Home » Cakes » Home > Cake Recipes > Black Magic Cake

Black Magic Snack Cake

posted by Liz Berg on August 4, 2022 (updated 1/10/24)

This super moist, decadent Black Magic Cake is topped with a rich silky smooth chocolate buttercream frosting. A perfectly portable dessert, it’s baked in a 9 x 13-inch pan and is terrific to bring for picnics and potlucks!

I had no event in which to take this easy dark chocolate cake, but with home renovations in progress, I’ve scaled back to simpler dessert creations. This two-bowl, easy chocolate cake recipe was a win for me, a win for the family.

A slice of Black Magic Snack Cake on a white square plate with a raspberry garnish.

Table of Contents hide

1 Why You Must Make

2 Reader Endorsement:

7 Frequently Asked Questions

8 You May Also Like

9 Black Magic Snack Cake

Why You Must Make

Black Magic cakes have been around for eons. Originating from Hershey’s, this moist, rich cake is infused with a cup of strong coffee which magnifies the chocolate flavor. This 9 x13-inch version makes for a perfect snack cake. A slice of this old-fashioned, chocolate buttermilk cake is a delightful after-school treat or after-dinner dessert and is definitely less caloric than a slice of layer cake laden with frosting.
Another bonus is that it’s not much harder to make than a box cake mix. There is just one bowl needed for the cake and another for the frosting! Easy as can be!
Speaking of buttermilk, this ingredient works its magic, too, by ensuring a tender crumb. And take a gander at the photo below and you’ll see why the frosting bowl must be licked! The chocolate buttercream is smooth and luscious.

Reader Endorsement:

From the comments: Made this cake last night and took some to my friend who cuts my hair. She just sent me a text “Holy hell!!! I swear on my son’s life that is the best cake I have EVER had!

Black Magic Snack Cake in a white 9 x 13-inch pan partially frosted with chocolate buttercream.

Ingredient Notes

Black Magic Cake Ingredients on a sheet pan with labels.

Black Magic Cake Frosting Ingredients on a sheet pan with labels.

Kitchen Staples – Sugar, Flour, Baking Soda, Salt, Vegetable Oil, Butter, Milk
Cocoa Powder – Unsweetened. I use the Ghirardelli brand.
Baking Powder – Both baking soda and baking powder are used in the cake. Baking powder is used less frequently than baking soda and also is known to expire before it is all used. Check the expiration date on the container before starting this cake recipe. You can also check if it’s fresh by putting a spoonful in a cup of hot water. It should bubble vigorously if it’s still active. If it doesn’t, replace it before starting the recipe.
Eggs – I always use large eggs. Having them at room temperature makes for easier incorporation so bring them out of the refrigerator an hour or two before you plan to mix the batter.
Buttermilk – If you forget to buy a carton, you can make a replacement by putting 2 tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice in a 2-cup Pyrex liquid measuring cup. Then fill it to the 2-cup mark with milk. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes to thicken. Stir before measuring and using.
Vanilla Extract – Use real vanilla extract, never artificially flavored. I keep the Nielsen-Massey brand vanilla on hand.

How to Make

Snack Cake dry ingredients in mixing bowl — Whisk together dry ingredients.

Liquid ingredients added to dry. — Whisk together dry ingredients.

Expert Tips

If you love this recipe, check out how you can make it with different-sized pans listed below.
Have your eggs and buttermilk at room temperature for the best incorporation. Just let them sit at room temperature for about an hour before you start mixing. You can put the eggs in a bowl of warm water to speed things along.
PRO-Tip: If you don’t have buttermilk on hand you can make it at home. Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to a liquid measuring cup. Add milk up to the 1 cup mark. Let sit for a few minutes as the acid will slightly curdle or thicken the milk. Use it as the “buttermilk” called for in the recipe.
Prep the baking pan by greasing and then lightly dusting with flour to prevent sticking. A flour and oil spray like Bakers Joy also works well.
Note that when you see vegetable oil in a cake recipe instead of butter, the result is usually a nice, moist cake.
PRO-Tip: For the smoothest frosting, sift your powdered sugar. Otherwise, there may be very small lumps.
PRO-Tip: You must make sure that your baking powder is active. Baking soda is used more frequently and has a longer shelf life. This recipe uses both. Baking powder usually expires before you use it all. Look at the expiration date to make sure it hasn’t expired. If the date is within a month or two, you can also check it by putting a spoonful in a cup of very hot water. If it’s still active, it will bubble vigorously.

Black Magic Snack Cake slice on a round plate with a red fork with small piece of cake in the foreground.

Helpful Tools:

This cake can be made as a Bundt cake, layer cake, cupcakes, or a snack cake, like above. All of the alternatives are baked at 350 degrees, but the baking time will vary:

12 Cup Bundt Pan – bake for 50-55 minutes
2 9-inch Round Cake Pans – bake for 30-35 minutes
24 Cupcakes– bake for 20-25 minutes
9 x 13-inch Cake Pan – bake for 35-40 minutes (all pans are affiliate links)

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Did the Name Black Magic Cake Come from?

Maybe not quite black, but this recipe does make a dark chocolate cake, thus deserving the name black magic. The taste is definitely magical!

King Arthur Flour sells a black cocoa (affiliate link)that could create an even darker cake. It’s Dutch-processed so you can’t just swap it out for regular cocoa as the leaveners also need to be tweaked. But feel free to accentuate the intensity by substituting ¼ cup or less of the regular cocoa powder for the black cocoa if you’d like to go that route.

Why Is Coffee Used in this Chocolate Cake?

Coffee intensifies the chocolate flavor without making the cake taste like coffee or a mocha dessert. Don’t worry if you’re not a fan of coffee, the addition is so subtle it’s practically indistinguishable.

Who Invented this Cake?

This recipe comes from Hershey’s. Their recipe is made in a Bundt pan and is one of the rare recipes with all 5-star reviews!