaped baking tin, I endeavoured to find out the technical name for said tin, stumbled across your bundt bit, and choc’s your uncle. And MY GOD – it is every bit as delicious as it looked when you first posted this. I would love to post you a photo of my efforts, but I can’t work out how to attach it; I am a baker, not a taker….. THANK YOU
Hi Joy,
What a great recipe!! I went out and bought a bundt pan this morning because I was so excited to make this!! I took some photos if you’d like to see!
https://www.poptherapy.com.au/food/chocolate-espresso-funfetti-bundt-cake/
The texture so so moist….this was seriously one of the best cakes I’ve ever had!! I added sprinkles…because, why not!?
Thanks again,
Jem
Hello ,
Wow this is looking so yummy!!
I am just addicted to cold coffee and dark chocolate cakes.
Cake is looking so delicious , thanks for sharing its recipe!!
I read somewhere that you have to use baking powder not baking soda with Dutch Process cocoa- does this work because of the acidity of buttermilk? I have Dutch process and was looking forward a recipe that uses it.
Lisa
Made the cake last night for a couples dinner it was a big hit!!!
I love this recipe! the best chocolate bundt cake ever!
Could I replace the buttermilk in the Batter with a non-dairy option?
thanks!
So glad you have this recipe still on your blog because the glaze recipe in your cookbook doesn’t work. Way too runny, and now I see the difference is a substantial amount of powdered sugar in the recipe here.
Still love your cookbook dearly. Your chocolate buttercream frosting is divine. Just made myself a note to adjust this glaze next time. :)
Do you think this will work in a layered cake?
yes!
i have made this and concur it is the best chocolate (bundt) cake ever. end of.
A new reader and so glad I took a peek as your posts are fantastically entertaining :-) Now, I make a pretty mean chocolate bundt, in fact it came runner up in The Great Chocolate Cake Off in London the year before last BUT who wants to be runner up!? so I’m going to try yours… x
Made this wonderful cake and of course had a slice for breakfast. Heaven!
made this for a birthday breakfast, used whipped cream instead of glaze and served it with bacon on the side, so good, oh and i used coconut oil instead of butter, i just didn’t have enough butter, but it came out perfectly! thank you.
This recipe looks delicious! I love trying new chocolate cake recipes. The glaze looks delicious as well, but I have to ask: can you taste the coffee? I’ve used coffee in chocolate cakes before so I know it just enhances the chocolate flavor, but I’ve never used it in a glaze before. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
I have made this cake like 4 or 5 times now and once more today. And I guess you would say everyone loves it. Living in Costa Rica and it still turns out great. Because believe me some things just don’t turn out because of the improvisation of ingredients.
hey joy! could this be halved and baked in a 9×13? let me know! thanks!
I just made this for a dinner party and it was very moist with great flavor. I’m going to make it again for coworkers, thanks for sharing!
Hi Joy, I came upon this post while looking for a chocolate bundt recipe for my daughter’s birthday cake. She’ll be turning 3 so I’m making her cake in the shape of a 3, hence my desire for a bundt recipe. My question is – would it be alright for me to skip the coffee (seeing as how the cake will be fed to a bunch of 2-3 year olds). Is coffee more of a flavor enhancer? If you really think it makes the cake, I might just try using decaf instead. Thanks.
you are beautiful! thank you for sharing :) gonna make this yummy cake now and share it with some lovely friends xox
Hi Joy!
I made this cake- it was the best cake I have ever made. A few questions: are there sifters out there that don’t cause tendinitis in the wrist and arms?? It took me forever to sift- has to be a better way?? Also, after I took the melted chocolate off the heat, it began to coagulate into a hunky mass, not a smooth glaze. I put it back on the heat and it worked. Any tips?
Thanks!!
Lisa
I just got life bonus points for making this cake and consuming it in mass quantity. I want to wake up to this cake beside me every morning. Weird? Who cares. Thanks for the recipe and showing us your not afraid to rock a set of cherry sheets.
This cake is divine. It is moist and the flavour packs a beautiful punch. I will definitely be keeping this recipe. Thank you thank you thank you Joy!
Hi Joy,
My 5 year old daughter and I made this cake for my husband’s birthday yesterday, it was to die for!
It was the moistest cake I’ve ever made, and the slightly bitter/tangy icing was perfect with the mellow chocolate flavor in the cake.
And for those of us that can’t frost a cake that looks pretty to save our lives, pourable icing is a huge win. As in a Jackson Pollack win. EPIC.
Thanks for the recipe!
Lisa in Seattle
This was an excellent cake.
I made it for my own birthday party. As I waited until the last minute to glaze the cake, I ended up throwing your recipe out the window and throwing in whatever happened to catch my eye. Chocolate. Half and half (lacking heavy cream, of course). Oh-my-god-it’s-seizing. More half-and-half and vigorous whisking. Some golden syrup (why? I dunno. Seems like something Nigella would do). Some coffee. Oh-my-god-now-it’s-too-thin. Confectioner’s sugar.
In the end, several friends revealed a compulsion to dip their fingers in the shiny glaze.
And now I’m eating cake for breakfast.
Well done.
Love ur cakes and recipes and pictures!
Just a quick question… I dont have a bundt pan. Can this recipe be adopted for a regular 8″ cake pan?
Thank u!
The recipe is intended for a bundt pan. There may be more batter than a regular cake pan can hold, but it should bake just fine. Check it after 30 minutes, it will bake faster than a bundt.
I can’t believe I only found this now. Wow, almost three years late, I suck. Anyway, do you think this cake would work with other flavours ? I’m thinking with this amount of coffee, the flavour would be evident. Maybe with mint or orange, and replace the hot coffee with a water & liqueur mix, brought to the boil with the cacao, and then add some extract or oil ? This looks absolutely fabulous, and I’m dreaming up a bazillion variations.
I’ve never tried the variations your dreaming up, but go nuts!
I tried this recipe over the weekend and it was simply AMAZING. I ran out of buttermilk a few days before so had to use a ‘milk and vinegar’ substitute, i also reduced the oil by 2 table spoons.
I made this today and it’s AMAZING!!!
I did make some changes- I was scouring the internet for a chocolate – orange bundt cake and couldn’t find a recipe that was quite what I was looking for so I decided to try to tweak yours.
I substituted watered down fresh squeezed orange juice for the coffee. I was really nervous that boiling them together would ruin the flavor of the cocoa or the OJ, but I went for it anyway. My worries were for nothing! I also added the zest of two oranges in with the eggs and sugar.
It came out great! And I chose to do a simple orange glaze instead of the ganache you did.
Try it sometime!
I love bundt cakes and this one sounds just spectacular! I can’t wait to try it. I am sharing on my Weekly Rays of Sunshine: https://www.tumbleweedcontessa.com/blog/weekly-rays-of-sunshine-4/
Made this as an “on the house” dessert for the one year anniversary celebration of our coffee house in Mt. Pleasant, SC……uhhhhhmm. Yeessss. DEEE-LISH! Thanks Joy! My sister and I adore you! Love from SC :)
Its fantastic! didn’t even get to put the icing on yet , came out of the oven 4 minutes ago haha
I am making this cake right now but, because i love yogurt so much i supplemented 1/4 yogurt 1/4 cup heavy cream and 3/4 cup of 2% milk for the buttermilk. I let you know how it goes :) Im super excited. I had a recipe once that i created and i made that chocolate cake 2 years ago for thanksgiving, needless to say that was the main dish and all the turkey and fixin’s were appetizers, haha. Lost my recipe so hopefully this one is just as delicious. :) Thanks
Hello Joy,
I’ve been meaning to write for forever (at least most of the year)–and thank you for sharing this delectable cake recipe! I’ve made it with plain ol’ Hershey’s cocoa–when I’ve been out of Dutch; I’ve dusted it with powdered sugar (and a side of fresh whipped cream, naturally) when I’m too lazy to whip of frosting–and it’s always fabulous.
Needless to say, It’s been the hit of many a party in the last few months.
So thank you–from me and many a family and friend.
Cheers,
Amy
trying to find dutch processed cocoa was a real pain, I had to settle for Herseys Dark, which was like half reg cocoa and half dutch. Hope it works. Any thoughts on this anyone
Absolutely wonderful base recipe. I made this last night, exchanging 1/2 cup of the oil for 1/2 cup of canned pumpkin without loosing taste/texture/moisture..I love the hint of sweetness! Thanks for the go to cake!
You had me until 1 cup of canola oil… Low fat this cake is not. Anybody make any lower fat substitutions?
Have made this twice and it’s been excellent both times! Honest to god it was devoured within seconds. And for any novices out there, I started baking/cooking (aka entered the kitchen for the first time) only a month ago, so it’s not too difficult to get this one right. I used a hand whisk and made the buttermilk from scratch since non-spiced versions aren’t available in India.
Thank you SO much for bringing this chocolatey goodness into my life :) You are now my go-to website for desserts. Plus there are some real keepers when it comes to healthy recipes too which the tiny health nut in me loves.
I just maked, baked, and consumed one of the best Gluten Free Chocolate Mini Cupcakes using your recipe. I want to drink the icing. and the cake is so moist!
your recipes are great structures for swapping out flour for gf flour. Thank you!
Made this for my kids “first day of school” dessert.
It was all I could do to wait until they got home to eat it! Chocolatey goodness…moist, rich, everything I was hoping for! Great recipe!!
I made this the other day and it turned out wonderfully. However, there was way too much glaze! I’d recommend cutting it in half, unless you want a lot of glaze left over. I did use hot coffee instead of cool in the glaze, so it’s possible that could have affected it, but … I’d still recommend going easy on the glaze.
Joy, this cake turned out fabulously when I made it according to your recipe. Now I’d like to turn it into a smash cake for my baby’s 1st birthday. Do you have any tips on how to modify the recipe (ingredient quantities, baking time, baking temperature, etc.) to make the cake in small ramekins? Thank you.
Those stairs remind me of the stairs to my college dorm my freshman year. There were around 200 of them but I had to climb them multiple times every day! :D I never lived up there again.
Joy, I really want to make this for a friends shower do you know if you are able to sub gluten-free all purpose flour for the regular flour in the recipe ?
hi joy ! i’m so glad to find ur blog..its so amazing..enjoy to read it..i love baking n try new recipes..i’m in indonesia..maybe u know BALI ..yupp..BALI is in indonesia.
btw, i’ve tried this chocolate bundt..OMG !!! it’s so delicious..taste like heaven..so soft n it is best for chocolate lover..so yuummmmmy!! can’t wait to try another recipes…thanks to you.. :)
Amazing! This IS the best chocolate cake. I currently reside in China so I had to make a few adjustments. Used a hand mixer, substituted plain yogurt for sour cream, only made half the glaze…turned out SO delicious!
I have now made this cake about 7 times- It is by far the best chocolate cake that I have ever tasted, and the 100 or so stressed out social workers at my office agree. I use the best chocolate I can find- Ghiradelli unsweetened cocoa is great- use a mixture of high quality chocolate for the glaze. Make plenty of glaze- it is wonderful melted on ice cream- and I just discovered it makes the best hot chocolate in the world- just melt a generous table spoon of glaze in a mug then add milk and heat – yum! Oh- and I use cake flour- adding about 2 extra tablespoons per cup of all purpose- if you follow the instructions- have the eggs and buttermilk at room temp- I don’t think you can mess up this recipe. thank you Joy! you’re the best!
Oh my, my parents sent me that Steve Harvey book too! Awful!! So so bad.
LOVED this. What a fun post!! Don’t know who steve harvey is…. but what an awk picture, for sure! lol
It’s a good thing you read the bible because dreaming about this cake is about as Heavenly as it gets :)
This cake was amazing. As good on day 3 as day 1. Better, maybe, even. Will be my GO TO cake from now on.
Ummmm, so I made this. And it was life changing. The best chocolate bundt is no exaggeration. Now my hubby wants this for his birthday, but he also wants an ice cream cake. Do you think this would bake alright in two circle cake pans? Thanks for the fabulous recipe (the chocolate frosting will forever be my go-to).
I am making this cake this weekend. Would chocolate chips be good in this cake?
Joy,
I made this cake and I am in LOVE!! I too am a self proclaimed chocoholic and it is the perfect recipe. The directions are easy only the eternal wait as the cake cools is the hardest! The bundt cake pan makes this cake as pretty as it tastes! It is a lovely presentation! Your blog has saved my enthusiasm and baking reputation. Thank you Joy! Let me know where I can send some pics.
Kelli
This cake. My Xmas gift to me friends who have graciously invited us to share dinner with them. I’ve made it once before, but didn’t have dutch process cocoa. AND it came out to die for. Today, its the real deal all the way. Not sure I’ll ever make another chocolate cake again. Its that amazing. Thanks Joy. Feliz Navidad!
This ake. My Xmas gift to me friends who have graciously invited us to share dinner with them. I’ve made it once before, but didn’t have dutch process cocoa. AND it came out to die for. Today, its the real deal all the way. Not sure I’ll ever make another chocolate cake again. Its that amazing. Thanks Joy. Feliz Navidad!
Hi!!! I’m bringing dessert to my dinner club (yes, we cannot get our acts together to read, so we eat) on Wednesday, but am on Vacation from Sat-Tuesday (I land at 11 pm!). Do you think that if I made this bundt tonight / tomorrow night, it would freeze well? I’ve never frozen a cake before… Help! :) I think I’d make the glaze (and crunch some candy canes to sprinkle on top) when I’m at the club so it transports well…
You get to live in Los Angeles!!? That’s not fair. It’ll be hard to feel real sorry for you again. I live in Alberta where we’re heading for the coldest winter in 10 years I’ve been told. Pls don’t smile or snicker. I’m sensitive. I need to make this cake when no one is around and sit on the floor and eat it and pretend I’m sitting on the beach with you. That will make me feel better. We need sunscreen right? You don’t know how white I am. Oh – and I love your blog. You’re like a celebrity now that I know you live in LA.
I realize this recipe has been around for awhile but I am new to your blog and boy am I happy I found it! This cake is fantastic! I have made it twice in the past month per my kids request. The only change I made was create a mild chocolate glaze instead of dark chocolate because my kids haven’t learned to appreciate good dark chocolate yet! Thanks and keep ’em coming.
Joy,
I am interested to know what products if any can be used to substitute for sour cream…I want to make the “Best Chocolate Bundt Cake” but have Ricotta cheese…would that work? Thanks! Sue
ricotta cheese has a different consistency… so that’s not the best bet. sour cream is perfect for this recipe. i’m not sure there is a suitable substitute.
OK, made this at 3am this morning (terrible insomniac) and by noon my fiancé consumed half of this cake. It is, in fact, the best chocolate bundt cake ever! Thanks so much for another wonderful recipe!
it s funny after reading all of your comments i thought i m gonna love this cake..i did everything exactly as said..but i find this cake not chocolately at all, the frosting too sweet, texture looks yummy though, but cake is without any good taste, despite the fact that i used really good quality ingridients..
i expected it to be sort of like nigella s quadruple chocolate loaf cake is..that one is the best of all i ve tried so far..
but love your blog anyway,
Ana
This cake is soooo yummy!! IT is the best chocolate Cake Ever!! and the icing takes it to a whole nother level!! I <3 this cake!
HOLY CHOCOLATE CRACK CAKE JOY! I made this for my mother-in-law’s b-day. I just finished putting the glaze on, fighting my husband and daughter to keep them out of the bowl. My hubby says it’s like liquid brownie! GREAT TIMES ON A SUGAR HIGH!
I made this for the second time last night. It’s luscious, decadent and perfectly scrumptious.
AGH! I get made fun of (ruthlessly) for crying at the Biggest Loser. I thought I was the only one! You validate me, Joy.
mmmm sounds simply delicious! just reading about it makes my mouth water i can see it now yum
i always have had this question dutched process cocoa powder vs the regular stuff. big difference?
I am making this cake for, like, the fifth time since you posted it. (And have given all but one or two away, for the record!!!) Thanks Joy-you’re the best!
proud of you, boo!
I’d make it if I had a stand mixer.
Jan
Joy – I love love love your blog. I made this cake last week for Christmas and OMG it was fantastic…. I definitely just used Hershey’s cocoa powder, and it was perfect…. so for everyone out there – I’d go out on a limb and say you don’t need to fret over the difference between unsweetened cocoa powder and dutch process cocoa powder for this particular cake. Actually – (fun fact time) – David Lebovitz makes the point that “You can substitute natural cocoa powder (i.e. Hershey’s) for Dutch-process in most recipes (though not vice versa). Flavor and texture can be affected, but generally only in recipes calling for 3/4 cup or more.” https://www.davidlebovitz.com/2010/02/cocoa-powder-faq-dutch-process-v/
This recipe also makes a bathtub full of chocolate glaze…. which I suppose is one of those “is that a good thing or a bad thing?” conundrums, but really, if you think a big container of leftover chocolate glaze is a bad thing, why are you reading this blog??!! ;-)
Cheers to 2011!!!
I just finished making this cake for Thanksgiving tomorrow but I couldn’t wait and had a slice while everyone is sleeping.
IT’S SO GOOD!!!
I’m 16 and this is the first cake I’ve ever baked from scratch and I couldn’t be happier with the results.
I’ll be making this again in a week for my friend’s birthday…and probably the week after that…and the following week…and the week after that…you get the picture. :)
Thanks Joy, I love your blog!
Hi Joy! Cake is in the oven for the Thanksgiving meal tomorrow. My sisters and I were each tasked with bringing a dessert and I’m psyched to finally be making this recipe – it’s been on my list for a while. Cheers!
If my mom got me Steve Harvey’s book I would die laughing. That is hilarious.
Joy – your blog about this Chocolate Bundt cake was a joy to read…. beat ya never heard that?
I’m working on a cake for bake for my mom’s 73rd birthday (this Sunday)… It’s a BRUNCH with a bagels, lox, smoked white fish, salty Greek olives and all the trimmings – Do you think Chocolate cake is overkill?
Also, thanks for including the photo of the stairs – I’m a neighbor (Los Felliz), and a lover of food… perhaps them stairs could tame my little pasta-paunch?
i don’t think chocolate cake is overkill at all. do it!
the baxter stairs are insane! they’re a great workout!
Seriously, this IS the best chocolate bundt cake ever. You can check it out on my blog, if you’d like http://www.thecollegecupcake.blogspot.com
Thanks for the recipe and I LOVE your blog!
I am the new favourite person at work. Took this yesterday and everyone wants the recipe. Already have plans for two more. See how much love you have created?!
THANK YOU JOY!
I made this cake for my mom’s birthday…everyone LOVED it!!! I probably could’ve cut the glaze in half…ended up filling the entire center of the bundt with it and outside plating…nonetheless SO DELICIOUS!! thanks again :)
girl, help. i want to make this for my husbands birthday. but is dutch process cocoa powder same as normal hersheys cocoa powder?!
go with the hersheys. i think that might be what i used too!
I made this yesterday. I used yogurt thinned with milk instead of buttermilk and all I had was grape seed oil. I also baked it in two loaf pans. So sorry for changing everything, BUT this was freaking delicious. This cake is so moist and light, not heavy at all like a lot of chocolate cake can be. Thanks for posting such a great cake!
sounds amazing!
Joy, I made this last week for my friend’s birthday at it was absolutely AMAZING! We couldn’t stop stuffing our faces…. hands down the best chocolate cake i’ve ever made. Cheers mate!
Hi Joy!!!
I would love to make this yummy looking recipe but I don’t have a coffee grinder nor do I have a coffee brewing machine (not a big coffee person as you can tell)… So, I was wondering if the cake would suffer in flavor if I used instant coffee? And would vegetable oil work in place of the canola oil? What are the differences & would the cake still turn out yummy & all if I used the substitutes? Thanks!!
You can always just go to a local roastery/caffe and buy a 12-16 oz coffee to go…:-)
Real coffee is always better!
Since I printed this recipe out, maybe a month ago, I have made this cake probably 8 – 10 times.
I used to make Dorie Greenspan’s mocha walnut bundt cake monthly, but this has replaced it.
Thanks
This cake is crazy good! I may have told the birthday boy that other guests had seconds after I attacked it while he was sleeping it off. I may also have a cake hangover now, but it was totally worth every crumb! Thank you, Joy!
Made this cake last night – OMWow! It’s the prettiest bundt cake I’ve ever made – normally can’t get the glaze to work. You could easily cut the glaze recipe in half – but then you wouldn’t have any left in the bowl to eat with a spoon – Make sure you have plenty of milk in the house….
hmmmmmm. i just baked this cake for my friends and they could barely stop themselves from having another piece and yelling and thanking me for making such a tempting cake. the only thing bad about this cake is what it will do to your waistline.
Kemmy you are a star!! :) Thanks, Joy, for providing her with all these brilliant recipes, so she can feed us! :)
Hi, I love your blog … I am looking for recipes for diabetic friendly cakes to bake for my Dad’s birthday… Will be grateful if you can give me some advice, Thanks!
You weren’t kidding! Made it 3 days ago, and between just me, my husband and daughter, it’s almost gone!
Made it for Father’s day, and everyone was SHOCKED at how amazing it is! I’ve never made anything from scratch, so thank you so much for this recipe. It was easier than I thought it would be, and so much fun!
Joy – this cake is phenomenal! I made it yesterday and I can’t put my fork down! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Joy! I am making this cake over the weekend as a Father’s Day/ Mom’s birthday cake (they are 2 days apart). All your recipes make me CRAVE a stand mixer (and chocolate, of course), but I couldn’t bring myself to spend the money, at least not right now. Is there anything different about just having a hand mixer, other than the do-it-yourself aspect?
Anyway I am looking forward to devouring this monster of a cake! :) Thanks!
hi joy, the pictures look amazing. i wanted to ask if i could use instant coffee instead of brewed as your recipe said.am really looking forward to baking this for my friends
I just served this cake at an office baby shower. The glaze did really well in a container in the fridge all day. I just warmed it up right before I served the cake. Everyone really enjoyed the cake and said that the coffee added a really nice complexity to the chocolate. I would definitely make this cake again!
definitely making this for a dinner party on saturday! thanks for the inspiration!
Well it has been a minute since I visited. But BOY OH BOY this cake is so moist. The overall texture is so smooth it feels cool in my mouth. I passed on the glaze but you don’t even miss it. Joy Oh Joy for this chocolatty explosion the envelopes every tastebuds until you feel the need to just dance. I’m putting in chocolatty chips next time. Make this cake and just take your man to bed.
Made it for my friends birthday, turned out SO delicious (though it did take a little longer than expected to bake, especially since I started baking it at 11pm the night before). Everybody loved it! The store bought vanilla cake someone else brought was no competition. Great writing, great recipe as always Joy! :)
Brilliant…love your posts.
You have Pioneer Woman’s cookbook?! We will definitely be friends, I just know it.
Also, once I retrieve my bundt pan, I will be making this cake.
(On a side note, whenever I hear or see the word bundt I think of the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and it makes me laugh).
This was hands down the best chocolate cake EVER!! I thought my recipe was the best until I tried this one. The frosting was to die for and my husband and I have eaten a big slice every night! We LOVE it!
Dude. All I can say is. Dude. This cake was OFF THE HOOK. I made two, one for home and one for work. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
I just finished the glaze and had to stop myself from eating the whole bowl. That combination is killer – I hate coffee, but I took your word on it adding depth to the chocolate flavor, and you were right! The sour cream too makes such a difference – this glaze has LAYERS of flavor to it, and I never knew I could do that myself! I’m learning so much from you, Joy! The bundt is going to a cookout today – I have a feeling it will be a memory by about 5pm.
I made this for a friend’s birthday — it turned out really well!
LOVE this blog! I bought a bundt pan from the flea market this past weekend — could not wait to use it! I searched for an “awesome bundt cake” recipe and your blog came up!! The cake is in the oven, and will be out in about 2 minutes! I am hoping it comes out — it is scheduled to be eaten in the school lounge tomorrow. Thanks for your entertaining blog! Peace and Love!
HELLO JOY!
Well – I am a crazy busy person, almost made crazier when I couldn’t find your site….guess the capital “T” is critical. I do love your site and the recipes are outstanding. I have been able to sometimes substitute oat and brown rice flour for the white processed flour and have such great results I keep coming back. I have made a number of recipe’s including the cornmeal and molasses pancakes which are a weekly staple here. They are sweet and delicious without any sugar, it’s hard to believe – though I’ve been known to add a few chocolate chips when guests are over.
I am back onto your blog today – because I am looking to try a CHERRY BUNDT cake (with of course the deep, fudgey chocolate glaze……buzzzzz. Got anything in the deep recesses of your library or is it just so obvious….simply substitute cherry flavoring and a jar of cherries for your fav vanilla bundt cake? I will patiently await your response understanding your life is full perhaps with a touch of the crazies too. Hoping in Hope, Maine. ox
Hi Aimee.
I’m afraid I don’t have a cherry bundt recipe on my blog. Sounds delicious though!
I’d start with a vanilla bundt, add cherry extract and chopped can cherries, drained of the juice.
https://www.foodista.com/recipe/HJ2T4B3W/vanilla-bundt-cake
Happy Baking!
joy the baker
I made this for my boyfriend’s birthday party. Oh. My. God. Absolutely Amazing!
Everyone had seconds. Thanks!
THIS CAKE IS FABULOUS!!!! I made this weekend for a gathering and we all were floored! Thank you for sharing this great recipe. This is in the top five of my favorites:)
I made this for my brother’s birthday dinner. Heaven. I baked the cake the night before and glazed it the day-of. I transferred my glaze batter to the stand mixer once I started to add the powdered sugar. Mine still looked dull and slightly crumbly before adding the coffee at the end. I added a few tablespoons more coffee to get the desired “pourable” consistency. There was WAY more glaze than I needed, so I had some leftover. I could have bathed in it. Thanks for another fabulous recipe!
ps .. no camera zone, it’s next.
it’s in the oven as i type this. my apartment smells like heaven!
Joy- You are killing me here! Made this cake! Amazing!
It also got better and better each day. Thank you!
This cake looks absolutely perfect. I must make it as soon as I get home!
By the way, thank you for a great blog. It inspired me to start my own: https://fifthfloorcooking.wordpress.com
Kristina
Okay Joy – I made this cake for a church potluck yesterday. I made the cake Sat. night and the glaze yesterday morning. So the cake turned out awesome and I loved it. The glaze was too thick to pour, so I spread it on with my already in use spatula. It was still fluffy and creamy, but it was definitely not pourable. I know my measurements were exact. Anyway I used the whole bowl of glaze…which on my end was way more than what it looks like you put on your cake (it covered the entire cake). It was gorgeous and everyone loved it – I loved the cake and the glaze separately, but together I felt the glaze overwhelmed the cake. So I guess my question is was I only supposed to use part of the glaze, or did I otherwise do something wrong? Thanks.
Hi Joy!
I have made many of the recipes here, all to good account. This is a lovely blog with excellent recipes!
I really want to make this cake, but am wondering how the baking times would change if I made it into cupcakes. Do you have any guidance on that? If not, I will just hover around the oven with a cake tester after every 15 min in the oven :)
Also, those purple clothes on your bed are a lovely color.
This cake is divine! I made it today for my daughter’s birthday and it was amazing :)
Thanks for another great recipe!
I made this yesterday for a birthday party. I have to say, I was really excited to make this b/c I have heard that coffee enhances the flavor of chocolate. I found that the coffee didn’t really do much for it. I think it may also be that you have to use coffee grinds, and not brewed coffee. Even still, I couldn’t really taste the coffee in this. However, the cake itself was very moist and very delicious. The glaze was yummy too. I just would’ve liked more coffee flavor.
I would still make this again, though. Thanks for another delicious recipe!
Hiya!
I made the bundt cake and it’s fantastic. The most perfectly moist cake I think I’ve made. Ever. Between the cake and the easy pie crust I’ve tried from you, I’m sold. You’ll definitely be a baking go-to for me from now on.
I have a question about the glaze: It seems really liquid-y to me. Did that happen to you? I followed the recipe exactly but when I make it again I might reduce the amount of butter or sour cream. I added a bit of extra sugar to thicken it and I’m pretty happy with it. Your thoughts? Was your glaze liquid-y? Is that how it should be.
Thanks!
Sharon
Forget about the cake, thank you for the Chocolate face mask recipe..
My mom gave me the same book! It left me with little hope on the man front.
Love this post!!!
And I wonder why my sisters never send some nice piece of advise like yours.
I will try the recipe with my nieces.
Maria
Oh, MY!
This is absolutely the most decadent chocolate cake ever! I made it this week for a gathering of friends and it was touted as the BEST chocolate cake any of them had ever tasted anywhere. I must agree and I don’t think I will ever even try to find another chocolate cake to impress guests with. This is definatly it!
I made the cake as a thank-you gift for a friend. Except I couldn’t make this cake and say to the five little ones “Yes it’s cake, and NO you can’t have any.” SO: I made two. All five votes are in: THE BEST chocolate cake. Ever. Let’s hope the friend likes it too…. Thank you!!
mmm… chocolate cake. Looks yummy and just like what I am needing. Going to try out your recipe tonight :)
P.S. I have sprinkles and cookie cutters stored in my sock drawer. I’m glad we’re friends.
HELP! Im gonna (try) making this for a dinner party tmrw, risky, i know, but i cant resist it. It looks too good. Do I glaze it tmrw, before the dinner, or do I do it after Im done wth the cake and the glaze tonight? Thanks loads!
hey lara! you can glaze it tomorrow right before the party! happy baking!
Thankss!!! I made the cake!!! And it didnt turn out a big mess! Like it always does! Im amazed! So is my husband! I cant stop exclaiming! OK seriously. Now im off to make the glaze. Lets hope the INSIDE of the cake turns out well too. (I always have this niggling fear that the insides will be all gooey and crumbly. Not good) Cross my fingers ;)
“Super Like”
So going to have to make it…2 of my big loves are chocolate & coffee =D Now where’s my bundt pan?!?!
That bible looks familiar, don’t tell me you got it from RockHarbor Church also?!
This WAS indeed entertaining! I love a sneak peak into the everyday life of others. And that cake….oh. And the frosting with sour cream – double ohh…
there are many tender vittles in this post that i would like to eat. and i don’t mean the cake.
I hope it’s OK to contact you here, We came across your blog and We’d like to invite you to appear on our Foodie site – Foodierama. Have a look at https://www.foodierama.com and send us a note on our contact form or through the email in this comment if interested. Thanks and sorry to intrude , Dave
That cake looks liplicking tummy rubbing good !!! Where are the 200stairs path in echo park ?what are the intersections I need to go climb them and burn burn burn some muscle! !!
Yum!!! I am totally craving chocolate cake right now, yours looks terrific!
This cake looks delicious-if there is any left I am hopping on the 405 SB right now for a slice.
Oooh, I would love to eat a slice of that cake! Are you Christian? Cool!
Joy, you write the best entries! This was a great one and plus, you made me miss home. Thanks for sharing yourself with us all…and I can’t wait to try the cake!!!
I just have two things to say…
One. I just love the new header, it’s beautiful.
Two. Your post about chocolate cake, relationship advice, and friends made me smile, a much needed smile. You, Joy, are an absolute delight!
I absolutely love this post! I’d like more like this- a day in the life of… And the cake! Mmmm.
Okay, yum and double yum! I just printed that bad boy and will be making it soon. There is not much else I love in this world more than chocolate. It is a very good thing.
I’m about ready to give up my corporate life and just read food blogs and bake and cook all day. At least I now have my weekend baking recipe chosen!
it was so much fun to hear about your day! and the chocolate cake looks to die for! :)
Love this post ! I always love reading up the little mundane details of every day life … thanks for sharing! :)
I love how you write. I’d say its sarcasm mixed with a few jokes and spoonful of sincerity. Thanks for keeping me so darn entertained during finals week… even though I should be studying.
:)
You crack me up everytime and I relate to you on many levels, what do I do if I want to omit the coffee from the bundt cake?
i’ve been meaning to tell you-i love your new banner. so cute!
Wow that cake looks absolutely delicious!
I love this post and love that you store sprinkles under your bed. As far as the Steve Harvey book, it’s actually pretty entertaining if nothing else…not going to lie I took a view words of wisdom away as well. Plus it’s a quick read, don’t throw it aside :)
is there a substitute for the coffee?
I love the cake and the pictures, its all about baking a moment :) congrats, great blog!
Magali
Wow this looks amazingly chocolatey and delicious, i really wanna try making a bundt cake hehe :)
Well Joy, I made the bundt cake last night and the glaze at 6 am this morning for my employees birthday. It looks like a storybook cake(ever see the chocoalte cake in the movie “Matilda”) like a childhood fantasy chocolate cake with whirls of shiny thick chocolate frosting that needs to be eaten with ice cold milk -thanks for constantly reminding me of the pleaseure we give and get from baking!
Oh Joy…. my favorite posts are: The one with all the pics from your iphone. AND THIS ONE!!!! Food and real life. How fun!
I need that cake. And that flight of stairs.
Waw!! Your chocolate ganached chocolate Bundt cake looks quite FABULOUS!!!
Lovely pictures too!
I was loving this post anyway — I love a good peek into a day in the life — but then you had to go and bring up Biggest Loser and now I feel like I was meant to read this post asI am constantly on the hunt for someone who appreciates it’s brilliance. And it’s sobfest tendencies.
People really love that Steve Harvey book. I just don’t get it.
This is an awesome post, I love hearing about all the nuances of people’s days. :) And this bundt cake? Well I love bundt cakes and since you say it is the best chocolate bundt ever… I don’t think there is a question about whether or not I will make it.
I will admit, I laughed out loud when I saw that Steve Harvey book. Your mom rocks! Oh, and now I’m craving chocolate bundt cake.
I can’t tell you how much appreciate your complete abstinence of cursing; and your amazing way of bring gigantic smiles to my face when i read your new post(s)
Moms are full of useless relationship advice aren’t they? One time a then time boyfriends mother suggested I buy myself a nice fishnet bodysuit. Ew.
The cake looks delicious, when I finally get around to purchasing a nice bundt pan I will give it a spin
what i love about this entry is where you said “the cake isn’t going to bake itself!” ANY TIME my friends and i are talking about a dessert – i.e., for a dinner party or whatever – someone says, “Loren, get busy – the dessert isn’t going to bake itself!” also, p.s. the part about your steve harvey book is hilarious.
This looks amazing and I can’t wait to make it. I have a 7 inch (8 cup) bundt pan…any tips on adjusting the bake time? Thanks!!!
Sam
best. best entry.
Joy! I love your blog, high five for your love for bourbon and the iPhone case. I have the same one. I’m heading to LA for 4 days next week and was wondering where (most importantly) I need to eat. Coffee, sweets, good grub, and any suggestions for vintage shopping would be much appreciated. Thanks!
I found your blog through your scone recipe and just wanted to say your writing is hilarious and somehow every picture you take seems glamorous. Keep it up sister! Can’t wait to try your recipes.
i assume you didn’t change a single diaper all day and that makes me infinitely jealous! that cake looks rather delicious–and dangerous. i’d eat the whole thing myself. i’m serious.
also–last night i made those berry bars you posted last week. so awesome. i’ve eaten about half of it already…
Yummy! This looks delish! I have a question though- Can i make this into cupcakes? im going to a party friday and i think individual cupcakes would be better to bring. What do you think???
The cake sounds a lot like my husband’s favorite cake, but sans the brewed coffee. It’s a Bundt also, and the batter is way runny. Delicious — I may have to try this glaze with it.
Speaking of husband’s (and the future obtaining of such) — eek on that Steve Harvey book! I’m sure your mom means well & just feels helpless if you’re feeling bad lately. I’ll take your sister’s offering, myself.
Oh and today was a I need chocolate cake sort of day. Thanks for the recipe!
your bag (in the bed pic) is adorable… where’d you get it? i’m always looking for bags big enough to tote my nalgene :) i have a sickness and must take it everywhere with me!
This cake looks delicious, and I can’t wait to try it- and I always seem to have leftover buttermilk from one recipe or another, and love a new way to use it up! thank you
That cake looks UH-mazing. And so does the bourbon. And the cute dresses. Oh, and those SPRINKLES!!!
I loved having a little peak into your day! That frosting looks intense, in a good way. :) And, um, Jeremy is handsome.
That’s funny, I made a similar cake recently minus the glaze and the batter was all nice and wobbly and came out delish…. Nice post
I love that you shared your whole day. I am looking forward to trying out the cake real soon. ;p Have a great week Joy!!
If you haven’t started the Steve Harvey book please do read it. A friend gave it to me and it sat for over a year. Finally, I had nothing else to read and picked it up. What an easy, funny read full of excellent advice. Don’t let the cover turn you away. This guy gives it straight. I am saving it for my daughter to read when she comes into her dating days. With your cooking skills, perky personality and info from that book…MEN BEWARE!!!
How is it even possible that you are single?! I love everything about this post!
Cool! Thanks for the recap of your day/weekend!! Sounds like fun. The cake looks amazing. Is there a less-tangy substitute for the sour cream? I don’t like it very much. I also don’t like yogurt for the same reason. I guess I would have to use another recipe. :(
love your blog! i reaaly want to bake this cake, but can i substitute anything for the eggs and the egg yolk since i dont eat them?
I love day-in-the-life posts, and I adore the cherry sheets!!
Yum!
Where are you supposed to buy dutch process cocoa powder?
Oh Joyous Joy, as ever I now NEED to bake and stuff my face with this cake!!
But can you tell me if you can taste the coffee in it? I HATE coffee, it makes me sad that sooo many things have it.
And the sheets – I love them almost more than the cake!
the cake doesn’t really taste like coffee. coffee just adds depth to the chocolate flavor.
“Edible face mask” – great idea!
great piece! I love that you’ve shared these little tidbits of your life. can’t wait for the book!
I must know what the deal with dutch processed cocoa powder is. I know that I should know this, but I am ashamed that I do not. I had a recipe that called for it around Christmas and I couldn’t find it anywhere.
The cake looks delicious and I MUST try it! BTW, I adore this blog.
Adore this post, and adore you. {Am I being too forward?} I love making anything in a Bundt pan, and this looks even more exciting than the typical coffee cake I think of. Also, I’m slightly jealous of your under-the-bed storage – I have a platform bed and can’t get anything under there. So feel blessed! xxSAS
I too have an adorable Bible/Cookbook reading daughter that is still single despite being able to bake like a house on fire. If I thought the Steve Harvey book would help, I’d have it in the mail tonight.
Oh. My. Cake! I can’t wait to bake this!
Fantastic post Joy, keep the chin up :-}}
Your chocolate bundt cake looks delicious…can’t wait to try it! What a fun post…of course we loved seeing your whole day…you should do that more often…!
Sorry you’re having boy troubles, Joy. Hey, maybe you could hook up with The Pioneer Woman for The Ranchelor :)
https://thepioneerwoman.com/blog/2010/01/firestomper/
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE…what china is your pattern? PLEASE??????!!!!
my goodness! have i not told you about these dishes?
i don’t know the china pattern.
the only thing i know about these plates is that they are the china that my grandparents received as their wedding present back in the 1930’s. All they say on the back is “Made in China” in a fancy kind of stamp.
that’s all i’ve got for you i’m afraid.
Joy, don’t be ashamed of the sprinkles under the bed. I have a ROOM dedicated to overflow cooking, which includes many sprinkles. I also have 3+ bookcases full of cookbooks(not too mention what’s stacked on top of those bookcases). You might check out Replacements to find out your china pattern, which is beautiful, I might add. Also, do you have a specific favorite chocolate you’re using for the glaze on this delish looking cake??
Thanks for sharing a little glimpse into your life Joy! This was such a great post, full of so much fun and humor. Have a great day!
ahh… cake thighs and exercise… i know all about that too! I’m gonna have to come to L.A and pay a visit to Echo Park… Oh, and baking cups, cookie cutters and easter sprinkles sleep next to my bed
seriously, best post ever! and that cake, i’m drooling…
I have The Bible at my bedside too.
It’s got the best advice, hands down. :)
can you tell me if you have ever tried plain yogurt in place of buttermilk? Wondered if that would work???
I always have plain yogurt on hand.
Thanks!
NO no no. It’s 9:27am and guess what I’m craving now? Chocolate bundt cake! Nom nom nom. Someone stop me…
:)
don’t know about the bundt cake but this is most definitely the bestest blog post ever! i’m sure i’m not the first to tell you this, but you need your own show!
Must.Have. Now!! I loved hearing a little bit about a day in the life, and what day can be better than one that ends with that delicious chocolate bundt cake?!?
I just love the heck out of you. I truly do. And a Steve Harvey relationship book? Tell me your mom was joking.
I’m with you on the chocolate facial!!
I love that you were discussing The Biggest Loser while eating chocolate cake!
Please over-share more often.
Ahh Joy, I love this post. If I had stairs like that here I’d use them rather than my Wii to kill my thighs with. Well, once the kids are older, don’t fancy lugging a stroller up! HAH!
That cake looks yummy! And the glaze… I’d drink that!
I love seeing a little into your life. What a cute post!
Joy, I cannot wait to make this! Note to self: buy a bundt pan. Can I use a hand mixer with the whisk attachment? I may be a daredevil and just see what happens!
On a completely unrelated note, I made the banana oatmeal bread recipe this weekend but substituted pears and chocolate chips for the banana. You can’t taste the pear – maybe I should have used some ginger as well? – but the chocolate chips are lovely…
Joy,
Will you talk about your coffee pot. I just picked up a french press and I’m not certain if I’m doing it right. Coffee is important right? Certainly if you’re using it in a chocolate cake, it’s very important. Also tips on coffee storage and selection too.
BTW I just made more whole wheat cookies (with four types of chocolate in them) for the freezer. Brilliant! Keep it up.
Oh, Joy. You are not alone with the needing relationship advice. I think just the laughter alone that the Steve Harvey book cover induces would make me feel better, but I wouldn’t turn down the brandy ;)
You have inspired me to have a dress-up party on the patio with some friends, just so that I can present this amazing cake! Thank you once again. You make all our days better. :)
You are so cool. I like what you chose to wear. ;)
What a lovely post! I’m really happy that i find your blog, it makes my mornings a bit funnier, and also, CHOCOLATE CAKE, i LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE chocolate cake, now I have a mission this week.
Those are the cutest sheets…would you mind telling us where you got them??
Target Debby…. where I get everything in my life. Target.
Joy!! Your blog rocks!! (Did you know that?) Thanks for all the yummy recipes and pics.
All of your post makes me want to hop on a plane and join you and your group for a dinner party.
this post made my day. you are awesome, joy! (p.s. I’ve climbed those stairs. I think my thighs, lungs, and bum were all burning at once!)
I don’t know which I covet more: the chocolate cake or the cherry sheets!! Awesome!! :)
What an amazing, sweet post. Loved it, Joy! I love that in the mail on one singular day you got some bourbon and a kinda creepy looking relationship book from your mom. There are so many relationship books out there–how’d she choose that one?!
I’ve often thought how funny it’d be if readers could see a behind the scenes chronicle of your day–the beginning and end that happens before the baking. Loved yours. Sweet. Happy Monday.
I need a sister like that.
Even more brilliant than this blog is the idea of an edible chocolate facial mask. Thank you Joy for putting a smile on my face and chocolate cake on my brain!
Joy, I have been reading your blog all this time and didn’t know you were a sister in Christ. Although all your baked goods make me smile, the fact that you know the Lord brings “Joy” (haha) to my heart! Do you go to church anywhere in the area?
Love this post!
And that cake looks like I want to shovel it straight into my mouth with my hands. No fork needed here!
Whenever I need a perk in my day, I visit your site. Your witty posts always make me smile. This cake looks yummy too.
looks like a load of good times, and that cake is a great way to finish off the day. i would definitely be in need of hiking those stairs a few times!
Gorgeous photos, again! Thanks for ‘oversharing.’ The bundt cake is beautiful and but the adventure through the day is equally as well documented. Hysterical about the Steve Harvey book. I think I would prefer the bourbon.
Made a GF version of your oatmeal pecan choc chip cookies last week. They were delicious.
Someone in our office has a birthday coming up. I am making this cake. Love your over-sharing but please don’t take those stairs alone now that you have told everyone your workout routine. Workout with a friend.
You blog and recipes are possibly the only reason I exercise daily.
Joy, thank you for making me laugh on this Monday morning when I have the sniffles and am hating my job! You are a great writer on top of being a great cook.
That bundt cake sounds amazing! Great post!
Looks lovely. what do you do if our family doesn’t drink coffee? Can you sub coffee extract? (loranns coffee flavoring)
Just go for hot water if you aren’t coffee people. Coffee just helps bring out the flavor of chocolate… but really? chocolate is like magic just on it’s own… so hot water should be just fine.
LOVE your blog… btw my mom too got be Act Like a Lady Think Like a Man… I actually learned some things. I would suggest it to any woman. Really, don’t let the fact that he has an awkward cover picture turn you off. :-) Feel free to let me know what you think of the book when you read it, and send cake! :-)
your blog makes me happy!
i vote for more posts like this.
Yum! This is perfect for a work party! Thanks!
This just goes to show that I am jealous of your life.
You bake all the time and go to fun, fabulous dinner parties, which I am pretty sure is the key to happiness.
I am also jealous that your friends with a ginger. They’re just the cutest people alive!
Joy, I just love your posts. Great way to start my Monday!
Your chocolate bundt makes me want to throw my diet (which I committed myself to about 20 minutes ago) out the window!
Have a wonderful week!
You’ve got me drooling, and I don’t even like chocolate.
I have a question totally unrelated to cooking, though. What bible is that by your bed? I’m intrigued by the cover and I’m alllways looking for new points of view to expand my spiritual horizons (I wonder what it says that I’m interested in reading a book about God because of its cover…).
it’s just the regular old bible. but the cover is new and fancy and says ‘the story of god’.
Hahaha I love your bed! I sleep surrounded by chocolates.. Never know when a craving might strike! :)
Joy – I am a massive fan and have been a secret reader who reads but never comments for about a year now. I’ve tried several recipes and check your site every day from London, UK :-) This recipe looks amazing and I’ll be purchasing a bundt pan specifically for it.. but I wondered if you could include directions in some recipes for those of us who don’t have an electric stand mixer? Due to space/budget contraints I have to use good old arm power for any mixing of this type, and would be great if you could include v brief instructions as to what the batter should look like at each stage, rather than just the timings for using the stand mixer? Thankyou!
that’s a great suggestion. i’ll include those directions tonight!
How did you know that I just got the cutest little mini bundt cake pans and am dying to use them? Now I will have to make this recipe! I’m wondering how much less time they will take to bake…
Oh… and the Pioneer Woman lives under my bed too!
how big is ‘mini’? if you’re going smaller i would say to keep a close eye on them after about the 15 minute mark. depending on how big your pans are, they could need anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes in the oven.
can i move to LA and be bffs with you? i dream of making fun cakes and going to fun dinner parties with well-dressed boys and checkered table cloths. oh, jealous, jealous.
for now i’ll just make cake. and eat it sitting on my couch at my parents’ house. yep. yum.
Wow, today is my son’s birthday and for his party this coming Saturday he’s asked for a chocolate cake, no frosting. We settled on a chocolate bundt cake with powdered sugar on it, then whipped cream and berries for anyone who wants them. I hadn’t found a cake recipe yet, but it looks like you’ve just done the work for me. I’ll let you know how it goes for the 9yr old boy set! I have a feeling his dad and I will be sneaking our bit before they get to it!
ooh! this is the perfect cake for you! happy baking!
1st of all….merci for such a lovely post – FULL of richness in your life (this I can see). 2ndly, I knew I adored you for a good reason….not only are you an amazing baker BUT you have CHERRY sheets!!!! I am obsessed with CHERRIES (anything with cherries on it makes me a happy happy girl!). And 3rdly, love this recipe and can’t wait to have an excuse to make it – actually come to think of it I don’t need an “excuse” I’m just going to bake it because I can and want to. Yah!
I love all the photos, and a glimpse into what it really takes to bake this beautiful cake. Can’t wait to try it myself.
Get those new glasses soon- we need you to keep safe!
I really enjoyed this post, beginning to end :) I agree, don’t trust Steve Harvey for love advice
This post was so much fun to read. I agree that you should do them more often! In my first apartment after college I had to partially loft my bed so I had room my less-used cake pans, cookie cutters, and sanding sugars. It always made me feel like a pack rack – Anne’s theory that it means we’re cool is much better! p.s. I love the new banner.
OOh you’re totally right. That cake looks like the best cake ever.
And I love hearing about your day!
Such a great day..spent with good friends… that is the life…
What an awesome looking cake!!!
I love the looks of this cake!! It’s perfect!! I would just be spooning the batter into my mouth.
.. oh and by the way, I love the new Joy the Baker logo/illustration. Very cute!
Haha, you have sprinkles under your bed too?! Mine are under the fold-out couch! This shows that
a) we’re obsessed with baking
b) we like to keep things handy (you never know when you need to reach for those sprinkles!)
c) we have to be creative to maximise the space in our rather smallish urban dwellings
d) we’re pretty damn cool. Think about it, other people have old socks, fallen-out earplugs or dust mittens under their beds! Sprinkles will top that anytime!
Hi there joy!!
I have a question, when I am baking and try to take photos, more often than not, my hands are covered in batter or what-not and if I want to take step by step photos I’ll be washing my hands ever minute or so, equating to pruny and cold fingers (completely undesirable with the chilly weather we’ve been having), so how do you take your photos? So you loosely towel your hands and then wipe down the camera after or do you have a kind of special trick .. ? like gloves or something?
I love your photos, you should have these photo-spams more often :)
i was my hands a lot. and my camera also has flecks and bits of dough and flour on it.
yum! well, this cake looks like a keeper for sure, and absolutely perfect for a dinner party! I just stumbled upon your blog recently and have been enjoying it immensely. And this post, as Diana said, is for the voyeur in all of us. hilarious and with bourbon… my kinda post. thanks!
LOVED seeing your day…if only mine was that entertaining. It did make me appreciate the elevator in my office, though… :-)
Omg this cake is the BEST cake I’ve ever made!!!!!! And I bake three times a week! Wow!!!!
I need to invest in a bundt cake pan! Love the post and seeing into the world of Joy for a day!
The cake looks to die for, but I started dieting this morning :¬(
And I could do with some of those Kick Ass Stairs too!
Where is your laptop cover from? I LIKE!
um…. i don’t have a laptop cover.
I absolutely love coffee + chocolate combo. There is nothing like it.
You over-share in such a funny and sweet way that you can over-share whenever you want!
Oh what a beautiful life! And also what a beautiful cake! I also really like your iphone wallpaper thing =)
What a funny post Joy, absolutely love it, and your chocolate cake too, I am one of those chocolate addicts who never can stop…
Love this look at a day in the life of Joy!
The cake looks delicious and dangerous, and the best thing about it….it makes your hair look freakin fantastic.
Cheers to you.
i. love. you.
I totally understand your need to over-share. And I love your cherry sheets! And the cake looks awesome. And yes, you could totally over-share more often.
This post = Love.
As soon as I get back from my travel adventures, this recipe and I are going to spend quality time together in my kitchen. There might be Barry White music, because seriously, that’s what this cake deserves. My husband might get jealous (unless he’s allowed to partake in the bundt goodness). I’ll let you know how it turns out.
In other news, you have some mighty good lookin’ friends, Ms. Joy! :)
Loved the sneak peek into your life! I might even steal the idea for my own blog…
I love this post. You should do this more often! We always want to know you a little better :D
Oh, and Bundt is my favourite cake shape. I don’t own a cake pan. (That’s not ironic, at all.)
Wei-Wei
Joy-
This cake looks absolutely delicious!
You and your blog are so inspiring. When did you become so interested in baking??
twenty eight years ago… when i was born.
Ah, interesting post! I’m such a voyeur. :p
That cake is beautiful and looks delicious. :)