🍫🍰 Chocolate Loaf Cake

Rich, moist, and wonderfully chocolatey, this easy Chocolate Loaf Cake is packed with chocolate chips and finished with even more on top.

This simple homemade loaf cake has a tender, soft crumb and deep cocoa flavor without being overly complicated. The hot water helps create a beautifully moist texture, while chocolate chips melt throughout the cake for little pockets of extra chocolate in every slice.

It’s perfect for breakfast, afternoon coffee, dessert, or whenever you’re craving an easy homemade chocolate treat.

⏱️ Recipe Information

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 50–60 minutes
Total Time: About 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 8–10 slices
Difficulty: Easy
Method: Oven-Baked
Pan: 9 × 5-inch loaf pan

🛒 Ingredients

1½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
⅓ cup (30 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup (240 ml) milk
⅓ cup (80 ml) vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup (120 ml) hot water
½ cup (85 g) chocolate chips
Extra chocolate chips, for topping

Optional Additions

½ teaspoon espresso powder
¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Powdered sugar, for serving
Melted chocolate, for drizzling

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Prepare the Oven and Pan

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Lightly grease a 9 × 5-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the long sides for easy removal.

Set aside.

2. Combine the Dry Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together:

All-purpose flour
Sugar
Cocoa powder
Baking powder
Baking soda
Salt

Whisk thoroughly to evenly distribute the cocoa and leavening ingredients.

3. Combine the Wet Ingredients

In a separate bowl or large measuring jug, whisk together the milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract.

Mix until smooth.

4. Make the Batter

Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients.

Using a whisk or rubber spatula, gently mix until just combined.

Don’t overmix. A few small lumps are fine.

5. Add the Hot Water

Slowly pour the hot water into the batter while stirring gently.

The batter will become noticeably thinner than a typical cake batter.

This is completely normal and helps produce a moist, tender loaf.

If using espresso powder, stir it into the hot water before adding it to the batter.

6. Fold in the Chocolate Chips

Add ½ cup chocolate chips to the batter.

Gently fold them through until evenly distributed.

Reserve some extra chocolate chips for the top.

7. Fill the Loaf Pan

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.

Smooth the surface gently with a spatula.

Sprinkle the reserved chocolate chips evenly over the top.

🔥 Bake the Cake

8. Bake

Place the loaf pan in the center of the preheated oven.

Bake for approximately 50–60 minutes, or until:

The loaf has risen nicely.
The top is set.
A toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs or melted chocolate, but no wet batter.

Because chocolate chips can stick to a toothpick, test the cake in a few different spots if necessary.

9. Cool

Remove the loaf from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for 10–15 minutes.

Use the parchment overhang to carefully lift the cake from the pan.

Transfer it to a wire rack and allow it to cool completely before slicing.

For cleaner slices, let the cake cool for at least 30–45 minutes.

10. Serve

Slice the loaf with a sharp serrated knife.

Serve as-is or add a dusting of powdered sugar.

For an extra indulgent finish, drizzle with melted chocolate or serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

⭐ Chef’s Tips

Measure the flour correctly

Too much flour can make the loaf dense and dry. For the most accurate results, weigh the flour or spoon it lightly into a measuring cup and level the top.

Don’t overmix

Once the flour is added, mix only until the ingredients are combined. Overmixing can make the cake tougher.

Don’t worry about the thin batter

The hot water makes the batter quite loose. This is intentional and helps create a moist, soft crumb.

Use good cocoa powder

A good-quality unsweetened cocoa powder gives the cake a deeper, more pronounced chocolate flavor.

Check carefully for doneness

Don’t rely on a perfectly clean toothpick because melted chocolate chips can make it look slightly wet. Look for moist crumbs rather than raw batter.

Let it cool before cutting

The chocolate chips remain very soft after baking. Allowing the loaf to cool helps the crumb set and makes slicing easier.

🍫 Easy Variations

Double Chocolate Loaf

Add ¼ cup extra chocolate chips to the batter and finish with a melted chocolate drizzle.

Chocolate Espresso Loaf

Add ½–1 teaspoon espresso powder to the hot water to intensify the chocolate flavor.

Chocolate Walnut Loaf

Fold in ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans along with the chocolate chips.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Loaf

Swirl ¼ cup creamy peanut butter over the top of the batter before baking.

Mint Chocolate Loaf

Add ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract to the wet ingredients and use dark chocolate chips.

Chocolate Orange Loaf

Add 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest to the batter.

🍓 Serving Suggestions

Serve slices with:

Fresh strawberries
Raspberries
Whipped cream
Vanilla ice cream
Chocolate sauce
Caramel sauce
Powdered sugar
Fresh berries and yogurt

It’s especially delicious slightly warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

🧊 Storage

Store the completely cooled loaf in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

For longer storage, refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Allow refrigerated slices to come to room temperature before serving, or warm them briefly.

🔥 Reheating

Warm individual slices in the microwave for approximately 10–15 seconds.

This softens the cake and gently melts the chocolate chips again.

❄️ Freezing

Wrap the cooled loaf tightly in plastic wrap, then place it in a freezer-safe bag or container.

Freeze for up to 2 months.

You can also freeze individual slices for convenient single servings.

Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature for several hours.

🍫🍰 Final Result

This Chocolate Loaf Cake is rich, moist, tender, and packed with irresistible chocolate flavor.

The cocoa creates a deep chocolate base, while the chocolate chips melt into little pockets throughout the loaf and create a beautifully indulgent topping.

One simple loaf, plenty of chocolate, and the perfect homemade treat for any time of day! 🍫✨