Chocolate Cake Lab · Decision tree
Find your chocolate cake
Three questions sort all 357 recipes into 8 groups. Each question is about one of the ingredients recipes disagree on most, and splits the recipes in front of it at their own median, so each answer keeps about half of them. Every group ends with its median recipe in grams and the real recipes nearest it.
The questions
Question 1
More cocoa than most, or less?
Cocoa powder carries most chocolate cakes' flavor; it absorbs liquid and makes the crumb drier and more tender.
All 357 recipes: median 23% of the flour weight, 55 g per 250 g of flour; middle half 12% to 30%; 14% use none.
Question 2
More fat than most, or less?
Oil is common here, since cocoa already brings flavor and oil keeps the cake moist.
All 357 recipes: median 62% of the flour weight, 155 g per 250 g of flour; middle half 46% to 89%.
Asked within each answer to question 1, split at the median of the recipes that gave it.
Question 3
More leavening than most, or less?
Baking soda reacts with natural cocoa and buttermilk; Dutch-process recipes lean on baking powder.
All 357 recipes: median 4.8% of the flour weight, 12 g per 250 g of flour; middle half 3.5% to 6.6%.
Asked within each answer to question 2, split at the median of the recipes that gave it.
The key
Read left to right: pick an answer to question 1, then one of the answers beside it for question 2, and so on to a group. Each cell gives the answer, its bound in grams per 100 g of flour, and how many recipes give it.
| 1. Cocoa | 2. Fat | 3. Leavening | Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| More23% or more177 | Moreover 61%88 | Moreover 5%42 | A42 |
| Less5% or less46 | B46 | ||
| Less61% or less89 | More6.7% or more45 | C45 | |
| Lessunder 6.7%44 | D44 | ||
| Lessunder 23%180 | Moreover 62%90 | More3.7% or more47 | E47 |
| Lessunder 3.7%43 | F43 | ||
| Less62% or less90 | Moreover 4.3%44 | G44 | |
| Less4.3% or less46 | H46 |
The 8 groups
Each median recipe is the median of every ingredient over the group's recipes, scaled to 250 g of flour, beside the typical cake of all 357. Bold rows are the ingredients the questions asked about.
Group A · 42 recipes · 11% of all
More cocoa, more fat and more leavening
Cocoa 23% or more, fat over 61% and leavening over 5% of the flour weight.
| At 250 g flour | Group A | All |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 250 g | 250 g |
| Cocoa | 75 gabout 1 cup | 55 g |
| Chocolate | none | none |
| Sugar | 400 gabout 2 cups | 355 g |
| Fat | 270 gabout 1 1/4 cups | 155 g |
| Egg | 125 gabout 2 1/2 large eggs | 115 g |
| Liquid | 365 gabout 1 1/2 cups | 345 g |
| Leavening | 17 g | 12 g |
| Salt | 4.5 g | 3 g |
Bake350°F (175°C) for about 33 minutes, the medians of the 41 recipes here that state a temperature and the 41 that state a time.
Nearest the middle of group A
Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.
- Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake · chefsavvy.comcocoa 26% · fat 112% · leavening 6.6%
- Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Frosting · tasteofhome.comcocoa 26% · fat 87% · leavening 6.6%
- Coffee-Chocolate Cake · tasteofhome.comcocoa 26% · fat 87% · leavening 6.6%
- The BEST Chocolate Cake · chefsavvy.comcocoa 26% · fat 134% · leavening 6.6%
- Raspberry Chocolate Cake · bromabakery.comcocoa 26% · fat 156% · leavening 7.3%
Group B · 46 recipes · 12% of all
More cocoa, more fat and less leavening
Cocoa 23% or more, fat over 61% and leavening 5% or less of the flour weight.
| At 250 g flour | Group B | All |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 250 g | 250 g |
| Cocoa | 75 gabout 1 cup | 55 g |
| Chocolate | none | none |
| Sugar | 400 gabout 2 cups | 355 g |
| Fat | 215 gabout 1 cup | 155 g |
| Egg | 140 gabout 3 large eggs | 115 g |
| Liquid | 360 gabout 1 1/2 cups | 345 g |
| Leavening | 10 g | 12 g |
| Salt | 3.5 g | 3 g |
Bake350°F (175°C) for about 33 minutes, the medians of the 44 recipes here that state a temperature and the 45 that state a time.
Nearest the middle of group B
Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.
- Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake · savorthebest.comcocoa 26% · fat 75% · leavening 3.5%
- Moist Chocolate Cake · kingarthurbaking.comcocoa 27% · fat 75% · leavening 4.1%
- Kahlua Coffee Chocolate Layer Cake · lifeloveandsugar.comcocoa 33% · fat 84% · leavening 4.6%
- Greek Yogurt Chocolate Cake · bakerbynature.comcocoa 28% · fat 65% · leavening 3.9%
- Chocolate Cakes with Espresso Glaze · completelydelicious.comcocoa 33% · fat 74% · leavening 3.3%
Group C · 45 recipes · 12% of all
More cocoa, less fat and more leavening
Cocoa 23% or more, fat 61% or less and leavening 6.7% or more of the flour weight.
| At 250 g flour | Group C | All |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 250 g | 250 g |
| Cocoa | 75 gabout 1 cup | 55 g |
| Chocolate | none | none |
| Sugar | 455 gabout 2 1/4 cups | 355 g |
| Fat | 125 gabout 1/2 cup | 155 g |
| Egg | 115 gabout 2 1/2 large eggs | 115 g |
| Liquid | 530 gabout 2 1/4 cups | 345 g |
| Leavening | 18 g | 12 g |
| Salt | 6 g | 3 g |
Bake350°F (175°C) for about 33 minutes, the medians of the 37 recipes here that state a temperature and the 43 that state a time.
Nearest the middle of group C
Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.
- Chocolate Cake · foodnetwork.comcocoa 30% · fat 50% · leavening 7.3%
- Chocolate Cake Recipe · chelseasmessyapron.comcocoa 30% · fat 50% · leavening 7.3%
- Chocolate Cake Recipe (Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Recipe) · cafedelites.comcocoa 30% · fat 50% · leavening 7.3%
- Gâteau au chocolat hershey · ptitchef.comcocoa 30% · fat 50% · leavening 7.3%
- HERSHEY'S "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Cake · hersheyland.comcocoa 30% · fat 50% · leavening 7.3%
Group D · 44 recipes · 12% of all
More cocoa, less fat and less leavening
Cocoa 23% or more, fat 61% or less and leavening under 6.7% of the flour weight.
| At 250 g flour | Group D | All |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 250 g | 250 g |
| Cocoa | 75 gabout 1 cup | 55 g |
| Chocolate | none | none |
| Sugar | 340 gabout 1 2/3 cups | 355 g |
| Fat | 115 gabout 1/2 cup | 155 g |
| Egg | 115 gabout 2 1/2 large eggs | 115 g |
| Liquid | 375 gabout 1 1/2 cups | 345 g |
| Leavening | 12 g | 12 g |
| Salt | 3.5 g | 3 g |
Bake350°F (175°C) for about 35 minutes, the medians of the 40 recipes here that state a temperature and the 42 that state a time.
Nearest the middle of group D
Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.
- Fudgy One Bowl Chocolate Cake · theflavorbender.comcocoa 38% · fat 58% · leavening 5.3%
- Gluten Free Chocolate Cake · butternutbakeryblog.comcocoa 32% · fat 25% · leavening 4.6%
- Chocolate Layer Cake · inlaurasbakery.comcocoa 27% · fat 42% · leavening 6.2%
- Schokoladenkuchen · baketotheroots.decocoa 40% · fat 51% · leavening 4%
- Rezept für einfachen Schokokuchen vom Blech mit cremiger Schokoladenganache · zuckerzimtundliebe.decocoa 27% · fat 51% · leavening 6.6%
Group E · 47 recipes · 13% of all
Less cocoa, more fat and more leavening
Cocoa under 23%, fat over 62% and leavening 3.7% or more of the flour weight. 14 of the 47 use no cocoa.
| At 250 g flour | Group E | All |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 250 g | 250 g |
| Cocoa | 29 gabout 1/3 cup | 55 g |
| Chocolate | 100 gabout 4 oz | none |
| Sugar | 360 gabout 1 3/4 cups | 355 g |
| Fat | 220 gabout 1 cup | 155 g |
| Egg | 105 gabout 2 large eggs | 115 g |
| Liquid | 295 gabout 1 1/4 cups | 345 g |
| Leavening | 14 g | 12 g |
| Salt | 0.5 g | 3 g |
Bake350°F (175°C) for about 38 minutes, the medians of the 41 recipes here that state a temperature and the 41 that state a time.
Nearest the middle of group E
Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.
- Guinness Chocolate Cake · oliviascuisine.comcocoa 17% · fat 90% · leavening 6%
- Bolo de Chocolate com Pimenta · receitasnestle.com.brcocoa 0% · fat 86% · leavening 4.4%
- Bolo de Chocolate na Airfryer · receitasnestle.com.brcocoa 0% · fat 79% · leavening 4.4%
- Chocoladetaart met rode vruchten · 15gram.becocoa 21% · fat 79% · leavening 5%
- Schokokuchen · ichkoche.atcocoa 0% · fat 96% · leavening 3.7%
Group F · 43 recipes · 12% of all
Less cocoa, more fat and less leavening
Cocoa under 23%, fat over 62% and leavening under 3.7% of the flour weight. 11 of the 43 use no cocoa.
| At 250 g flour | Group F | All |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 250 g | 250 g |
| Cocoa | 32 gabout 1/3 cup | 55 g |
| Chocolate | 100 gabout 4 oz | none |
| Sugar | 375 gabout 1 3/4 cups | 355 g |
| Fat | 225 gabout 1 cup | 155 g |
| Egg | 115 gabout 2 1/2 large eggs | 115 g |
| Liquid | 350 gabout 1 1/2 cups | 345 g |
| Leavening | 6 g | 12 g |
| Salt | 0.5 g | 3 g |
Bake350°F (175°C) for about 33 minutes, the medians of the 38 recipes here that state a temperature and the 41 that state a time.
Nearest the middle of group F
Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.
- Double Chocolate Cake · tasteandtellblog.comcocoa 13% · fat 86% · leavening 2.7%
- Creole Chocolate Cake · 12tomatoes.comcocoa 0% · fat 89% · leavening 2.4%
- Baileys Chocolate Sheet Cake · 12tomatoes.comcocoa 17% · fat 91% · leavening 2.4%
- The Best Chocolate Sheet Cake Ever · thepioneerwoman.comcocoa 8.6% · fat 91% · leavening 2.4%
- Glazed Chocolate Cake · 12tomatoes.comcocoa 8.6% · fat 91% · leavening 2.4%
Group G · 44 recipes · 12% of all
Less cocoa, less fat and more leavening
Cocoa under 23%, fat 62% or less and leavening over 4.3% of the flour weight. 15 of the 44 use no cocoa.
| At 250 g flour | Group G | All |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 250 g | 250 g |
| Cocoa | 29 gabout 1/3 cup | 55 g |
| Chocolate | 21 gabout 1 oz | none |
| Sugar | 275 gabout 1 1/3 cups | 355 g |
| Fat | 110 gabout 1/2 cup | 155 g |
| Egg | 110 gabout 2 large eggs | 115 g |
| Liquid | 320 gabout 1 1/3 cups | 345 g |
| Leavening | 14 g | 12 g |
| Salt | none | 3 g |
Bake350°F (175°C) for about 38 minutes, the medians of the 36 recipes here that state a temperature and the 42 that state a time.
Nearest the middle of group G
Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.
- Steamed Chocolate Cake Recipe · yummytummyaarthi.comcocoa 12% · fat 61% · leavening 6.8%
- Self-Rising Chocolate Cake · kingarthurbaking.comcocoa 20% · fat 51% · leavening 5%
- Kakaokuchen · gutekueche.atcocoa 18% · fat 31% · leavening 5.6%
- Bolo de Chocolate Molhadinho · receitasdeminuto.comcocoa 0% · fat 44% · leavening 5.5%
- Kakaokuchen · ichkoche.atcocoa 16% · fat 16% · leavening 6%
Group H · 46 recipes · 12% of all
Less cocoa, less fat and less leavening
Cocoa under 23%, fat 62% or less and leavening 4.3% or less of the flour weight. 10 of the 46 use no cocoa.
| At 250 g flour | Group H | All |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 250 g | 250 g |
| Cocoa | 29 gabout 1/3 cup | 55 g |
| Chocolate | none | none |
| Sugar | 265 gabout 1 1/3 cups | 355 g |
| Fat | 105 gabout 1/2 cup | 155 g |
| Egg | 100 gabout 2 large eggs | 115 g |
| Liquid | 315 gabout 1 1/3 cups | 345 g |
| Leavening | 8 g | 12 g |
| Salt | 3 g | 3 g |
Bake350°F (175°C) for about 33 minutes, the medians of the 39 recipes here that state a temperature and the 44 that state a time.
Nearest the middle of group H
Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.
- Valentine's Day Dark Chocolate Cake · delish.comcocoa 15% · fat 61% · leavening 3.2%
- Buttermilk Chocolate Cake Recipe · beyondfrosting.comcocoa 20% · fat 39% · leavening 3.9%
- Homemade Chocolate Cake · thefirstyearblog.comcocoa 9.3% · fat 38% · leavening 2.5%
- Heritage Chocolate Cake Recipe | Hersheyland · hersheyland.comcocoa 17% · fat 61% · leavening 4.2%
- Small Chocolate Cake · beyondfrosting.comcocoa 13% · fat 36% · leavening 4.1%
How the questions are chosen
Each ingredient is ranked by how much recipes disagree on it: the width of the middle half of recipes (25th to 75th percentile) divided by the median, less 4% for each place it sits down this lab's list of ingredients, so the ones that define the dish win near ties. For chocolate cake the order is cocoa (0.78), fat (0.71), leavening (0.65), liquid (0.59), egg (0.49) and sugar (0.43), and the first 3 are asked. Salt is never asked about: recipes differ on it mostly by brand and taste. Chocolate is left out because most recipes use none.
Every split is at the median of the recipes in front of it, rounded to the percentage shown. Recipes exactly at the median go to whichever side leaves the two halves more even. No answer may keep fewer than 5 recipes; a group that could not be split further says so.
The recipes listed under each group are the 5 nearest its median on every ingredient at once, each scaled by how much recipes vary on it. Every recipe page links to the original for the method.