Itโs hard to even count how many different shapes and sizes Rosaโs Mud Cake has taken over the past three decades. Thatโs it up there, in a heart shape underneath frosting and an army of m&ms for Phoebeโs Valentine-themed birthday party a few years back. It was also the cake I used for Phoebeโs birthday โbeach cakeโ and the dessert I made for my parents anniversary (one round pan, sprinkled with powdered sugar, surrounded by raspberries) and, of course, the cake I ate at my best friendโs birthday parties all through childhood. Her mother is the famous Rosa and she cooked the most amazing meals for her family from a collection of recipes she had jammed into in little wooden box on her kitchen counter. (How I dream of that box!)ย Even before I had kids, I knew enough to dig around for the mud cake card so I could copy down the instructions and continue her tradition. The secret to its moist muddiness is a cup of strong black coffee. If youโre not a mocha person, donโt be scared by that, the flavor is very subtle.
Rosaโs Mud Cake
Makes 1 9ร13 sheet cake or 2 9-inch layers.
1 1/4 cups flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cups cocoa
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
1 cup strong black coffee (brewed, not grinds!)
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
Dump everything in a bowl, mix, pour into a sheet pan that has been buttered and lightly floured. Bake at 350ยฐF for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
Ridiculously Easy Chocolate Glaze
More often than not, I make this cake without frosting. But hereโs a glaze that takes about 10 minutes (most of it hands-off time) that is impossible to mess up. (Unlike most of the frostings I attempt.)
Dump a small bag ofย semi-sweet chocolate chips (about 6 ounces)ย in a heatproof bowl. Meanwhile heat 1 cup of heavy cream so itโs bubbling but not boiling. Pour over chocolate chips and let sit about 2 minutes without stirring. Whisk together and pour over cake that has been set over a cooling rack on top of a cookie sheet that has been lined with foil or parchment.
Also Very Easy Classicย Chocolate Frosting (makes 1 1/4 cups)
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
1 tablespoon whole milk
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter and powdered sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and beat in the chocolate, milk, and vanilla until the mixture reaches a spreadable consistency, about 1 to 2 minutes.
Jenny, I love your web-site. This cake reminds me the Texas Sheet Cake I used to make all the time with my mother. We made it for so many family gatherings and we knew everyone would always love it. Great Memories. I am going to make this cake for my boys soon. We are all chocolate fans, here. Love, Maryanne
oh my goodness, email it to me! I want to try it!
oh myโฆi just made the cake today โjust because.โ It is wonderful. This Rosa person in great.
I have a birthday cake to bake this Friday and this recipe looks delicious. But, Iโm wondering โ can you leave out the coffee? Or would you not recommend that?
Emily- the coffee with just deepend and enhance the chocolate flavor. I highly recommend you keep it and you probably wonโt taste it (but if you HATE coffee, sub hot water instead, or do half coffee and half hot water).
Thank you! Not to ask a dumb question โ but does it need frosting and if so, what kind works best?
Not a dumb question โ but I do have a dumb answer. I have been in search of the perfect chocolate frosting for a long time, so I could give you one of the many millions iโve tried right here, but maybe someone else out there has The Definitive Chocolate Frosting?
Have you ever used decaf? Any concern about the caffeine for kids, or is it diluted enough that they donโt go extra-bonkers (beyond what party excitement and choco cake might do anyway)?
Canโt wait to try Rosaโs cake this weekend for our family Scorpio Dinner dessert (there are lots of us scorpios so we do one dinner). As for the best chocolate frosting, try the one on the can of Hersheyโs Cocoa. It is really, really, really good. The recipe on there for Hot Cocoa is the bomb too.
Love your site Jenny-thank you!!!!!
has anyone made this in a bundt pan? i would love to serve this at a party just dusted with powdered sugar
I am reading this post months later! But this cake reminds of one Iโve made since the 70โs. Mine has the coffee in the frosting. The frosting is very easy to make on the stove, and you pour it over the cake top and let it spill over the sides.
Here it is:
Royal Cocoa Frosting
3 T. plus 2 tsp. cornstarch
3 T. unsweetened cocoa
1 c. granulated sugar (in 1/2 cups!)
1 c. strong, black coffee (instant and/or decaff is ok)
1 T. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
few grains of salt
Mix the corn starch, cocoa and 1/2 cup of the sugar in a small bowl.
In a small saucepan, heat the coffee and butter until butter is melted.
Reduce heat to low and stir in cocoa mixture, stirring constantly (I like to use a whisk), simmer gently a few minutes until itโs the consistency of chocolate pudding.
Stir in remaining 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla, dash of salt. Remove from heat and cool 5 minutes. Fill and frost cake.
Note: This usually makes a little more frosting than needed. I just pour it all on top of the cake and let it spill over the edges and puddle around the cakeโitโs too good to waste!
Note: I usually use Sharffenbergerโs Cocoa, but Iโve gotten good results with Hersheyโs and Ghiradelliโs.
My favorite frosting: Devlish Frosting from The Wooden Spoon Dessert Book by Marilyn Moore (she also has an amazing peach cobbler in there):
Sift together in a large bowl:
3 c. powdered sugar
1/2 c. cocoa (pref. dutch processed)
1/8 tsp salt
Add, in this order:
8 tbls soft unsalted butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 tbls buttermilk (plus more if needed)
Beat at low speed until smooth, add more buttermilk to get to spreading consistency.
Makes 2 c. frosting
I love this cake, but both times I have made it it has come out the pan less than successfully. Any tips for making sure it comes out in one piece?
Coat the pan with coconut oil! We love this cake!!! My kids get so excited for it and it has become our birthday cake of choice!!!!! They love it decorated with dum dums, sprinkles, or marshmallow minis (depending on the birthday child!)
Also, itโs so fun to have a cake they look forward to making and eating! They talk about it for days!!!!
I realize Iโm late on replying here to you Jenny, but a reader just wrote me saying she had the same problem. I would try adding a light dusting of flour to the buttered pan before you pour in the batter. I changed the recipe to reflect this. Good luck and let me know how it turns out.
I did the buttering and the flour and was less than successful.
Line the buttered pan with parchment paper and it will come right out. Also, try cocoa powder to flour the pan and you avoid that white crust on the dark cake plus add more choco flavor.
Hey do you know how many cupcakes this recipe would make Iโm thinking of making two batchesโฆI need 60 cupcakes. Thanks!
Just stopping by after many years of making this to say thanks and how much we love it! I halve it all the time for our tiny family. It is the easiest, most forgiving, fast and delicious cake ever! And for the record, Iโve never had it stick in the pan. Weirdโฆ maybe they were cautious with the oil. Thanks again!
Just found you via Cup of JoโฆIโm wondering what size pan(s) you used to create the round version (pictured) of this cake, and what the bake time is. Did you use the glaze as a filler and frosting? Thanks!
Made this for our little guyโs 2nd birthday party. SO delicious and so unbelievably easy โ thank you!
i finally got around to making this super easy, super delicious chocolate cake and it did NOT disappoint! a real crowd-pleaser. i think this might replace the recipe on the back of the hersheyโs cocoa as our go-to chocolate cake. thanks!
Mine didnโt make it out of the pan either, will try parchment next time, but will use the pieces for a trifle for Valentines day!
I made this last night and oh my goodness, I too, now love Rosa. Any cake that I can put together before my oven even heats up is a winner! Jenny, do you recommend any cocoa powder brand? I have been using Trader Joeโs but am thinking I could up my game a bit with some fancier cocoa powder. And Alice Medrich just posted a VERY similar cake on Food52 called the Be-All End-All Chocolate Fudge Sheet cakeโฆ.
Iโve made this cake for many birthdays over the years and my kids love it! My daughter is turning 3 on Sunday and Iโm hoping to make cupcakes with this recipe. Have you done that before? Will I need to adjust oven temp or baking time? Thanks!!
This looks delicious! I love your books and website. I am wondering when you bake two 9inch round layers with this recipe do you put some of the glaze between the layers before assembling? Or just put the layers together and pour the glaze on top?
Does this cake really not call for salt? I donโt think Iโve ever seen a cake recipe without, so wondering if thatโs correct!
Hi jenny! Quick question. Iโve made this cAke twice, (once in two separate round cake pans and once in a 9ร2/12 in deep springform pan)โฆ.both times the cake rises so much that it nearly overflows, and it takes way longer than 30-33 min to bake. More like 45 min. Is my oven broken? LOL or am I maybe doing something else wrong?