This homemade chocolate cake mix recipe can be made to replace a cake mix when you need one for a recipe, or you can multiply it to make a big batch so you’ll have it on hand so you can make chocolate cake in a snap.
I shared a basic homemade cake mix recipe that you can use to make a white or a yellow cake a few years ago, but I realized recently that I’ve never shared a recipe for a chocolate version. Since this is the time of year for baking chocolate zucchini cake, and since my easy three ingredient chocolate zucchini cake is so popular around these parts, I thought now would be a perfect time to share this recipe. You can use this homemade chocolate cake mix recipe to make a basic chocolate cake, or you can use it to replace a chocolate cake mix in any recipe that calls for one.
The great thing about making your own baking mixes is that you get the convenience of boxed cake mixes, but you can add in the types of high-quality baking ingredients that you would normally use for baking, and you can leave out all the not-so-good additives that you sometimes find in boxed cake mixes.
Ingredients Needed for the Homemade Chocolate Cake Mix Recipe
You’ll need:
- Sugar (extra fine or regular granulated sugar)
- Flour (all-purpose, whole-wheat, or spelt work well)
- Your favourite cocoa powder
- Baking powder
- Salt
That’s it! Pretty basic, but so convenient and nice to have around.
Using the Chocolate Cake Mix
You really can use this for any recipe you can find that calls for a cake mix, and there are so many of them floating around the internet now. These chocolate cake mix cookies that I shared a few years ago are always crowd pleasers!
If you want to just use the mix for a regular cake, that’s fine too! For that you’ll need:
- Melted butter (or a butter substitute)
- Milk (plant-based or regular are both fine)
- Eggs (regular or chia eggs are both great)
- Vanilla extract
Follow the recipe below to make one or many batches of the cake mix. I’ve also included the steps for making this into a regular cake on this same recipe card. Read it right here or print it off and store it in your recipe binder for later!
Full Printable Recipe for the Homemade Chocolate Cake Mix

This homemade chocolate cake mix recipe can be made to replace a cake mix when you need one for a recipe, or you can multiply it to make a big batch so you'll have it on hand so you can make chocolate cake in a snap.
- 1 3/4 cups sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 3/4 cup cocoa powder
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
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Sift all ingredients together in a big bowl and stir until uniform in color. Can be easily multiplied to make a big batch. Store in an airtight container.
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To make the mix into a plain chocolate cake, mix together 4.5 cups of the premade mix, with 1/2 cup melted butter (or substitute), 1/4 cup milk of any kind, 3 eggs (or chia eggs), and 2 tsp vanilla extract. Bake at 350 degrees until a toothpick inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean.
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