This hot chocolate cake is the perfect cake for the holidays! It’s a homemade cake from scratch that uses hot chocolate mix in the batter and then is topped with a marshmallow frosting. It’s a decadent chocolate cake that is great for the winter months. Let me show you how to make this hot cocoa mix cake today!
Hot chocolate is one of our favorite things to drink during the winter months. Homemade hot chocolate is on constant rotation. We always have hot chocolate mix on hand for a quick fix. This cake is the perfect way to use up hot cocoa mix and turn it into one decadent treat. The marshmallow frosting is literally the icing on this hot cocoa cake.
Hot chocolate cake mix
This homemade chocolate cake uses hot cocoa mix in the batter to give it a great depth of flavor. It makes the cake dense, moist and taste just like a cup of hot chocolate. It is then topped with an easy frosting or glaze that is made with marshmallows. It’s like a cup of hot chocolate in cake form!
Hot cocoa mix cake ingredients
This is a homemade cake with a super simple frosting or glaze. To make this hot cocoa cake you will need:
- flour
- sugar
- baking soda
- salt
- baking powder
- Hot Chocolate Mix
- butter
- eggs
- vanilla
- mini marshmallows
Flour – Plain white flour works best for this chocolate cake recipe.
Hot chocolate mix – You can use the mix that comes in individual bags or you can use in a canister. I like using the Starbucks hot chocolate mix in a can. It tastes great and can be used over and over.
Marshmallows – Mini marshmallows melt faster, but you can use any size you have on hand.
Can hot chocolate powder be used for cakes?
Absolutely and if you are looking for a cake with hot chocolate mix then you are in luck! This easy chocolate cake recipe was given more then two thumbs up. It was given at least three, if not more. Short answer, yes you can use hot chocolate in a cake and it’s pretty dang delicious too.
How to make a hot chocolate cake with hot chocolate powder
Once you have gathered all your ingredients your will also need to grab:
- measuring cups and spoons
- mixing bowls
- hand held mixer
- sauce pan
- spatula
- bundt pan
Step 1 Combine all the dry ingredients You are going to want to combine all your dry ingredients together to start. Combine everything except the hot chocolate powder. I like to use a large bowl for this step since everything else will be added in it eventually. Whisk together to combine.
Step 2 Mix in hot chocolate mix Next you want to add your hot water and the hot chocolate mix in a separate bowl. Mix until combine and there are no clumps. Allow it to cool slightly.
Step 3 Combine the wet and dry ingredients Slowly pour the wet ingredients (the hot chocolate/water mixture) to the dry ingredients. Whisk or mix to combine everything so that the mixture is smooth. Add in the eggs and vanilla and combine well.
Step 4 Pour into prepared bundt pan Make sure that you butter and flour your bundt pan before you pour the hot chocolate cake mixture into it. You can also use a cooking spray that has flour in it if you prefer. Just make sure it is coated well so that the cake doesn’t stick.
Step 5 Bake Bake your hot chocolate cake for 1 hour. Check to make sure it’s done by inserting a toothpick into the cake. It should come out clean.
Step 6 Make and frost the cake The frosting is just as good as the cake in this recipe and it’s super simple to make. You just mix together the butter and marshmallows in a saucepan until combined. Then you drizzle it over the cooled hot chocolate cake. It makes for hot chocolate cake perfection!
Can I use any flavor hot chocolate?
Yes! You can use any flavor hot chocolate mix that you like. A dark chocolate or salted caramel hot chocolate would make great additions to this cake. Feel free to use whatever you have on hand as well.
What does hot chocolate cake taste like?
This cake tastes like a warm cup of hot chocolate, in cake form! It’s dense, soft and full of chocolate flavor. The marshmallow frosting on top is like having mini marshmallows in your cup of hot cocoa.
Can I use a different frosting?
You sure can. You can use a variety of different frostings for this cake. A classic vanilla buttercream would be great. Chocolate or fudge frosting would also make delicious additions to this hot cocoa cake. Feel free to use your favorite frosting in place of the easy marshmallow frosting.
How to store leftovers
Place any leftover cake in an airtight container such as a Tupperware or a cake carrier. You can keep this cake on the counter for up to 4 days.
Can I freeze hot chocolate cake?
You can freeze this cake! I suggest freezing slices of the cake instead of the whole thing. Place the slices between layers of parchment paper and put in a Ziplock bag. Place the bag in the freezer. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
A few hints about this hot chocolate cake from scratch recipe:
-Do not add the eggs to the hot water. Add them to the flour mixture before the hot chocolate/water mix.
-Margarine is not recommended for most baking since it has as little as 35% fat — the rest is mostly water. It would change the outcome of the recipe.
-The recipe calls for 1 cup of melted butter which would be 2 sticks of butter, melted.
-Cake should rise well in high altitude areas, per a reader comment.
Other hot chocolate recipes to try
Hot chocolate, especially during the winter months is a favorite around here! Some of our other loved hot chocolate recipes are:
- Smores hot chocolate
- Hot chocolate cheesecake
- White hot chocolate
- Zebra hot chocolate
- Boozy white hot chocolate
Hot Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
- For the cake
- 2 3/4 cups flour
- 1 1/2 cup of sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup Hot Chocolate Mix
- 1 1/2 cups hot/boiling water
- 1 cup melted butter
- 4 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- For the marshmallow frosting
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 2 tablespoons butter
Instructions
For the cake -
Preheat oven to 350.
Mix the dry ingredients together in a larger bowl, except the hot chocolate mix.
In a separate bowl, blend the hot or boiling water and the hot chocolate mix. Allow the hot chocolate mixture to cool slightly.
Slowly start adding the hot chocolate mixture to the flour mixture. Add in the eggs, vanilla and melted better. Stir to combine well.
Pour into a floured bundt pan and bake for 1 hour.
For the frosting -
Melt the butter in a saucepan after the cake has cooled.
Add the marshmallows and mix until smooth.
Pour over the cooled caked and allow to set.
Notes
Depending on the type of bundt pan you use your time may be a little more or less. I'd start at 45 minutes and add more time as needed.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 4794Cholesterol: 1293mgSodium: 4158mgCarbohydrates: 622gFiber: 10gSugar: 342gProtein: 65g
Want even more easy homemade cake recipes? Check out –
- Carrot sheet cake – a potluck family favorite!
- Chocolate peanut butter bacon cake – all of my favorite things combined!
- Salted caramel apple cake -it’s fall in cake form!
Also, check out these posts from my friends:
Did you make this recipe? I’d love for you to leave a review in the recipe card above or the comments below.
Want to make it later? Pin the image below to your favorite dessert board. Either way – THANK YOU for the support!
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Heather says
My mouth is watering! Yum-o!
Kelley says
Thanks Heather 🙂
Winnie says
Looks very tempting and it must HEAVENLY
I need a slice of this cake NOW 🙂
Kelley says
Thanks! If I had any left.. Id mail ya some! 😉
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life says
Hot chocolate cake with a melty marshmallow frosting…I am so in!!! That looks amazing!
Kelley says
Thanks so much Jocelyn! It was so good! Im glad I had people to help me eat it or I would have been in trouble!
Carmel says
Hi Kelley,
I have a question regarding the Starbuck’s hot chocolate mix. Is that a full cup of dry mix or just a 1.25 oz. or 1 oz. packet of the mix? There seems to be different sizes. Want to make sure I’m using proper measurements. Would like to make this in the next few days.
Thank you!
Carmel
Carmel says
Not sure if you got this message. Can you please clarify the hot chocolate issue that I have in above note. Thanks!
Kelley says
I just replied. I apologize, I was out of town for thanksgiving and just got back home. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Kelley says
Hi Carmel! Its one full cup of the dry mix. You use the boiling water to dissolve it before adding it to the rest of the cake mix. I bought a tin of the Starbucks hot chocolate mix at Target. Hope this helps!
Carmel says
Hello Kelley!
Thank you so much! Sure would have been a flop if I just made this recipe with a cup of liquid hot chocolate. Couldn’t see how it would be so dark and chocolate-y looking. I always want to make sure of the exact recipe because of spending time and money on delectable.
Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving…wishing you a beautiful Christmas!
Warmest regards,
Carmel
Kelley says
Thanks so much Carmel! Hope you have a great Christmas as well! And if you make the cake please send me a picture! 🙂
Carmel says
Will do!
Maysem says
This sounds awesome!! Definitely trying it!
Kelley says
Thanks Maysem! Let me know how you like it! 🙂
Julia says
I’m thinking this would be marvellous in cupcake format as well!
Kelley says
Yes! I bet it would be as well! What a great idea!
Stacy says
Did I miss how long to bak and at what temp? Looks amazing and looking forward to trying soon!
Kelley says
Ooops! Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Sorry about that Stacy!
Stacy says
Thank you! 🙂
Carmel says
I was going to ask the same question…figured it was 350…and was going to try 50 minutes and go from there.
Melissa says
No sugar? The cocoas enough?
Kelley says
Ooops! I used 2 cups of sugar. Thanks for catching my mistake!
Kelley says
Its 1 1/2 cup sugar instead of 2. My mistake! I corrected the recipe. 🙂
OLGA LOPEZ says
Wow looks so yummy.
I think I am going to do it for the weekend.
Olga.
Kelley says
Thanks Olga! Hope you enjoy it!
Katie says
Kelley,
Have you made this recipe using a different type of pan? Cake, cupcake? I don’t have a bundt pan but would really like to make your cake.
Katie
Kelley says
Hey Katie! I have not. If you want I would make it a two layer cake or try a 9×13 pan. Not sure if they would work out in cupcake form. I hope that helps! Let me know how it turns out!
noor says
hi i wanted to know can we use drinking hot chocolate in this cake or not
reply quickly please i need to make it for guests in a few hours please
quickly
thx noor
Kelley says
Yes, you can!
Rebecca says
Just a quick question. Do you use 1 cup of butter melted or measure 1 cup of melted butter?
Kelley says
1 cup of melted butter which would be 2 sticks of butter, melted. Hope that helps!
Ann Quinne says
This cake was a hit with everyone. I did butter,flour,sugar the angel food cake pan or tube pan that I used. I cooked the cake for an hour. I did check at 45 minutes, but it needed more time. The frosting was perfect – not too sweet or sticky as might be expected.
Kelley says
Woohoo! I’m so glad that you like it Ann! Thank you for the sweet comment, you have made my day!
M.Clar says
Yum! I love chocolate, I’m looking forward to giving this a try. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Kelley says
Hope you enjoy!
Nikki Suzanna says
Kelley, these are so awesome! I live at high altitude and the cake rose SO well without having to add anything extra to the recipe [which is a rarity]! In fact, I think it rose more than any cake I’ve ever baked! I did cupcakes because I’m making hot cocoa cakes with marshmallow peppermint frosting for an event and the cupcakes seemed to be finished baking right around 20 minutes (at 350 like you had said)! Sometimes it’s difficult to find good recipes — thanks for this one! it’s a keeper. xx
Kelley says
Hooray!! I’m so glad the cupcakes turned out! I hope yall enjoy them! (And thank you for the great feedback!!)
Amanda says
I am baking this as I type. Not doing in a bunt pan but rather 2 regular cake pans. I’m using the cake in a trifle. The batter alone was ridiculously delicious. Can’t wait for the finished product.
Kelley says
Hooray!! That sounds amazing! Let me know how it turns out Amanda! (You can email me a picture too! – [email protected])
Meirav says
Hello, sounds really good.
Can I use oil instead of butter? I don’t want the cake to be dairy and we don’t keep marg’ at home. Thank you!
Kelley says
You should be able to. I haven’t tried it before so I can’t say for sure. Let me know how it turns out!
emmajade says
This recipe looks amazing! I’m trying it for my boyfriends birthday tonight, but I don’t have a bundt cake pan so I’m using a cake pan I found in his cupboard… I’m not sure the size so I’m going to just try split the recipe in half and hope it works! Looking forward to this, thank you!
Kelley says
Let me know how it turns out! Hope he has a happy birthday!
maria says
can you use margarine instead of butter
Kelley says
Margarine is not recommended for most baking since it has as little as 35% fat — the rest is mostly water. It would change the outcome of the recipe.
Casper says
I’ve been wanting to use my hot chocolate mix for a cake for a long time! It calls for hot milk and I only have all purpose flour here at home which usually makes cakes thicker, could either work?
Kelley says
I used all purpose flour. It should work great!
Waj says
Hiya I’m from the uk.. Can I ask which sugar and flour you used pls
Kelley says
Hi! I used white sugar and all purpose flour. Hope that helps! 🙂
Amandalyn says
It’s my boyfriends birthday tomorrow and I planned on making him a German chocolate cake… Little did I know we only have yellow mix bleh, but tons of hot cocoa mix say thank you very much for this recipe. I’m going to have a little fun with your recipe and see if it passes as a two layer German chocolate cake. We shall see.
Amandalyn says
*so* thank you
Kelley says
Let me know how it turns out! That sounds delish!
Katydid says
I made this for my dad’s birthday and it is so moist! I used light chocolate hot chocolate mix so mine turned out lighter. I also substituted plain yogurt for half of the butter as I often do in baking. I would suggest that you ensure the hot chocolate mixture is cooled before adding the eggs. Otherwise you can end up with scrambled eggs!
Kelley says
Ohhh.. great tip! Scrambled eggs don’t belong in a cake! Lol. SO GLAD yall enjoyed it! Thank you for your kind comment!
Nadiya says
This looks great! Can the frosting be made with marshmallow fluff? I ask because I avoid gelatin for religious reasons.
Kelley says
I bet it can! I would melt it and pour it over the cake. Let me know how it turns out if you try it!
Angela says
Great recipe! I was craving something sweet and this more than hit the spot. I ended up baking it in two 9″ round pans because I don’t have a Bundt pan. Took about 30 minutes at 350 and came out perfect!
Kelley says
Yay yay yay! So happy you enjoyed it! I bet it was awesome as a layer cake!