This is dangerous. Homemade chocolate chip bundt cake has been on heavy rotation in my house since quarantine started, which for us, was five weeks ago. The first time I made this cake, I shared it over on Instagram asking if you guys wanted to see it with cream cheese frosting or on its own. I made boxes and sent them off to family and friends because I didn’t trust myself with a whole bundt cake. I’m happy to report that this cake can be served frosting-less with a large coffee for breakfast or with the cream cheese icing for Easter brunch or as a quick baking project with kids. The magic of this chocolate chip bundt cake is that you only need one bowl to make the cake portion of this recipe. That makes clean up a breeze. See what I mean; it’s dangerous. Since quarantine began, I’ve been trying to come up with more easy baking recipes like my one bowl lemon olive oil pound cake. I know that not everyone is a baker, so having a recipe that doesn’t call for a stand mixer is great to have in your repertoire. It also makes baking a lot easier when you’ve got little helpers around that want to help. I’ve tested this cake now three times, and every time I’ve made it, I adjusted a little something here and there. I’ve shared slices of this chocolate chip cake with both of our families and close friends (with social distancing I’m doing a ding dong ditch, and they don’t seem to mind.) And unanimously, this cake has been a hit. Tender vanilla cake speckled with mini chocolate chips, so you get a little bit in each bite. HAVE MERCY!
What do I need to make chocolate chip bundt cake?
All-purpose flourBaking soda: the reaction between the sour cream and baking soda helps the bundt cake rise.Baking powder: is used to lighten the texture of the bundt cake. The carbon dioxide released into the cake helps make it light and airy.kosher salt: adds flavor to the recipeGranulated sugar: is a source for sweetnessOil: you can use canola, vegetable, coconut, or corn oil for this recipe. If you’d like to add a buttery taste, swap half the oil for butter, it works like magic!Eggs: eggs play a very important role in this recipe. They add structure and stability in the batter as well as adding moisture to the cake.Sour cream: You can swap the sour cream for greek yogurt if you’d like to make this lighter or don’t happen to have any sour cream on hand.Milk: any kind that you have will work, be it cows milk, soy, or nut milk.Vanilla extract: As always, I suggest using the best quality of vanilla extract that you can. It adds tons of flavor to this cake. And my personal favorite is this oneMini chocolate chips: I like to use mini chocolate chips rather than the regular chocolate chips as the little ones disperse better in the cake batter. I used these semi-sweet chocolate chips, but you could even use bittersweet chocolate if you prefer to make this cake less sweet.
What bundt cake pan did you use for this recipe?
You need a 10-inch bundt cake pan for this recipe. Here is one very similar to mine.
How to make the best one bowl chocolate chip bundt cake:
What do I need to make the cream cheese icing?
softened cream cheesesoftened buttervanilla extractpowdered sugar
How to make cream cheese icing:
This cream cheese icing is straightforward. Allow the cream cheese and the butter to come to room temperature so that it’s easy to make. Then, combine the two in a bowl with a whisk. Stir in the vanilla and the powdered sugar and continue to whisk until smooth! Then, pour the prepared icing over the bunt cake or spread using a cake spatula.
Do I have to serve this bundt cake with icing?
Absolutely not! The first couple of times I made this bundt cake, I focused solely on the cake portion of this recipe. Personally, I don’t think this bundt cake has to have icing, especially if you’re planning on serving this as a chocolate chip snack cake or as a quick breakfast cake. Now, if this is a dessert for a special occasion, then frosting is totally justified. I love it both ways, and wouldn’t frost it unless I’m serving this as an after-dinner kind of dessert.
Overall, this chocolate chip bundt cake is:
made in one bowlsweet but not overly sweethas a tender vanilla cake and is speckled with mini chocolate chipsmakes your whole house smell like a bakerygreat to make for when you’re having company (when you can have company again)perfect to pair with a warm mug of morning Joe
I say desserts like this one bowl chocolate chip bundt cake should be on heavy rotation during social distancing, it certainly gives you something to do, and when you’re doing a baking project, there’s a dessert to eat afterward 😉
ICING: is entirely optional. For it, you’ll need 4 ounces of softened cream cheese, 3 tablespoons of softened butter, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 1 cup powdered sugar. Using a whisk, combine the cream cheese and butter in a bowl until smooth. Add the vanilla and powdered sugar and continue to whisk until you work out all the lumps from the powdered sugar. If the icing is too thick, add a teaspoon of milk at a time until thin enough to drizzle. I didn’t need any milk at all. Drizzle over the cake and spread with an offset spatula.
