• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Simply LaKita
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • Breads and Muffins
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Drinks and Cocktails
    • Snacks and Appetizers
    • Salads
    • Side Dishes
    • Instant Pot
  • Contact
  • Modern Comfort Food
  • Accessibility Policy
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    9 Layer Chocolate Cake

    October 24, 2014 by LaKita 6 Comments

    • Share
    • Tweet

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    Homemade 9 Layer Chocolate Cake Recipe made from scratch using simple ingredients and is completely delicious. Give it a try.

    As long as I can remember I have loved a 7, 9, or 12-layer chocolate cake. These cakes have many delicious layers and the homemade chocolate icing definitely amps up the flavor factor way up. I have always thought the cakes were super hard to make simply because so many layers to me translated to lots of time in the kitchen and you already know how I feel about spending hours in the kitchen...so that is mainly why I never even thought about giving this cake a try...well that is until now.

    I decided to take the plunge and give it a try and that is mainly due to the fact that I have not had a multi-layer cake in a while and so it seemed as though the only way that I was going to have one was to make it myself and so I did.

    Now I have to be honest with you making the actual cake frosting, which you could probably cheat and use store brought frosting instead, and making the cake layers was not difficult at all. The only real part of the process that takes time is waiting for the layers to actually cook.

    I only could fit 3 round cake pans into the oven at a time so that meant I would have to wash and re-prepare those pans in between each rotation which is why I decided to make a 9 layer chocolate cake instead of 7, I mean really what difference was 2 more pans in the oven going to make?!? If you want to make a 7-layer cake, then you will use the same recipe and just add more cake batter to the layers and if you want 12 layers then add less.

    This cake is rich and delicious...you only need a small slice and this is a cake that you will want to share with your friends and family which makes it a perfect cake to make during the holidays or for a pot-luck supper.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients You'll Need
    • Step By Step Instructions
    • Recipe
    • More Recipes You'll Love

    Ingredients You'll Need

    For the Chocolate Icing-

    • 3 cups granulated sugar
    • 3-½ small blocks unsweetened baking chocolate
    • 2 (5 oz.) small cans evaporated milk
    • ½ cup butter (1 stick)
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    For the Cake Layers-

    • 1 cup butter (2 sticks)
    • 1 -½ cups granulated sugar
    • 6 large eggs
    • 3-½ cups self-rising flour, sifted
    • 1-¾ cups water
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Step By Step Instructions

    Allow all of the ingredients to be at room temperature and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. and grease at least three 8-inch round cake pans with shortening and set aside.

    Make the chocolate icing first, by placing it in a medium (heavy bottom) pot over medium-low heat and adding in the sugar, unsweetened chocolate, milk, butter, and vanilla and allow to fully dissolve (sugar to completely melt) and stir constantly or whisk.

    9 Layer Chocolate Cake Mixture

    You may need to adjust the temperature to make sure that it does not burn. Do not allow the icing to boil. Turn on low or off and begin making the cake layers.

    In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the sugar and butter. Then add all 6 large eggs into the mixture at once and mix well until incorporated.

    9 Layer Chocolate Cake Ingredients

    Add in the flour and alternate with the water, beginning and ending with flour. Mix in the vanilla extract and grab your cake pans.

    9 Layer Chocolate Cake by Simply LaKita
    Homemade 9 Layer Chocolate Cake

    Pour about ¾ cup of cake batter into each prepared pan and smooth (pat the bottom of the pans) until the batter reaches the edges. Place into the oven and bake for 7 to 10 minutes until golden brown and a cake tester comes out clean. I used 3 pans at a time and washed and re-greased with shortening a total of three times.

    Frosted 9 Layer Chocolate Cake

    Once you remove the baked cake layers from the oven turn one layer onto a plate and frost with icing all the way to the edges until it covers the sides, then add another layer and frosting until you have a total of 9 layers. When all of the layers have been stacked and frosted...spread the remaining icing over the top and sides to cover the entire cake. As the icing cools it will become thick.

    Sliced 9 Layer Chocolate Cake

    Recipe

    9 Layer Chocolate Cake

    LaKita Anderson
    Homemade 9 Layer Chocolate Cake Recipe made from scratch using simple ingredients and is completely delicious. Give it a try.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 16
    Calories 521 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 cup granulated sugar
    • 3 ½ blocks unsweetened baking chocolate
    • 10 ounces evaporated milk
    • ½ cup butter
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 cup butter
    • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
    • 6 large eggs
    • 3 ½ cups self-rising flour
    • 1 ¾ cups water
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Instructions
     

    • Allow all of the ingredients to be at room temperature and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. and grease at least three 8-inch round cake pans with shortening and set aside.
    • Make the chocolate icing first, by placing in a medium (heavy bottom) pot over medium-low heat and adding in the sugar, unsweetened chocolate, milk, butter, and vanilla and allow to fully dissolve (sugar to completely melt) and stir constantly or whisk.
    • You may need to adjust the temperature to make sure that it does not burn. Do not allow the icing to boil. Turn on low or off and begin making the cake layers.
    • In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the sugar and butter. Then add in all 6 large eggs into the mixture at once and mix well until incorporated. Add in the flour and alternate with the water, beginning and ending with flour. Mix in the vanilla extract and grab your cake pans.
    • Pour about ¾ cup of cake batter into each prepared pan and smooth (pat the bottom of the pans) until the batter reaches the edges. Place into the oven and bake for 7 to 10 minutes until golden brown and a cake tester comes out clean. I used 3 pans at a time and washed and re-greased with shortening for a total of three times.
    • Once you remove the baked cake layers from the oven turn one layer onto plate and frost with icing all the way to the edges until it covers the sides, then add another layer and frosting until you have a total of 9 layers.
    • When all of the layers have been stacked and frosted...spread the remaining icing over the top and sides to cover the entire cake. As the icing cools it will become thick.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 521kcalCarbohydrates: 78gProtein: 7gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 121mgSodium: 185mgPotassium: 116mgFiber: 1gSugar: 58gVitamin A: 676IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 68mgIron: 1mg

    *All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.

    Keyword 9 layer chocolate cake
    Tried this recipe?Mention @SimplyLaKita or tag #SimplyLakita
    9 Layer Chocolate Cake

    More Recipes You'll Love

    • Chocolate Sour Cream Pound Cake
    • Chocolate Avocado Cake
    • Vegan Double Chocolate Cake

    Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ideas and ways to enjoy this 9 Layer Chocolate Cake Recipe? Please share them in the comments below!


    More Desserts

    • Funfetti Rice Krispie Treats
    • Sun Drop®Pound Cake Recipe
    • Microwave Peppermint Chocolate Mug Cake
    • Easy Russian Tea Cakes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mrs. AOK

      October 27, 2014 at 3:53 pm

      I'm not a huge cake fan.... but CHOCOLATE cake is different 🙂 Chocolate cake is special, it's happiness wrapped in chocolate, no? I use to work at a place called Boston's waaaaaaaay back in the day, and the chocolate cake was GOOD, BUT when I moved to Illinois, I had one of the best chocolate cakes EVER there. Have you ever tried a Portillo's chocolate cake? It's DIVINE. Whenever friends or family would visit us there we would get them 'the' cake. I need to find a good chocolate cake here in South Carolina.
      XOXO

      Reply
      • admin

        October 27, 2014 at 4:28 pm

        Chocolate Cake IS SPECIAL!! I love any type of chocolate cake...it is by far my favorite. I have never tried Portillo's chocolate cake, but it looks delicious and I will be sure to check it out the next time that I am in Illinois. If you are close to Charleston, SC check out Christophe Artisan as I recall he had delicious chocolate cake...along with macaroons and pastries 🙂

        Reply
    2. Julie @ Girl on the Move

      October 27, 2014 at 7:57 pm

      This looks yummy! I definitely need to try this out for the holidays!

      Reply
      • admin

        October 27, 2014 at 8:28 pm

        Thank you so much! It was very yummy and a nice treat if you decided to give it a try I am sure it will be a hit for the holidays 🙂

        Reply
    3. Frances

      January 25, 2021 at 11:28 am

      I’ve never made this cake or icing. Would using parchment paper help to remove the layers when done? How long do you need to let them cool once removed from the oven.

      Reply
      • LaKita

        January 29, 2021 at 11:59 am

        Hi Frances! Parchment paper is not necessary. The layers are very thin and only need to cool in the pan for about 2 to 3 minutes before removing completely from the pan.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm LaKita, a food blogger living in Northwest/Panhandle Florida. I love creating and sharing recipes that are simple to make and comforting to eat. Follow me for more delicious recipes.

    More about me →

    Featured In

    Most Popular Recipes

    • Easy Sweet Potato Pie
    • Easy Candied Yams
    • Coffee Cookies
    • Pear Walnut Blue Cheese Salad

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Legal

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    Get exclusive updates and more delicious recipes by joining our email subscription. Sign Up!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • FAQ
    • Press & Media

    Copyright © 2021 Simply LaKita