Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Filling

📖 Description:

This decadent chocolate cake features a rich, moist crumb and a luscious cream cheese filling baked right inside. Imagine biting into a soft chocolate layer only to discover a smooth, tangy surprise in the center—delicious, easy to make, and stunning to serve!

🌍 Origin:

This style of cake combines classic American chocolate cake with a cheesecake-style filling, a popular mashup in 20th-century U.S. home baking that brings together two beloved desserts in one bite.

🧾 Ingredients:

For the Chocolate Cake:

1 ¾ cups (220g) all-purpose flour
1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
½ cup (100g) brown sugar
¾ cup (75g) unsweetened cocoa powder
1 ½ tsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
2 large eggs
1 cup (240ml) buttermilk
½ cup (120ml) vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup (240ml) hot coffee or boiling water

For the Cream Cheese Filling:

8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
⅓ cup (65g) granulated sugar
1 egg
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp all-purpose flour

🧂 Optional Ingredients:

½ cup mini chocolate chips (add to the cream cheese layer for a fun twist)
Pinch of cinnamon in the chocolate batter for warmth
Swirl of peanut butter or Nutella inside the filling

🥣 Instructions:

1. Preheat & Prep:

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Grease and flour a 9-inch springform pan or two 8-inch round pans. Line bottoms with parchment if desired.

2. Make the Cream Cheese Filling:

In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth.
Add sugar, egg, vanilla, and flour. Beat until creamy and set aside.

3. Make the Chocolate Cake Batter:

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugars, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
In another bowl, mix eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla.
Combine wet and dry ingredients, then slowly add hot coffee or boiling water. Batter will be thin.

4. Assemble the Cake:

Pour half of the chocolate batter into the prepared pan(s).
Carefully spoon cream cheese filling in the center, avoiding edges if possible.
Pour remaining chocolate batter on top to cover the filling.

5. Bake:

Bake for 45–55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the edge comes out clean. The center may still be slightly soft due to the filling.
Cool completely in the pan before removing.

6. Optional Frosting (If Desired):

Frost cooled cake with ganache, chocolate buttercream, or simply dust with powdered sugar.

✅ Tips for Success:

Use room temperature cream cheese to ensure smooth filling.
Pour batter gently over filling to avoid mixing layers.
Don’t overbake—check doneness at the edges, not the center.
Let the cake cool fully before slicing to allow the filling to set.

🌟 Recommendations:

Serve with whipped cream, fresh berries, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Make ahead and refrigerate overnight—flavors develop and filling sets perfectly.
Try baking it in a Bundt pan for a more elegant presentation.