Description
Chocolate Bento Cakes are the ultimate mini dessert, combining rich, moist chocolate cake with a smooth, creamy frosting in an adorable, personal-sized box.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cake:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup hot water (or coffee for a richer flavor)
For the Frosting:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2–3 tbsp milk (adjust for consistency)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Cake Batter
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar.
- In another bowl, mix the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Stir in the hot water or coffee—this will make the batter thin but don’t worry, it’s perfect for a moist cake.
Step 2: Bake the Cake
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool completely before cutting.
Step 3: Make the Frosting
- Beat the butter until fluffy. Add the powdered sugar and cocoa powder gradually, mixing until smooth.
- Add the milk, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Beat until the frosting is light and creamy.
Step 4: Assemble the Bento Cakes
- Use a round cookie cutter or a glass to cut out small cake circles.
- Spread a layer of frosting between two cake rounds to create a mini layer cake.
- Frost the outside and decorate as desired—with sprinkles, ganache, or a custom message!