Chocolate Skillet Cake With Milk Chocolate Frosting Recipe

This chocolate cake topped with milk chocolate frosting couldn't be easier—it's made, and baked, right in a cast iron skillet.

By
Stella Parks
Stella Parks
Stella Parks
Editor Emeritus
Stella Parks is a CIA-trained baking nerd and pastry wizard, dubbed one of America's Best New Pastry Chefs by Food & Wine. She was the pastry editor at Serious Eats from 2016 to 2019.
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Updated Apr. 15, 2020
20180410-chocolate-skillet-cake-vicky-wasik-27
Vicky Wasik

Why It Works

  • Thanks to its low density, this cake batter requires no manual aeration.
  • Acidic ingredients like coffee and brown sugar activate the baking soda, allowing the cake to rise.
  • A 10-inch cast iron skillet is the perfect size to make, and bake, a fudgy cake to feed a crowd.

This quick and easy chocolate cake is the ultimate weeknight dessert—the batter is made and baked right in a cast iron skillet, no whipping, creaming, or beating involved. Even so, the cake itself is as fluffy and light as they come, with the bold flavor of both Dutch cocoa powder and dark chocolate.

Finish it off with a creamy milk chocolate ganache (prepared in advance using the same skillet), or whip up a simple peanut butter or cream cheese frosting instead.

Recipe Facts

4.8

(23)

Active: 15 mins
Total: 3 hrs
Serves: 12 servings

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Ingredients

For the Frosting:

  • 6 ounces finely chopped milk chocolate, between 25 and 48% cacao (about 1 cup, heaping; 170g); see our list of recommended milk chocolates here

  • 8 ounces heavy cream (about 1 cup; 225g)

  • Salt, to taste

For the Cake:

  • 6 ounces unsalted butter (about 12 tablespoons; 170g)

  • 6 ounces black coffee, or hot tea such as Assam (about 3/4 cup; 170g)

  • 1 1/2 ounces Dutch cocoa, such as Cacao Barry Extra Brute (about 1/2 cup, spooned; 45g); see notes

  • 3 ounces finely chopped dark chocolate, roughly 72% (about 1/2 cup, heaping; 85g)

  • 8 ounces light brown sugar (about 1 cup, packed; 225g)

  • 1/4 ounce vanilla extract (about 1 1/2 teaspoons; 7g)

  • 3/4 teaspoon (3g) Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for table salt, use about half as much by volume or the same weight

  • 4 large eggs (about 7 ounces; 200g), straight from the fridge

  • 4 1/2 ounces all-purpose flour, such as Gold Medal (about 1 cup, spooned; 125g)

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

Directions

  1. For the Frosting: Add milk chocolate to a mixing bowl. In a 10-inch cast iron skillet, bring cream to a simmer over medium heat. When bubbling hard around the edges, pour over milk chocolate in bowl. Whisk by hand until smooth, stir in salt to taste, and set aside until no longer steaming, about 15 minutes, then cover and refrigerate until needed.

  2. For the Cake: Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat to 350°F (180°C). Combine butter and coffee or tea in the same 10-inch cast iron skillet as before (no need to wash or rinse). Warm over low heat until butter has melted, then remove from heat. Mix in cocoa and dark chocolate, followed by brown sugar, vanilla, and salt. Working gently to avoid splashes, whisk in eggs, followed by flour and baking soda. Continue whisking until smooth and well combined.

  3. Place skillet in oven and bake until cake is firm, though your finger will still leave an impression in the puffy crust, about 30 minutes. The timing will vary depending on the skillet's gauge, but a toothpick inserted into the center should come away with a few crumbs still attached. Cool cake in skillet until no trace of warmth remains, about 1 1/2 hours.

  4. To Finish: Vigorously stir milk chocolate ganache with a flexible spatula until it begins to thicken to a yogurt-like consistency that's a little looser than a buttercream. Scrape over the cooled cake and sculpt into swoops and swirls, using a small spoon or offset spatula. Enjoy immediately or leave at room temperature until ready to serve, up to 24 hours at cool room temperature. After cutting, wrap leftover slices individually and store at cool room temperature up to 2 days more.

Special Equipment

10-inch cast iron skillet, silicone ball whisk (optional)

Notes

This cake cannot be made with natural cocoa, so pick up a Dutch style, like Droste or Divine at the supermarket, or shop for brands like Cacao Barry Extra Brute in bulk online.

Make-Ahead and Storage

Before cutting, this cake may be kept up to 24 hours at cool room temperature. After cutting, wrap leftover slices individually and store at cool room temperature up to 2 days more.

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
356 Calories
22g Fat
36g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories 356
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g 28%
Saturated Fat 13g 66%
Cholesterol 69mg 23%
Sodium 307mg 13%
Total Carbohydrate 36g 13%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 23g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 64mg 5%
Iron 3mg 19%
Potassium 139mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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