TGIF Chocolate Cake: Easy One-Bowl Single Layer Recipe

End your week on a sweet note with this TGIF Chocolate Cake—an easy one-bowl single-layer recipe that’s rich, moist, and perfect for Friday night. No fuss, no mess—just simple ingredients and minimal effort for maximum flavor. To make it even better, this cake is topped with a luxuriously smooth two-ingredient milk chocolate ganache, adding the perfect creamy finish. Whether you’re celebrating the weekend or just craving something indulgent, this effortless bake is sure to hit the spot!

What ingredients do I need to make this TGIF Chocolate Cake?

I love this cake because most of the ingredients you most likely have in your kitchen.

Chocolate cake

• Caster sugar
• Soft light brown sugar 
• Sour cream 
• Cocoa powder 
• Vegetable oil
• Egg and egg yolks
• Plain flour/all purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Boiling water

Scroll down to get the full recipe with measurements

How do I make this TGIF Chocolate Cake: Easy One-Bowl Single Layer Recip

Step one: Add the sugars, egg, egg yolks, sour cream, and vegetable oil in a mixing bowl. Mix together using an electric beater until combined. 

Step two: Sift in the dry ingredients.  Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until combined, do not over mix 

Step three: Pour the boiling water on top of the cake mixture, stir together using a spatula.

Step four: Pour the cake mixture into a 7″ or 8″ (inch used a 7″) cake tin. Line the bottom of the cake tin with baking paper, do not line the sides (this causes the cake to shrink when once removed from the oven)

How do I make the milk chocolate ganache?

Step one: Chop the dark chocolate into very small pieces and put into a bowl.

Step two: Heat the cream on its own in the microwave for 1 minute. Once hot, pour over the chocolate.

Step three: Let it sit for 1 min, then stir to combine.

Step four: Let the ganache cool until it becomes a thicker consistency.

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Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Rating: 5.0/5

( 1 voted )

Ingredients

Chocolate cake

• 90g Caster sugar
• 110g Soft light brown sugar 
• 120g Sour cream 
• 35g Cocoa powder 
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 medium egg
• 2 egg yolks
• 120g plain flour/all purpose flour
• 1/2tsp baking powder
• 1/3 cup boiling water

Milk Chocolate ganache

• 200g milk chocolate (baking chocolate)
• 200g double/heavy cream

Instructions

Chocolate cake

1. Add the sugars, egg, egg yolks, sour cream, and vegetable oil in a mixing bowl. Mix together using an electric beater until combined. 
2. Sift in the dry ingredients.  Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until combined, do not over mix 
3. Pour the boiling water on top of the cake mixture, stir together using a spatula.
4. Pour the cake mixture into a 7" or 8" (inch used a 7") cake tin. Line the bottom of the cake tin with baking paper, do not line the sides (this causes the cake to shrink when once removed from the oven)
5. Bake at 170c for 26-28 mins. If the middle of the cake is very wet it is not ready, use a skewer to check if the cake is done.

Chocolate ganache

1. Chop the dark chocolate into very small pieces and put into a bowl.
2. Heat the cream on its own in the microwave for 1 minute. Once hot, pour over the chocolate.
3. Let it sit for 1 min, then stir to combine.
4. Let the ganache cool until it becomes a thicker consistency.
5. Once the ganache has become firmer and a spreadable consistency, add spoonfuls on top of the cake.
6. Spread the chocolate ganache over the top of the cake, then make a messy pattern using the back of a spoon or a spatula,